“Longer driver shafts can create more clubhead speed, resulting in additional ball speed and overall distance gains,” says Custom Lab Golf founder Gavin Hay. “That’s why manufacturers have continually increased their standard spec driver shaft lengths over the years. They want their drivers to outperform other brands on raw distance.”
Why are driver shafts getting longer?
“Longer driver shafts can create more clubhead speed, resulting in additional ball speed and overall distance gains,” says Custom Lab Golf founder Gavin Hay. “That’s why manufacturers have continually increased their standard spec driver shaft lengths over the years.
Should a golfer be fitted for a standard length driver?
However, a golfer should be fitted for the proper shaft length. Your height and wrist-to-floor measurement can be used by golf retailers to determine if you are suited for standard-length drivers. If not, the shaft can be adjusted.
How long is too long for a driver?
“I’d say 90 per cent of the drivers sold in the shops today are too long for most players,” says esteemed clubmaker Tom Wishon, of Wishon Golf. “The standard driver length of 45.5-46.5 inches offered by the majority of companies is too long for most golfers and will prevent them from achieving their maximum potential for distance and accuracy.”
Do longer shafts increase loft on golf clubs?
Most golfers need to reduce loft with a longer shaft. A longer shaft can help certain golfers deliver the clubhead more efficiently, and for others, it could make their current problems worse. No rule of thumb fits all! In aggregate, most players see about a 10-15 yard gain in distance.
Are drivers getting longer?
Standard driver shafts have increased in length and hover around 45.5 inches off the rack, but shortening a shaft before you take it home is an easy adjustment and pretty much any clubfitter can get it done in minutes. Furthermore, where you cut a shaft can make a difference.
Are longer drivers harder to hit?
Testing from different companies has found that each inch longer can help you hit it 5-10+ yards longer! But the answer isn't as simple as just buying a longer driver shaft to hit bombs. Why? Because a longer driver shaft also means less accuracy which can lead a lot higher scores.
Is it better to have a longer driver?
All things being equal, a longer driver shaft should generate more clubhead speed and offer more distance off the tee. As I've discussed before, adding distance is an important part of increasing your odds of lowering your score. That is the main reason any golfer would pursue a longer shaft.
Does a longer driver increase distance?
Typically most players do pick up speed (around 1 mph per inch) with a longer driver shaft, and since every 1 mph of additional driver speed generally yields about two yards of extra carry distance, technically the advice you've been given is true.
What happens if your driver is too long?
What Happens When Golf Clubs Are Too Long? For most golfers, having clubs that are too long will result in the most inconsistent shots. Clubs that are too long will make you stand too upright, which can cause both heel and toe shots as well as a tendency to pull the ball.
How long should your driver be for your height?
Tony Finau is one of the tallest golfers on the PGA Tour at 6'4″, and his driver's length is usually around 45 inches. Both Finau and Fowler are two of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour....Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on Height.Height (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″< 4'10”43″7 more rows•May 9, 2021
Why do I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver?
Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.
Is a 43 inch driver too short?
Tall golfers have found that they're able to play well with a 44 inch driver while shorter players are better off using a 43” driver. There are golfers who have had better control, lesser misses or slices and gained extra distance by about five yards when using a 44” driver when compared to a 43 inch driver.
What length of driver do the pros use?
44.5" to 45.75"PGA Tour Professionals tend to play drivers between 44-46" in length. The vast majority of pros are in the 44.5" to 45.75" range from what we've been able to gather. There are, of course, exceptions in both directions.
How long should a 5 7 driver be?
Few 5'6” golfers with 32” and 33” wrist-to-floor measurements use 45” and 44.5” drivers respectively....Selecting Shaft Length for Men (Chart)Wrist to Floor LengthGolfer Height (inches)32” to 34”5'4” – 5'7”34” to 37”5'7” – 6.1”37” to 38”6'1” – 6'2”6 more rows
What length driver does Justin Thomas use?
7.5-degree driverAs a rookie, Thomas used a 7.5-degree driver because he hit up on the ball severely with an attack angle of 6 or 7 degrees. As his iron game has improved, his driver swing has leveled slightly, and now his attack angle is about 3 degrees, so he plays with more loft.
Why is my driver head bigger?
Put a bigger head on the same length shaft you’re used to and it looks huge because your eye isn’t used to it, so shafts have increased to look more aesthetically pleasing. And second – the biggest factor – the way we buy drivers has changed.
Do you need a longer shaft for golf?
You may even need a longer one. But, as our experts and test have shown, a good number of golfers would benefit from a shorter shaft. You may actually increase distance and there’s a good chance you’ll hit more fairways.
Is there a standard length for a golf driver?
1. There is no standard length. “There’s no golden length that is right for everyone, it’s totally individual,” says Derek Murray. “A lot will depend on timing, hand-eye co-ordination, individual ability and how you like a driver to feel. It’s not about your handicap, your swing speed or your height.
3 Important Factors That Influence Distance
Clubhead speed has a direct correlation to your potential distance off the tee.
The Most Efficient Method To Train Speed (& Increase Distance)
Sometimes people classify golf as a boring sport that is “too slow” and non-athletic. If you’ve seen any of the young players of today’s generation, you know golf is anything but slow and boring.
How Does Equipment Effect Your Driving Distance?
Over the last few years golf equipment companies have been criticized for releasing products too often, forcing golfers to upgrade their sets a couple times a year to stay current with the latest technology.
Start Increasing Your Driving Distance Today!
Learning to hit the ball farther is a process that involves many different elements.
What is a Krank driver?
Krank is a well-known name amongst long drive enthusiasts. Krank specializes in the design of long driver drivers but in recent years their drivers are becoming more and more popular amongst regular golfers. The latest Krank driver, the Formula 11 XX, is one of their best driver designs to date.
Why is clubhead speed important?
Added clubhead speed ensures that maximum energy is transferred over to the golf ball which delivers high ball speeds and maximum distance.
How does spin affect distance?
Spin rate has a massive influence on both height and distance. To ensure maximum distance off the tee it is vital to optimize spin rates. Too much spin and the golf ball will lose distance and too little spin and the ball will struggle to get airborne which will also mean less distance.
What does speed and rhythm mean in golf?
Speed and Rhythm. By now we know that speed equates to distance. All of the long hitters on the PGA Tour have high swing speeds and it is the main reason for how they hit the golf ball as far as they do. Without good rhythm though swing speed and added distance will only get you into trouble.
What is a Formula 11 XX driver?
The Formula 11 XX is a 100% handmade driver with a forged driver head. Forged clubheads aren’t unique in the golf industry, but it is unique for a driver head to be forged. The Formula 11 XX is a culmination of what the Krank R&D team has discovered about long drive driver designs over the last 16 years.
What is the goal of a golfer when he steps up to the tee?
When a golfer steps up to the tee with their driver in hand their main goal is to try and hit the ball as far as possible. For many hitting it far is easy, but hitting it far and straight is another story.
How long is a golf driver?
According to the rules of golf 48 inches is the maximum shaft length allowed to be used in a driver, most standard drivers however are around 45 inches. A longer shaft in combination with the right driver head and lie/loft setting can give you that extra 10 yards that you are after.
Why is a longer shaft not the best for golf?
Dempsey agrees that a longer shaft is not the way to go for most golfers because it’s harder to control, and average golfers will struggle to make consistent contact. Instead of trying to find a quick fix, he says to focus on your contact because most players don’t utilize the center of the clubface and miss out on distance because of it.
How many holes does Dylan Frittelli have in the Masters?
Dylan Frittelli, in the top five after 54 holes at the 2020 Masters, credited a longer driver for boosting his speed over the past couple of months.
Can a longer shaft make a golfer faster?
Stachura explains, “Look at the number of LPGA players whose more languid, flowing swing tempos can take advantage of longer shafts and produce more clubhead speed.”. However, most golfers are quick from the top, so using a longer shaft would actually make it more difficult to find the center of the clubface and have consistent contact.
Is it bad to lengthen a driver shaft?
Lengthening your driver shaft might sound like a quick and easy way to add 20 yards to your tee ball, but it’s generally a bad idea for average golfers. “Shaft length is personal, very much swing-type related.”. Stachura explains, “Look at the number of LPGA players whose more languid, flowing swing tempos can take advantage ...
How much does a golf shaft weigh?
If a golfer used a longer shaft and did nothing to remove weight, all potential benefits would disappear. He told me that most shafts weigh around 65 grams at 46 inches. But with a 47″ or 48″ shaft, he believed that going down to 50-55 grams was necessary.
How far from the tip of a 46 inch shaft should you balance?
If you were to balance a standard 46″ shaft on your finger, it would be about 24 inches from the tip. However, by adding more weight to the “butt” of the shaft, you can further shift the balance in that direction.
How many yards does a golfer have to drive to get a handicap?
Most golfers still average 220-230 yards with their drivers. As such, adding distance is even more important for “normal” golfers. If you gave an extra 10 or 20 yards to a 15 handicap, it would have more influence on their scores than a professional golfer. We need all the help we can get!
Why is adding distance important?
As I’ve discussed before, adding distance is an important part of increasing your odds of lowering your score. That is the main reason any golfer would pursue a longer shaft. But it’s not that simple. As you’ll see, some variables need to be controlled in the shaft and driver head.
Do you need to adjust the loft of a driver?
You will need to adjust the loft of the driver properly. Most golfers need to reduce loft with a longer shaft. A longer shaft can help certain golfers deliver the clubhead more efficiently, and for others, it could make their current problems worse. No rule of thumb fits all!
What happens when you remove weight from a driver?
When you remove weight from the driver head, which is almost always necessary with a longer driver shaft, a few things happen: The driver will transfer less energy. In other words, the amount of ball speed you generate from your swing speed will drop a little bit.
Does a longer shaft help with curvature?
Golfers who fight with a slice often see an improvement in their club path, and the longer shaft can help reduce excessive ball curvature. However, the opposite can be true for players who draw the ball. He’s seen golfers with in-to-out swing paths really struggle.
What does higher ball speed mean?
Higher ball speed means more distance. That’s the equation. And that’s how they’ve been fooling us for years. In fact, testing shows an inch of extra shaft length equals roughly 10 yards in distance. So a driver with a 43-inch shaft vs. a driver with a 45.75-inch shaft – same golfer, same club head, same ball, same shaft type – could equal 20-25 ...
How accurate was Jim Furyk in 1997?
In 2019, only Jim Furyk is above 75%. Funny enough, back in 1997, he was also one of the most accurate at 79%.
Does a shorter shaft help you find the sweet spot?
Write for us! In fact, a shorter shaft should help you find the sweet spot more often and may even add distance. Who thought the simplest of golf tips could make such a difference. If you can check your ego, you may find lower scores and more 19th hole payouts.
What is the difference between a titanium and steel clubhead?
In contrast, steel clubheads are heavier and smaller.
What is the difference between a steel driver and a composite driver?
In contrast, steel clubheads are heavier and smaller. Composite drivers use titanium and other materials, such as carbon. These drivers are lightweight, with the weight centered near the face of the club for a larger sweet spot.
What loft do you need for a golf driver?
Experienced golfers typically use a loft of about 9.5, while a high handicapper usually will get the best results with a loft of 12 degrees or more.
What is the pertinent question when selecting a golf driver?
When it comes to selecting a golf driver, the pertinent question is how to determine the driver you can hit for the longest distance.
How far can you hit a golf driver?
Professional golfers hit a driver 300 yards or more , but in a less experienced player’s hands the same driver probably will not produce those results.
Why is it harder to hit a golf ball off center?
However, the longer the club, the harder it is to hit accurately. Some golfers lose control with longer clubs, resulting in hitting the ball off-center. When you miss the club's sweet spot, the distance suffers. The shaft's material and flexibility also affect distance.
Is the loft of a driver the same as the launch angle?
Loft and Launch Angle. Beginners may think all drivers are the same in terms of the loft and launch angle, but there is a range of lofts available in drivers to produce the optimum launch angle of the ball. Golfers with a slower swing speed need a higher-lofted driver in order to launch the ball into the air for more distance.
Does Newer Mean Better?
Every year, equipment manufacturers tell us that their latest products are the longest, straightest clubs ever created, and every year, thousands of golfers buy new drivers in the hope that it’s true.
How We Tested
We brought together five testers and four drivers, each from a different decade – the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s. Each player hit each driver five times, and every shot was recorded.
The Results
Unsurprisingly, we found that new drivers are significantly longer than old drivers. When looking at the group average, the modern driver was 30 yards ahead of the persimmon driver and 13 yards ahead of the driver from the 90’s.
Conclusion
The next time you see an ad touting the latest driver as being the longest ever, remember what you’ve seen here: a driver that’s nearly 10 years old went toe-to-toe with the best driver of the year because of a well-fit shaft. It’s true that drivers do improve every year, but the improvements are gradual.
