A standard driver is about 45-45 inches long, and usually, the longer a driver shaft is, the more distance a golfer can have from a hit. A longer shaft means a wider arc to your swing and that creates more speed. But hitting the center of the clubface is much more important.
What are the different golf shaft types?
steel golf shaft
- Graphite shafts transmit fewer vibrations up to the golfer's hands than steel shafts do.
- The graphite -shafted club is lighter than the steel-shafted club. It could be significantly so.
- Graphite-shafted clubs are more expensive than steel-shafted-clubs.
- Weight and rigidity of steel-shafted clubs are more likely to aggravate chronic hand, arm or shoulder problems than a graphite club.
How to choose the right shaft for my driver?
To ensure that you have the right shaft, you should consider the following factors:
- flex preference
- weight
- length of the shaft
- torque rating
How to pick the right golf shaft?
Info - Choosing the Best Shaft for Your Game
- Choosing the Best Shaft for Your Game. ...
- Shaft Selection Primer 1.0: Single most important determining factor in shaft flex (indicator of overall strength of the player).
- Swing Tempo - Pace of the Swing. ...
- Release. ...
- Trajectory - Height of Ball Flight. ...
- Flight Direction Tendency. ...
- Distance Control. ...
- Price. ...
What Golf Club shaft stiffness should I use?
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
- Swing speeds above 105 mph Extra Stiff
- Swing speeds between 90-105 Stiff
- Swing speeds between 80-95 Regular
- Swing speeds between 70-85 Senior
- Swing speeds less than 70 Ladies
Do driver shafts come in different lengths?
Almost all drivers being introduced by manufacturers now feature a shaft length of 45 to 45.75 inches. Though some manufacturers have introduced drivers with shaft lengths longer than 46 inches, few have been successful.
How long should my driver shaft length be?
The standard length of a driver for men used to be 43.5 inches with a steel shaft and 44 inches for a graphite shaft. However, in the 21st century a standard driver is considered to be 45 inches.
What length driver shaft do pros use?
between 44-46"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.
Why are golf club shafts different lengths?
As a club is longer (as well as lighter), then it can be swung faster up to a limit. The increased length provides greater leverage and speed to hit the ball further if solid contact is to be made. Shorter clubs are designed not for length, but rather precision.
How long should my driver be based on my height?
Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on HeightHeight (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'4″-5'7″45.5″5'2″-5'4″45″5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″6 more rows•May 9, 2021
What happens if driver shaft is too long?
“If a driver shaft is too long for the player, they can struggle to find the middle consistently. Off-centre hits not only drastically reduce ball speed and distance, but have a big impact on accuracy.”
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.
What happens if you shorten your driver shaft?
Shortening the shaft will make the club shorter but it will also make the shaft stiffer and adjust the swing weight as well. Plus, the more length you remove, the less flex your club will have. Depending on how much you cut it down, it could move a regular flex to a stiff or a stiff to an extra stiff.
What is the best driver length?
The best length of driver for amateur golfers is 45.5 inches, whereas most professional players will instead use a 44.4 inch driver. It's essential that your driver shaft is of the right length.
Does Bryson DeChambeau use same length clubs?
That's right. DeChambeau plays all of his irons -- all of which have unique names -- with the same 37.5-inch shaft and has been doing it since 2011, when he made the switch -- from 3-iron to 60-degree wedge -- with coach Mike Schy.
Why is a driver longer than an iron?
Irons vs Driver To make a good iron swing your weight should be evenly balanced at set-up. Because your irons are shorter than your driver, and because the ball is positioned farther back in your stance, there will be less tilt in your spine.
Do any pro golfers use single length irons?
DeChambeau is currently the only Tour player who uses single-length irons, but Norman said he thinks that could change in the future.
Why is the 44.5 driver longer than the 45.5?
Those two reasons happen to be the same reasons why the 45.5” driver carried longer. The lower launch and lower spin rate from the 44.5” driver created a more penetrating (flatter) ball flight.
How many yds is a 44.5 driver?
On average the 44.5” driver was only 1.8 yds straighter in relationship to the target line compared to the 45.5” driver, and 8 out of 10 of our testers did hit it more accurately, even if most of them only hit it slightly straighter.
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.
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.
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.
Why is shaft length important in golf?
An increased shaft length creates a greater swing-arc, which relates to more distance. Shorter stature golfers often increase the length of the shafts and stand further away from the ball. The longer the shaft the less control and this is where fitment assists.
What happens if you don't have a stiff shaft?
The result is a loss of distance. Added to this the direction control will be lost.
What is carbon fiber shaft?
Modern composite graphite shafts have 3 layers of fiber winding, adding substantial rigidity and performance. Carbon fiber offers increased flex, greater clubhead speed, but reduced accuracy, due to more torque. It also dissipates the stinging shock from a poorly struck shot and will protect the hands and wrist.
What is flex in golf?
Flex. Put very simply, flex is the amount of bend in the shaft. It affects launch angle, spin, ball flight, control, carries, and distance. Shafts are qualified in different ways but reference to flex is the most important. Powerful swings require stiffer shafts which put less load on the shaft.
What weight shafts are available for clubfitters?
Clubfitters now have the option to fit these shafts with weights from 95 to 110gm. This is a reduction from the 115 to 125gm range previously on offer. Steel generally has less flex, more stability, low torque, and provides more accuracy. Standard steel shafts are shorter.
When did steel shafts become legal?
Finally in 1924 steel shafts were legalized and Billy Burke was the 1st to win the US Open with steel. From 1960 to 1970 the aluminum shaft was introduced but besides expensive, it broke very easily. Then followed graphite shafts, displayed at the 1970 PGA merchandise show for the first time.
Is there a real standard for shafts in golf?
It is accepted within the golf industry that there are no real standards when it comes to shaft manufacture and the different properties they all claim to have.
Is Accuracy One Cut Away?
The purpose of Golf Myths Unplugged is to challenge the accepted wisdom of golf, but even we have blind spots. One of those was revealed recently when we realized that we had never tested the concept of shorter driver shafts being more accurate.
How We Tested
For this test, we brought together five golfers with a range of swing speeds and handicaps. Each player hit seven drives with each of three driver shaft lengths: 44″, 45″, and 46″. The shaft ( Nippon Regio Formula B) and head were the same in each test, and the swing weight was held constant.
Conclusion
If you’re in search of more consistency from the tee, don’t be so quick to shorten your driver. While it’s entirely possible that a shorter driver will help you hit it straighter, our data shows that a longer driver could also be the solution.
What is the most important thing about a driver shaft?
One of the most important things about shafts is how they handle the force that a player’s swing will apply. Generally speaking, there are two extremes. Some players apply a late load to their swing, which would require a stiffer tip of the driver shaft. Conversely, a player that extends early in their swing (most recreational golfers) ...
How much weight should a golf shaft be?
Weight. Getting the correct weight of your shaft is an important factor to consider as well. Shafts can range anywhere from 40 to 135 grams. Typically the rule of thumb is that a golfer with a slower swing speed will benefit from using a lighter shaft, and you would add weight as swing speed increases. As you might expect at this point, there are ...
What is the difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts?
The difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts is usually found in quality control. Many times the bigger OEMs will strip off the paint of last year’s model and give them a new exterior. The graphics look attractive, but you really have no idea what is beneath it.
What is the biggest misconception about golf shafts?
One of the biggest misconceptions about shafts is that there are standards out there that manufacturers adhere to. Most golfers assume that a shaft marked regular or stiff will be the same across the board, no matter who they buy it from.
Why didn't Nick Price find a stiff shaft?
Regardless of the similarity in their swing speeds, Nick Price couldn’t find a shaft stiff enough for his swing because he would apply such an enormous amount of force, whereas Couples didn’t need as stiff of a shaft because of his smooth tempo.
Why is shaft profile important?
Getting the right shaft profile for your swing is very important. It will greatly affect your ability to hit quality shots on the course . There is a lot of confusion in the golf shaft industry. With no standards for performance, the quality greatly varies, and often you get what you pay for. We hope that we have cleared up some ...
Is the shaft of a truck the same as the transmission?
It absolutely has an effect on how well you can play. The shaft is similar to the transmission of a car. While it’s not the engine, it’s still extremely important. If you are driving a truck you want a transmission that can handle its particular demands.
What diameter is a golf club shaft?
Golf club shafts currently come in two diameters: 0.355 and 0.370. Why? There is no longer any logical reason for this and it simply makes life unnecessarily more complicated for the golf industry and consumers. Please golf industry, pick one diameter and internationally standardize on it. This is ridiculous.
What is single shaft design?
1) single length design - one single shaft is made that can be used for all irons - by varying the different tip trim amounts. 2) discrete length designs - an actual separate design for each iron. The first is cheep and inexpensive to design and produce so certainly has it's place in the industry on that basis alone.
Why do clubheads have tapered shafts?
The reason was because all the way up through the 1960s the adhesives used to secure shafts in clubheads were pretty poor in terms of shear strength . A tapered construction allowed the shaft to be "swaged" into the hosel to create a bit of a mechanical lock to help secure the shaft in the head .
When were TTemper shafts invented?
As such the 0.335 wood and 0.370 parallel tip UNITIZED shafts were invented by TTemper in the early 70s to reduce the inventory SKU problems that they were subjecting their customers to. Unitized is a term that means one shaft can be trimmed to create two different flexes.
Why is lower torque costing more?
Of the two, lower torque cost more because of the added labor and time required to cut and wrap the smaller layers with fibers at an angle to the axis of the shaft. As a way to save money and get lower torque through common production steps, some of the OEMs chose to just increase the tip diameter.
Is a taper tip iron shaft constant weight?
Interesting thing is that not all taper tip iron shafts today are constant weight. Many start life as a parallel tip unitized shaft, successively tip trimmed at the factory after which the parallel tip is put into a special swaging die to squeeze the tip end down to a 0.355" tapered form.
Is your golf driver shaft too long for you?
What length is your driver shaft? For most golfers, the answer is “no idea”, “a bit longer than my 3-wood” or “not quite long enough to get me out of that bush when I’m using it to measure where I’m allowed to drop”. And why would you know or care? They’re all pretty much the same, right?
Growing pains
Most driver shafts were around 43 inches until the early 1990s. The stock standard now is anywhere from 45.5 to 46.75 inches. There are two reasons for that growth. First, driver head size has increased significantly.
Putting it to the test
We built a Callaway Rogue driver in 43.5, 44.5 and 45.5 inches, with everything but the shaft length identical. The longer shaft did produce the highest average clubhead speed at 97.9mph, which also generated the highest ball speed at 146.1mph.
The long and the short of it
It’s not a simple case of shorten your shaft and your handicap will fall. Your current length may be perfect for you. 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.
Why is the shaft shorter on a golf club?
Making the shaft shorter makes the club shorter, the shaft stiffer, and it will adjust the swing weight. Your club will have less flex when you remove weight. A regular flex can become stiff, and a stiff can become extra stiff when you shorter it, but that all depends on how much you shorten it. You need to be sure this is what you want ...
Why shorten the shaft on a golf driver?
For some people, shortening the driver shaft can help them to hit the ball farther and keep it in play more. That last part is something that we all want to do.
Why is a shorter driver shaft better?
Pros: A shorter driver shaft will shorten the arc of your swing. This will help you to hit the center of the clubface more often. Hitting the center of the clubface more often means you are more likely to keep the ball in play than you were before.
What does a longer shaft mean?
A longer shaft means a wider arc to your swing and that creates more speed. But hitting the center of the clubface is much more important. A shorter driver shaft means a shorter arc in your swing and that makes hitting the center of the clubface easier. Many players don’t lose any clubhead speed when they shorten their driver shaft by about an inch.
How long is the average driver on the PGA Tour?
On the PGA Tour, the average driver length is 44.5 inches. That’s shorter than the standard 45-46 inches.
Does shortening your driver shaft help?
More practice equals more consistency. Yes, better equipment helps. And equipment that is attuned to your needs helps even more. Shortening your driver shaft could be beneficial for you and combining that with the want to improve is a step in the right direction.
Does shortening a driver shaft make your handicap fall?
Most professional golfers are aware of the benefits that shortening their driver shaft, at least a little, can give them. This doesn’t mean that shorten ing your driver shaft will immediately make your handicap fall. The biggest factor is still your technique and how you play.
Why is a stiffer shaft better for golf?
Also, a stiffer shaft tends to help reduce dispersion as the club can move less through impact and so be more consistent.
What does it mean when you get the wrong flex of shaft?
This means that getting the wrong flex of shaft means that you will give up distance and control of the ball with your driver.
How fast can a stiff shaft hit?
Who benefits from a stiff shaft? A good tip for working out what flex you need is the 150-yard test. If you can hit an 8- or 9-iron 150 yards, comfortably, then a stiff shaft is for you. This means that you will have a driver swing speed of around 100 mph and you will see the benefits of a stiff shaft.
Why use a stiffer shaft in wedges?
Most wedges come with a less flexible shaft as it can improve control for your shortgame.
What is torque in golf?
Torque is how much a shaft resists twisting during the golf swing. This feature has a huge role to play in how easy it is to deliver the clubface square through impact and therefore how accurate it will be. This isn’t really something you need to know but your pro or fitter will be well-aware of it.
Can regular shafts be used with high swing speeds?
Be open-minded. Like almost anything in golf, there are no hard and fast rules so sometimes certain regular shafts can perform well with high swing speeds. Your tempo and how you load the shaft has an effect on what flex you need so speak to an expert about this too.
Is custom fitting available for golf clubs?
The more you learn about golf shafts the more complicated it can seem, thankfully there are people out there that are real experts on this and are here to help you. Custom fitting is now available to all golfers and you should take advantage of it when buying new gear.
Is Accuracy One Cut away?
The Myths
- Myth #1 – Shorter driver shafts are more accurate Myth #2 – Shorter driver shafts produce more consistent distance Myth #3 – Longer driver shafts create more club head speed Myth #4 – Longer driver shafts create more ball speed Myth #5 – Longer driver shafts create longer drives Myth #6 – Only better players can benefit from longer shafts
How We Tested
- For this test, we brought together five golfers with a range of swing speeds and handicaps. Each player hit seven drives with each of three driver shaft lengths: 44″, 45″, and 46″. The shaft (Nippon Regio Formula B) and head were the same in each test, and the swing weight was held constant. Each player tested the shafts in a different, random order. All testing was done at, and with the h…
The Results
- Our testing found no clear link between shaft length and accuracy. If we look at the offline average, we see that three players did their best with the 44″ shaft. However, two of those three were nearly as good with a different length. If we look at Player 3, he was best at 46″ by a whopping 10 yards over 45″ and almost 23 yards better than 44″. We also looked at dispersion, …
Conclusion
- If you’re in search of more consistency from the tee, don’t be so quick to shorten your driver. While it’s entirely possible that a shorter driver will help you hit it straighter, our data shows that a longer driver could also be the solution. Whether you’re searching for distance, accuracy, or a little of both, make an appointment with a trusted club fitterto find the optimal length for your driver.