Perhaps more than anything else, added shaft length has increased driver distances. In the last 25 years, the average driver shaft length has gradually moved from 43 inches to 45.75 inches. A longer shaft produces more swing speed.
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.
How to hit longer drives in golf?
10 things golfers need to do to hit longer drives. 1 1. Groove center contact. While it may seem a bit obvious, hitting your driver properly in the center of the face makes a huge difference. One of the ... 2 2. Get a good setup. 3 3. Turn your torso. 4 4. Get a good grip. 5 5. Swing in a circle. More items
How long do golf drivers last?
Assuming you’re like the average golfer who plays 30-40 rounds per year, you can expect your driver to last for about 5 years without any issues with performance. However, if you play more than this, you might want to consider replacing your driver sooner.
What causes low drives in golf?
Also, make sure not to swing too quickly and "lunge" at the ball, as this can create a low drive as well. Often times, a low drive is caused simply by teeing the ball up too low.
Why are golf drivers so long?
Driver shafts are getting longer. And that's because, at least in theory, a longer shaft will produce more clubhead speed, and a longer drive. So putting a longer shaft in their brand new driver, allows manufacturers to claim that it's their longest driver yet.
How long should golf drivers be?
around 45 inchesDetermining the best driver length for you. Standard, off-the-rack drivers usually check in around 45 inches, while the USGA limits driver length to 48 inches for its competitions.
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.
How do I know if my golf driver is too long?
How to Tell if Your Golf Clubs are Too LongCompletely upright posture.Improper golf swing.Odd ball flight.Feels cumbersome and unmanageable.Shaft feels weak.Consistency hitting with the toe.The measurements are wrong.
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 is Bryson DeChambeau's driver?
Bryson DeChambeau can only use a 48-inch driver when he's competing in Long Drive Association events. Golf's governing bodies announced a new “model local rule” available Jan. 1 that would limit the maximum length of all clubs except the putter to 46 inches.
How long should my driver be for 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
Do longer drivers go further?
True? 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.
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.
How do you shorten a driver?
1:144:01How to Cut Golf Shaft DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for the first step you have to remove your old grip. I find the easiest way to do this is toMoreSo for the first step you have to remove your old grip. I find the easiest way to do this is to literally just cut a line all the way down your club.
Should I choke down on my driver?
When a shot comes up that requires the best of your accuracy, but you still want to hit your driver, consider choking down on the grip of the club. Even moving down the grip by just an inch or two can go a long way toward improving your accuracy.
How long is Rickie Fowler's driver?
Inspired by Rickie Fowler's 43.5” driver used on Tour, the SPEEDZONE™ Tour Length driver is configured with a shorter 44.5” playing length, and 18g & 6g weights to help deliver more accuracy off the tee without sacrificing distance. *Please note, custom clubs are currently taking 7 days before shipping.
How long should my driver be for 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
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.
Does the length of a driver matter?
Here's a general rule to use – the longer the driver, the more distance you will get. Testing from different companies has found that each inch longer can help you hit it 5-10+ yards longer!
How do you size a golf driver?
Simply hold your golf club at 45 degrees to the ground or as in your playing position. At this point take a golf club ruler or take measure and place under the sole of the club. Measure to butt of grip. This will give you you an accurate and USGA standard for measuring your golf driver.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
When your golf ball is forward with your driver, the ability to tilt your shoulders back and away from the target allows the
When your ball position is forward with your driver, the ability to tilt your shoulders back and away from the target allows the shoulder alignment to stay relatively parallel to the alignment of the face, but yet contact the golf ball on an upward angle where the club makes contact with the back of the ball.
How to get more yardage in golf?
Here are some fundamentals and techniques that will help you to gain this additional yardage. 1. Groove center contact. While it may seem a bit obvious, hitting your driver properly in the center of the face makes a huge difference.
What is a golf swing?
A golf swing is a circle and proper swing path has a lot to do with maximizing distance. A club head that cuts across the golf ball will produce a glancing contact and not produce the distance you might like. A great way to insure proper path is to practice with an alignment aid just outside your golf ball.
How to make a swooshing noise on a golf swing?
One of the simplest ways is to take one of your woods or your driver and turn it upside down and hold the shaft just below the club head. Making your normal swing, you will want to make the grip make as loud of a swooshing noise at the bottom of your swing, where the ball would be.
How to check distance of golf club?
A great way to check this is to hug your club in the middle of your chest and then bow forward until the club shaft drops between your legs. Next, tilt away from the target until the club shaft makes contact with your lead leg.
Does the right golf ball make a difference?
Does the right golf ball make a difference? Yes! It does. It can be incredibly confusing with all of the options out there and the names and design characteristics change every year. Some companies offer ball fittings, and if you have the opportunity to take advantage of this you should. If not, feel free to ask your club professional what golf ball they think you should try and start there. It can also be fun to try your own experiment. Ask for three suggestions and try each. I think you will be surprised how obvious it is when you find the right golf ball for you.
How long should a golf driver last?
According to Golf Channel, drivers should last approximately 5 years assuming reasonable use (30-40 rounds per year). This means players who play less than 30-40 rounds per year should consider replacing their driver every 5-7 years, while players who play more than this should replace their driver every 3-5 years.
What can cause a golfer to lose distance off the tee?
Injuries – many common golf injuries (back, knees, golfer’s elbow) can significantly reduce clubhead speed and decrease distance off the tee. Improper swing path – swinging on an over-the-top plane is one of the biggest distance-killers out there. Changes in elevation – at higher altitudes, the golf ball will travel further. ...
What happens if you notice a drop off on the tee?
1. You Notice a Sudden Decrease in Distance. If you notice a significant drop off in your distance off the tee for no apparent reason, it might be time to consider replacing your driver. Often, this is a result of a small crack in the clubface that is barely visible to the naked eye.
How far can you hit the golf ball at 40 degrees?
Changes in temperature – cold weather can significantly reduce your distance off the tee. At 40 degrees, you can expect to hit the ball up to 10 yards shorter than you would at 70-90 degrees.
Do golf driver wear out?
Yes, after a certain amount of time (or use) your driver will wear out. So if you’re a range rat who hits a bucket of balls before and after every round, your driver won’t last as long. Keep in mind, if you have a fast swing speed, your driver will wear out much quicker compared to someone with a slow swing speed.
What happens if you hit a golf driver too high?
If you are hitting golf driver too high on a regular basis, there is a good chance that you are swinging down into the ball. In golf swings that are using a downward angle while hitting a driver, two outcomes are likely, and neither of them are positive –. The pop up. This is the main problem that we are trying to avoid.
Why is my golf swing so high?
Cause: Swing is too upright – By standing very close to the ball, you force the backswing onto a steep or upright plane. There are several ways this can create a ball flight that’s too high; for instance, you may make impact on a descending angle, or swing on an outside-to-inside (over-the-top) path.
Why is my golf ball teed so low?
Cause: Ball is teed too low – It may seem counter-intuitive, but teeing the ball low causes you to hit down, producing excessive backspin and high, short drives. Cure: Tee it higher – With the driver, about half the ball should be above the top line of the face.
Why is hitting your driver too high a problem?
Hitting your golf driver too high trajectory is also troublesome because most courses don’t start mowing the fairway for a hundred yards or so off the tee. That means a golf ball flight too high with driver will probably fall short of the fairway cut and force you to play the next shot from a poor lie in the rough.
Why is my drive so high?
Causes and Cures: Drives are Too High – Golf Tip. It’s possible to hit your drives too high, even when you make solid contact. Obviously, excess height will decrease how far the ball rolls, and it can hurt your carry distance, too. Hitting the ball extra high with the driver is generally a sign of too much backspin.
What happens if you avoid the crown of the club?
Even if you avoid the crown of the club and manage to hit the club face at impact, you are still going to be left with a drive that flies too high and falls way short of your distance potential. Since the club is moving down through impact, you are going to generate more backspin than you want on a tee shot.
What does hitting up on your iron shots mean?
Hitting up on your iron shots is a recipe for thin shots, topped shots, shanks, and more. Basically, nothing good is going to result if you are hitting up on your iron shots. With that said, the story is pretty much reversed when it comes to hitting the driver.