Hi Guys,

Just interested as to what length driver everyone plays with?

mine was off the rack so whatever standard is is that 45 (correct me if I'm wrong club gurus )...when I get reshafted will drop an inch though as this seems wise...

But I grip it down slightly to get more control if Im having a bad day

Got semi-fitted for mine, ie went to golf shop and hit a dozen different head/shaft combos before deciding on one based upon launch monitor performance and my own comfort with the driver.

I think though that it is significantly too long. It is much longer (inch, inch and a half) than any other driver I've played. I want to get it cut down to 43.5 or 44, but am worried about what changes that'll make to the performance of the stick. So for the mean time I grip it almost at the low end of the grip and it's working well.

45.5"

griiping it down does work but word of caution...it does feel and

emphasis feels

like the shaft becomes slightyly stiffer for some reason...makes sense though...but I could be wrong

I experimented last week with holding the club as far on the end as I could like Adam gilchrist does with the cricket bat...and I was hitting really long fades (like much longer than my usual fade)..nice shot to have

again need an expert...would gripping it down also change the kick point...again experts where are you??..virge and others

is 45 standard..and where do I measure from??...

I am running at 44.5

44" at the moment.
I'm 6' tall & it's pure control.
Jon...

QUOTE: Sven @ Dec 29 2006, 12:06 PM

again need an expert...would gripping it down also change the kick point...again experts where are you??..virge and others

is 45 standard..and where do I measure from??...

45" has become the standard in modern drivers but most golfers are better off with a shorter driver than this.

Gripping down or trimming from the butt end of the club will not alter shaft stiffness or profile to any noticeable degree.

The reason the club feels and plays differently when shortened this way is that the swingweight / MOI has been altered. The shorter you make the club, the lighter it becomes. A longer (heavier) club takes longer to release and this is possibly the cause of the fades.

I know that if I have to hit a draw with the driver, I will grip down about an inch. This allows me to release the clubhead more easily.

Mick

QUOTE: vman @ Dec 29 2006, 12:03 PM

Gripping down or trimming from the butt end of the club will not alter shaft stiffness or profile to any noticeable degree.

... just makes things a lot easier. I am at 44" at the moment and am hitting much better for it. Considering going down to 43.5".

Used a long[er] driver the other day for the first time in a while -46" - way too hard to control.

Fyi - I think the std lenght of Ping drivers is 45.5 or 45.75". Crazy.

QUOTE: vman @ Dec 29 2006, 01:03 PM

45" has become the standard in modern drivers but most golfers are better off with a shorter driver than this.

Gripping down or trimming from the butt end of the club will not alter shaft stiffness or profile to any noticeable degree.

The reason the club feels and plays differently when shortened this way is that the swingweight / MOI has been altered. The shorter you make the club, the lighter it becomes. A longer (heavier) club takes longer to release and this is possibly the cause of the fades.

I know that if I have to hit a draw with the driver, I will grip down about an inch. This allows me to release the clubhead more easily.

Mick

thanks mick...

45"

45.0 ...hope I remember 1" lower on the grip aids a draw!

44.5"

44.5"

43.75

Edit: 44.5 from a 45. Didnt notice much difference and if anything didnt feel as good...

44.5"...much better control and no lack in distance. Spanking the driver atm

44" normally choke down 1/2 to 1"

A fitted 44" T70 Accra

QUOTE: vman @ Dec 29 2006, 02:03 PM

45" has become the standard in modern drivers but most golfers are better off with a shorter driver than this.

Gripping down or trimming from the butt end of the club will not alter shaft stiffness or profile to any noticeable degree.

The reason the club feels and plays differently when shortened this way is that the swingweight / MOI has been altered. The shorter you make the club, the lighter it becomes. A longer (heavier) club takes longer to release and this is possibly the cause of the fades.

I know that if I have to hit a draw with the driver, I will grip down about an inch. This allows me to release the clubhead more easily.

Mick

Mick,"the shorter it becomes the lighter it becomes," you obviously mean that if you alter the length of the club it will also reduce/increase the swingweight accordingly, either more or less, eg: 45"@ D3 cut off 1" = 44"@ D0 ?
If you cut 1" off the butt end it will also alter the total weight of the club, then you can put the swingweight back in the head end with either lead tape/tip weights, to reinstate the original feel of the swingweight.
Jon...

QUOTE: golfguy33 @ Dec 31 2006, 04:47 PM

Mick,"the shorter it becomes the lighter it becomes," you obviously mean that if you alter the length of the club it will also reduce/increase the swingweight accordingly, either more or less, eg: 45"@ D3 cut off 1" = 44"@ D0 ?

Yes, that is what I meant.

If you cut 1" off the butt end it will also alter the total weight of the club, then you can put the swingweight back in the head end with either lead tape/tip weights, to reinstate the original feel of the swingweight.
Jon...

The 'total' weight will only be reduced by a few grams which is really neither here nor there. The big difference is to swingweight (as above) and more importantly MOI of the club.

Certainly the original swingweight or MOI can be regained by adding more weight to the head.

Mick

44''

45"

44"

QUOTE: philsom68 @ Dec 29 2006, 09:52 AM

Hi Guys,

Just interested as to what length driver everyone plays with?

Here is the washup from everyone who responded.

Length Played:

43.75"* 1
44" * 6
44.5" * 5
45" * 4
45.5" * 1

Very interesting.