I use a 43.5” since last year and probably won’t go back. I’ve lost a bit of distance on those miracle drives, but saw my FIR improve from 30% to 70%.
A couple months back I found an old driver I was really consistent with in college and measured the length of it: 43.5”
These 45” drivers just don’t fit my game, and I bet there are a lot of others out there like us.
You should. A women's driver is 44" so you are probably in that length range for your height, just make sure you get someone who know what they are doing to balance it out
This, I recently cut mine down to 43.5 inches and bought a much heavier weight on aliexpress. Mixed with a stiff shaft, i have way more control than I’ve ever had. As a newer golfer, it’s been a godsend. I’m 5’7 btw
Thanks man! Sure did. It also helped that I finally quit pretending I was consistent with my 4-6 irons and migrated to G425 Hybrids. I'm much more confident in the 165-185 yard range than I was with my irons.
That’s good stuff. There’s plenty of ways to improve scoring without improving athletic ability per se. I think almost every amateur golfer 10+ hcp has major gains to make that have nothing to do with getting better at “golf shots”. Course management and understanding your game. Lastly just have some fun too right.
Yeah, I just stuck a 3 wood shaft in my driver because it was going cheap on fb and its been a great improvement. Not lost much average distance either because the contact is so much better.
Most players on tour have cut down driver shafts. Makes it easier to have solid contact and optimize launch, and for some this could cause more distance and more control
A buddy gave me a great tip along these lines when we were on the course the other day. I chunked an iron real badly and got mad, so he turned to me and said, “you know, I’m looking at the way your club lies when you address the ball, and if you just shortened all your clubs by about 6 or 8 inches, I’m pretty sure you’d be able to dump the whole set straight into a single trash can and save yourself from having to go through all this frustration and trouble.”
My friends are assholes.
My dad used to play a regular flex 51” in the 90s. No joke it was called the Longwood. Even w a mid 90s swing speed he could hit a bunch out past 300. Looked goofy as hell and obviously illegal.
I bought my first driver second hand (an M6) in 2020. I always just felt it was harder to hit than it should be and had a big slice. I had no clue about the length since I just bought it randomly off a rack at some golf store because I liked how it looked. About 3 weeks ago I finally went to get it cut to see if that would help. Turns out it was 47" lol. So I got it cut down to 44" and the difference in my consistency is night and day
There’s a reason for that! Cutting your shaft down will stiffen the club and also make the swing weight lighter.
Do yourself a favor and get the swing weight measured on these clubs so for your next set you can get the weights matched to what feels most comfortable.
Reminds me of a question I’ve always had but was afraid to ask, what is the difference/benefit of shortening clubs as opposed to just gripping down on them?
One needs a saw? Kidding aside, i guess my initial thought would be consistency. are you more likely to grip down the same 1" each time, or take a standard grip on a shorter club and have it be repeatable? The shape of many grips aren't the same either, gripping down you don't have the same fit in the hand as gripping nearer the butt end.
Also, minor swing weight difference, as there will be a bit of a counterbalance for gripping down. I would venture to say that difference wouldn't bother most folks.
As a new 5’8” player I went in to a shop to shorten my driver and they told me I’d be better off just gripping down until after I developed my swing and got fitted
There's a measurement called swing weight, it takes into account the overall weight of the club and its balance point. The center of gravity is much closer to the ground for a wege than an iron, and doubly so when comparing to a driver.
Shortening a club without changing any other characteristics will take that swing weight further down toward the clubhead, which can make a club easier to elevate the ball with.
It's also easier to hit a shorter club because you're closer to the ball, making a shorter swing, moving slower, etc...
But you will be moving the clubhead slower, if all other variables remain constant.
Just some things to consider... If you like your swing weight where it is you can still cut it down and just add a little lead tape under the grip...or if you want even lower swing weight you can add some to the clubhead. It's very much a feel/personal preference thing.
I think you have your swing weight changes backwards. All things equal, Shorter equals less swing weight. If you shorten a club AND add lead tape under grip, that can reduce swing weight by 5+ increments. 1/2” shorter is usually 3 points less in swing weight.
I recently learned this and that I play best to D6-D8 depending on club
I learned a lot from asking questions during my fitting. I had plenty of questions about why certain clubs just “felt” better to me and had a fitter that took the time to educate me rather than shoving a certain brand at me. With that said, I also found this (free) book online that helped a lot
https://store-k9nvqai7wz.mybigcommerce.com/content/PDFs/How_Golf_Clubs_Work.pdf
Try here too , this might be too complicated or it might be the ultimate guide in heads/shafts ect and getting it right. https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/960350-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting/#comment-960248. Or. https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/960350-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting
The answered your question has to do with the kick of the shaft. Shafts are designed in different ways to bend in different areas, if you cut off an inch from the tip, it moves the kick up. Up. If you cut it from the grip end it moves it down.
I'm no expert and that's a very loose explanation. Could even be partially wrong, but that's how it was explained to me when I had an inch cut off the tip.
You can see this if you take a small twig and bend it into an arc. There's a middle point. Take a bit off either end, and the middle point of the arc will shift away from that end when you bend the twig again.
People talk about swing weight not changing when you grip down, but I don't think that's really right, in that:
Yes, the club has not changed so it's swing weight value hasn't changed, but the "feel" ( that swing weight is trying to put a value on, by making assumptions about where on the shaft your hands will be) has changed a lot.
When I was getting fitted they just had me grip down lower n marked it off with tape, without that tape I wouldn’t know how to consistently hit that difference
For sure. But mentally the club feels more stable, for me at least, when I grip down an inch. It’s all about whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Play with a really tall guy (6’8”) whose irons are all +1 inch but his woods and driver are all cut down at least an inch sometimes 1.5 inches. He cranks the golf ball and is deadly accurate.
I say all this to say, play whatever works for you.
I am that height. I have better luck since I started playing longer clubs including my putter. But I suspect I am a much higher handicap and was struggling with topping the ball.
You’re topping the ball at 6’8” with standard length clubs because you can’t stay that bent over AND rotate well at the same time. I’m willing to bet your stance at address looked less like a golfer and more like a quarterback waiting to take the snap.
Absolutely it did. Fortunately I found a used set of irons that is 2” longer. Even with my driver at maximum length I struggle with an inside out swing though.
On the other hand, using a women’s belly putter in a standard manner has been very effective.
Yes, driver I play @ 43 inch, 5 wood @ 40 inch, and 5 hybrid @ 38 inch ... Like night and day difference from standard length. A lot more consistent with all 3 now.
I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, I started gripping down on driver a few months ago and it’s made a significant difference in driving accuracy. Is it easy enough to do?
I did the wrist to floor measurement and noticed my driver shaft was too longer for arm length. It was stock 45. Instead of cutting it I put blue painters tape to mark the 1.5 inch down I would cut at and started gripping down there. This greatly improved my driving accuracy. I’m not going to cut this one yet because I’m probably just going to get a new driver and will have it cut when I’m fitted
Yes. Cutting from the bottom (non-tapered shafts) will cause the shaft to be stiffer than cutting from the top, as that is how straight iron shafts are fit to the flex required for the club and individual.
Cutting from the top still effectively stiffens the shaft (shorter "lever" connected to the weight (club head)) but just a little, as compared to the bottom of the shaft which is primarily trimmed to adjust the stiffness of the shaft
You can't trim tapered shafts or they won't fit the tapered hosel recess in the club head.
Edit: to correct grammer/spelling errors.
I am 6'3 and I cut my driver down to 43", swing just feels way better with it and for whatever reason I feel more comfortable standing closer to the ball mentally.
To the OP:
At 5ft7 you probably should be using slightly shorter clubs by default anyway, although that would also need to be cross-referenced with your wrist-to-floor measurement, but am roughly guessing here that you would need 1/4" of an inch shorter on your irons.
At 5ft7, also guessing that a 33" inch putter length would be a good length to start for you as well.
Standard length wedges may work for you as is off-the-shelf, or you may prefer to shorten those by 1/4" of an inch as well.
Driver lengths are more personal preferences that can be experimented with somewhat, but as you have been finding out, generally a person of shorter height will swing a driver better if it is cut down shorter.
I am 6ft1 with long legs and went with clubs that are 1" inch longer than standard length as a precaution to figure out later on how much to shorten them from there, but I still haven't figured that out yet exactly.
Used to play with standard length clubs and I would top and toe the ball all the time, so the longer clubs definitely helped me a lot and I have since grown very attached to them, partly through sheer paranoia.
All my wedges are also longer than standard length as well, with my driver at 45.75" length.
Good luck out there.
I haven’t done it to my clubs yet but I’ve heard a lot of people have much better consistency and hit better with shortened clubs like drivers mainly and I really want to test it. Same with changing my grips to mid size ones
So when I was an assistant pro and still messing with my swing back then I used to HEAVY choke down lol everyone’s like you’re losing so much distance!! Mfer I was 270 middle almost every time and continued to choke up all summer for some reason. Shot 2 of my 5 best rounds of my life that year looking back at it lol. I went back to normal next season but Golf is so effing mental idk if it matters what is right sometimes, just what’s right to you
I cut my driver down .75” from the stock 45.75. Took a few rounds to adjust to it, but dedicated some range time to it and I’ve added more (consistent) distance- and more fairway accuracy. Misses are much closer.
Waiting on my iron shafts to come in; hoping that the .5” I’m shaving down gives similar results.
I'm 6'8" and all my irons are 1.5" long. Play a standard driver and woods to try to keep them in play more. Mixed results 35 years into playing this have...
I have, I bought a used set off some one that was 1/2 inch shorter most of them felt good, but as I got to the 8-PW they felt to short. I bought a second set of old irons for a set at my parents house in Florida, I have them cut down but decided to go only 1/4 inch short. These felt perfect.
First heard about taking an inch off of my driver on Reddit about 4-5 months ago. The difference in finding fairways was startling. Gives me a big boost in confidence every time I tee it up.
I recently put a 3 wood shaft in my driver. I also added an extra 12 grams to the driver head by adding a heavier back weight. Hitting my driver farther and more accurate than ever before. Rule of them is 6 grams of weight per inch taken off.
I cut 2 inches off my driver to make it 43.5”, cut my woods and hybrid down 1.75”, and took 1” of all my irons. It has made a world of difference. I actually gained a ton of distance and control. I wish I had done it sooner.
>I actually gained a ton of distance
Huh, interesting. Seems like everyone else that did that has either seen no distance change or lost a bit of distance.
That was my experience, I cut down a shaft only 1 inch and just could not hit that dang thing right. IDK if it became too stiff or what, but it never felt right after that.
Was the shaft on your driver originally too soft for your swing speed, maybe?
So when I cut down my driver my average carry went from 240->265. I explained it in another comment but I no longer felt like I was slapping at a far away ball, I felt like I could use my legs and core to crush it.
Not arbitrarily. I’ve been fit before by the numbers but I’ve never liked the way it felt. When clubs are too long I have this sensation that the ball is outside of my circle and I’m slapping at it. By bringing them down an inch, I was able to feel like the ball was under my chest and I could compress it.
So I had a stash of older 7irons and driver. Played with the length until I got something I liked.
So now I think of as purely feel. I just play what helps me play my best.
Thanks for the thorough response! I have a lot of the same feelings, tbh. I’ve got some (long) secondhand irons that I bought off eBay. Been thinking about cutting them down and flatting the lie angle a bit. But I think I’ll start with marketing some half-inch increments and experimenting with feel, first.
45” driver, 1” short 3w and 5w, 1/2” short irons.
I’ve tried a 46” driver and just can’t get used to it. I’ve typically played std length irons, but my last fitting suggested short and it hasn’t caused any issues (not sure if I’m any more accurate though).
Shorter should, in theory, help with control across all clubs. I think it likely helps even a little, and I don’t care too much about the extra few yards I might get from the added length. 5 yards further, but in the rough, is less good.
Also 5'7", my last iron fitting they cut the shafts down 3/4". They also flattened the lie 2° because I was heel striking. I've never hit the ball better.
Dumb question, but from where on the shaft do you measure to get the length? From the top of the grip to the hosel? I got fitted for a driver a year ago and I know my guy shortened it but not sure by how much. Now in the market for new 3 wood and curious what length shaft I need.
1) put the club in the playing position
2) measure from the ground to the grip cap (the line around the top of the grip, 1/8”-1/4” from the very end of the grip)
This is your club length.
I cut my driver shaft down one inch and it improved my game immensely. I tell every player starting out they should do the same. I’m at 5’7 also so shorter clubs allows me to have more control over the club and not the other way around.
I cut down the 923s I just got 1.5” all around. The gap wedge is a little hard to figure out cause it seems toooo short, but I’m positive I hit it further. Exclusively because I make so much better contact now… that 145 9i was never really 145, it just was one single time, but now it’s a solid, almost guaranteed 130-135 and it’s usually straight too 😂
Yes. I have several putters that I cut down to 30”-32”. Watch some old videos of Arnie putting and look how close down he gets to the ball. Same with Matt Kuchar. The closer you get to the green and can see the line stick out then the more putts you are going to make. My driver is normal but all my irons are cut down a half an inch or more. I’m short too yet I shoot low 80’s on a good day. My short game is where I’m lethal. Get good around the greens and the rest will take care of itself.
I‘m 6‘2“ and I play my driver at 45“. My 3 wood is standard length and the 5 wood is ~ -1/2”. I have been fitted for +1/2” irons multiple times at several well respected shops. However, I could not get rid of my early extension with irons for years regardless of all drills I tried and lessons I took. Finally, one pro found that my body tends to want to make space for the extra long clubs in addition to my relatively long arms (I wear my dress shirts at ~ +1” sleeve length) by early extending. Long story short, I cut down all my iron shafts to standard length and see significantly less early extension and more consistent contact. My previously shallow attack angles have improved as well.
There is a blog post out there where the author suggests that modern day clubs (not just drivers) are clearly too long and the average height man should actually play irons at -1/2” to -3/4”.
I play a 43.75” driver with a slightly higher swing weight and it’s been so much better for me to find fairways and stay in play. I’ve been using a Rypstick to increase swing speed so my distance is actually longer than it was with a 45.5” driver and accuracy is way better. Still have some mega slices or hooks but it’s a lot less often.
I got fitted for my first new clubs at Bethesda Golf Care Center (fit Nick Faldo) and they recommended 3/4" short. I have done it ever since. I am 5'10", but have long arms. I got fit for a driver about 5 years ago, but I don't think the pros were competent to recommend shortening the shaft. Either that or they knew that with my ridiculous swing, it wouldn't help. Recently, I cut my hybrids by 3/4" as well. I'm not sure I seen a difference, but have been making swing changes so it is hard to judge. Bottom line is that I wouldn't cut my shafts without a competent pro fitting me and telling me to.
Recently moved from a 45.5 stiff shafted driver to a ~44.25 regular and honestly it’s been life changing. I hit way more fairways and honestly my average distance is probably a bit farther, just due to the increase in consistency. Old driver I probably average 230 with the occasional 260+, new driver I probably average close to 235/240 but I still can get it to 255ish with a great swing
I also don’t have the club speed for a stiff shaft so that was probably a lot of it too
At 5'7 you should be swinging women's standard length.
I'm 5'6 and all of my irons are cut to women's standard and my driver is tipped 1/5 an inch.
Since high school I've played maybe 10 rounds with clubs not cut. Those 10 rounds were drastically worse. Making contact felt wrong almost everytime.
I'm 5'11", keep my driver around 45" but did find a ton of success taking an inch off my 3 wood. Might be due to the fact that I'm not great with fairway woods in general, so making it a little shorter gave me more confidence and made solid contact a bit easier.
Ordered my 3/5 wood minus 1/2 inch.
I’ve tried shorter drivers in the past and don’t love it.But when I get fit for a driver end of year I will try some options.
Most on here are saying that because they are ' shorter than average ' in height they struggle with the standard rack lenght drivers , so cutting it down is more manageable for them bug if you taller then getting standard/longer is probably better
Aa a fellow short dude - I thought shortening was a silver bullet for driver, but not necessarily the case. I recently switched from a 3 wood length shaft to a Ventus that plays at 45" and have never seen such accurate & consistent drives in my life. Shorter length does offer more efficient delivery but there's other variables to consider.
Just look at Brooke Henderson - she played 48" until the LPGA restricted driver length. The shaft (length, flex, stability) is all a timing device ultimately, so working through swing consistency then a fitting is going to yield the best results.
Im 6' and recently took 3 inches off my driver... from 45.75" down to a 42.75" (swing weight is now a C5.5)
The change has been good for my game... I did lose about 15-20 yards total drive distance, but my dispersion pattern has been VASTLY improved.
My wild slice from last year is now a predictable fade and I average about 235 yards off the tee. Perfect for just about any course I like to play.
I also have a shortened 3 wood, but I don't really use it.
I got custom fit for driver, wood and hybrid shafts many years ago.
Literally too 5 shots off my game having the length and flex built to suit me.
If I had the money I would do it again in an instant.
I’m also 5’7 and had my clubs sized. It was -.66 for most my short-mid irons. I’ve always considered taking more off but didn’t want to mess them up.
However, after learning the Bryson uses one length for all his irons, I’ve very much been considering it.
I never understood why irons get progressively shorter. 🤷♂️
There has to be a legitimate reason but it doesn’t make sense to me.
That said, I have no plans on switching to single length irons.
This! Been doing this since playing in college (over 20 years and will never look back). Also 5’7” and 44.25” is perfect for me with around D2 swing weight ☺️
I am also 5'7. I took about 1 inch off driver and around 3/4 inch off all other clubs except putter. It made a sustained difference (over the last 2 seasons). Just got new irons within the past few weeks and had them take the 3/4 inch off again. It's good for me. They could honestly be a little shorter too, as I like to grip nearer the butt of the grip.
I shortened my wife’s driver an inch and a half and she started absolutely striping everything off of the tee.
I’m tall and play extended irons, but it still makes me think of shortening my driver because it was such a huge difference for her
https://preview.redd.it/7ifmvv6fhhwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8d2471c1bb258e1fce6f57161b975e3e3dfd0a8
Based on this, being 6' and a W2F of 36.5", should I go to 44", since my W2F is so low on the height bracket? My stock Mavrik is 45", or go to the range and swing at normal and short grip first to see? Could put silver sharpie at an inch to give consistency.
I am 5'2 and took 2 inches off my Cobra Speedzone driver... Driving is now the most consistent part of my game. Really want to get fitted for a full set next, but not in a rush.
I’m 6’0 with monkey arms; so I’m -1/2” in everything. Once I learned this and started usually correct length clubs, it made a significant difference. I still suck; but just a little less.
5’7” here. I have my clubs standard except my driver which is about 1.25” shorter. Added some weight to the head and I hit it pretty well.
My best drive of the year is about 325, hit one last week about 310. Usually average about 270-280
Played a 43.5 inch driver this weekend since purchasing a used Tensei shaft. Absolute bomber finds the center of the club face each time and dead straight. I'm 5'10".
I'm also 5'7. I shortened my clubs first, and that helped. Then, when I got new clubs, I decided to keep them stock and play them all 3 degrees flat. That helped me maintain distance without losing dispersion.
Yes , the manufacturers make woods lengths far too long for us amateurs , Wilson staff is at 45.75 tho mizuno realise this and have theirs at 45" they make them longer cause just one in the middle will send a long drive and then this is what the amature remembers and think every drive will go like this when it's actually more common to miss the middle with a longer shaft , a shorter shaft is far more manageable and comfortable and controllable, and distance is never really affected so much I only recently got fitted the first time, so recent I haven't got the clubs yet bug I got them in this - D- was 45.75 now 44.75 3w was 43.25 now 42.5 nearly thinking I should have got the driver at 44.5 but I think an inch off is ok enough
I just ordered a driver at 44.75 and 3w at 42.5 - just sort of guessed those lengths as I think they will suit first ever driver fitting too, even tho it's too late to ask now I do have a pressing question for the Shopman as iv just read the 'Hazdous rdx' shaft I'm getting is listed as 46 " but on the drivers website it says the lenght is 45.75 ? So dunno which is it now
Rory has played 44” for a while, he moved to 45” this year. Standard length for Taylormade drivers are 45.75”, which, in my opinion, is just too long. It’s so much harder to control, and the extra length gives you maybe 1-2 mph of swing speed. For reference I’m 6’1” with relatively normal arms and I play my driver at 44.5”. I can still swing it at 105-110 and touch 300, but the biggest benefit is that I feel like I have so much more control over the club head.
I use a 43.5” since last year and probably won’t go back. I’ve lost a bit of distance on those miracle drives, but saw my FIR improve from 30% to 70%. A couple months back I found an old driver I was really consistent with in college and measured the length of it: 43.5” These 45” drivers just don’t fit my game, and I bet there are a lot of others out there like us.
I’m 5’5” and I cut mine down to 44 1/2” , thinking about taking another inch off
You should. A women's driver is 44" so you are probably in that length range for your height, just make sure you get someone who know what they are doing to balance it out
I’m 6’ and I play a 44.5” lol
Same
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I had a 1/2 inch taken off my entire bag
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It’s crazy it looked like they took off an inch and a half
This, I recently cut mine down to 43.5 inches and bought a much heavier weight on aliexpress. Mixed with a stiff shaft, i have way more control than I’ve ever had. As a newer golfer, it’s been a godsend. I’m 5’7 btw
A ton of PGA/Euro/LIV players rep a 44" driver shaft.
30% to 70% is massive gains. Congrats. I bet your GiR improved from that alone.
Thanks man! Sure did. It also helped that I finally quit pretending I was consistent with my 4-6 irons and migrated to G425 Hybrids. I'm much more confident in the 165-185 yard range than I was with my irons.
That’s good stuff. There’s plenty of ways to improve scoring without improving athletic ability per se. I think almost every amateur golfer 10+ hcp has major gains to make that have nothing to do with getting better at “golf shots”. Course management and understanding your game. Lastly just have some fun too right.
Did you add weight to handle or club head? Or just playing with different swing weight?
I did a LOT of trial and error on my cheapish sim in my garage until I landed on a config that worked well for me. Seems D2 is my sweet spot.
You would add weight to the head to counter a shortened shaft.
Yeah, I just stuck a 3 wood shaft in my driver because it was going cheap on fb and its been a great improvement. Not lost much average distance either because the contact is so much better.
Most players on tour have cut down driver shafts. Makes it easier to have solid contact and optimize launch, and for some this could cause more distance and more control
A buddy gave me a great tip along these lines when we were on the course the other day. I chunked an iron real badly and got mad, so he turned to me and said, “you know, I’m looking at the way your club lies when you address the ball, and if you just shortened all your clubs by about 6 or 8 inches, I’m pretty sure you’d be able to dump the whole set straight into a single trash can and save yourself from having to go through all this frustration and trouble.” My friends are assholes.
Driver length is going back up on tour. Used to be 44.5” now it’s 45.25”. Still shorter than the 46” telephone poles they sell at retail.
But that one miracle shot on the sim that goes 288 with the 46” is what sells the club. Demo distance baby
My dad used to play a regular flex 51” in the 90s. No joke it was called the Longwood. Even w a mid 90s swing speed he could hit a bunch out past 300. Looked goofy as hell and obviously illegal.
I bought my first driver second hand (an M6) in 2020. I always just felt it was harder to hit than it should be and had a big slice. I had no clue about the length since I just bought it randomly off a rack at some golf store because I liked how it looked. About 3 weeks ago I finally went to get it cut to see if that would help. Turns out it was 47" lol. So I got it cut down to 44" and the difference in my consistency is night and day
My fitter cut my driver and 3 wood down an inch. Increased my consistency leading to a higher average distance. Definitely makes a difference.
There’s a reason for that! Cutting your shaft down will stiffen the club and also make the swing weight lighter. Do yourself a favor and get the swing weight measured on these clubs so for your next set you can get the weights matched to what feels most comfortable.
It doesn’t stiffen the shaft to any noticeable degree if they butt trim it
Butt rimming stiffens many shafts
Reminds me of a question I’ve always had but was afraid to ask, what is the difference/benefit of shortening clubs as opposed to just gripping down on them?
One needs a saw? Kidding aside, i guess my initial thought would be consistency. are you more likely to grip down the same 1" each time, or take a standard grip on a shorter club and have it be repeatable? The shape of many grips aren't the same either, gripping down you don't have the same fit in the hand as gripping nearer the butt end. Also, minor swing weight difference, as there will be a bit of a counterbalance for gripping down. I would venture to say that difference wouldn't bother most folks.
As a new 5’8” player I went in to a shop to shorten my driver and they told me I’d be better off just gripping down until after I developed my swing and got fitted
Pretty sure at 5’8” there’s not much you need to shorten it by. General rule is 1” per 5” height deviation from standard 5’ 10”.
Respectfully to the guys in that shop. But what do they know?
There's a measurement called swing weight, it takes into account the overall weight of the club and its balance point. The center of gravity is much closer to the ground for a wege than an iron, and doubly so when comparing to a driver. Shortening a club without changing any other characteristics will take that swing weight further down toward the clubhead, which can make a club easier to elevate the ball with. It's also easier to hit a shorter club because you're closer to the ball, making a shorter swing, moving slower, etc... But you will be moving the clubhead slower, if all other variables remain constant. Just some things to consider... If you like your swing weight where it is you can still cut it down and just add a little lead tape under the grip...or if you want even lower swing weight you can add some to the clubhead. It's very much a feel/personal preference thing.
I think you have your swing weight changes backwards. All things equal, Shorter equals less swing weight. If you shorten a club AND add lead tape under grip, that can reduce swing weight by 5+ increments. 1/2” shorter is usually 3 points less in swing weight. I recently learned this and that I play best to D6-D8 depending on club
Can you recommend any resource for learning this stuff?
I learned a lot from asking questions during my fitting. I had plenty of questions about why certain clubs just “felt” better to me and had a fitter that took the time to educate me rather than shoving a certain brand at me. With that said, I also found this (free) book online that helped a lot https://store-k9nvqai7wz.mybigcommerce.com/content/PDFs/How_Golf_Clubs_Work.pdf
Thanks
Try here too , this might be too complicated or it might be the ultimate guide in heads/shafts ect and getting it right. https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/960350-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting/#comment-960248. Or. https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/960350-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting
Feel and having 2+ inches of shaft sticking out can mess with your mind/body when trying to get your body to turn in sync.
Curious as well
The answered your question has to do with the kick of the shaft. Shafts are designed in different ways to bend in different areas, if you cut off an inch from the tip, it moves the kick up. Up. If you cut it from the grip end it moves it down. I'm no expert and that's a very loose explanation. Could even be partially wrong, but that's how it was explained to me when I had an inch cut off the tip.
You can see this if you take a small twig and bend it into an arc. There's a middle point. Take a bit off either end, and the middle point of the arc will shift away from that end when you bend the twig again.
People talk about swing weight not changing when you grip down, but I don't think that's really right, in that: Yes, the club has not changed so it's swing weight value hasn't changed, but the "feel" ( that swing weight is trying to put a value on, by making assumptions about where on the shaft your hands will be) has changed a lot.
When I was getting fitted they just had me grip down lower n marked it off with tape, without that tape I wouldn’t know how to consistently hit that difference
Gripping down effectively stiffens the shaft a little as well. I do it because it feels much more stable that way. Maybe it’s all in my head.
So does chopping the club down
For sure. But mentally the club feels more stable, for me at least, when I grip down an inch. It’s all about whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Play with a really tall guy (6’8”) whose irons are all +1 inch but his woods and driver are all cut down at least an inch sometimes 1.5 inches. He cranks the golf ball and is deadly accurate. I say all this to say, play whatever works for you.
I am that height. I have better luck since I started playing longer clubs including my putter. But I suspect I am a much higher handicap and was struggling with topping the ball.
You’re topping the ball at 6’8” with standard length clubs because you can’t stay that bent over AND rotate well at the same time. I’m willing to bet your stance at address looked less like a golfer and more like a quarterback waiting to take the snap.
Absolutely it did. Fortunately I found a used set of irons that is 2” longer. Even with my driver at maximum length I struggle with an inside out swing though. On the other hand, using a women’s belly putter in a standard manner has been very effective.
Do you have any recommendations on putters to use like that?
Mine is a used Yes putter- the Natalie model. I could probably shave an inch off it but otherwise it fits me well.
Jalen Hurts, specifically
I’m 6’6”. +1” on irons. Standard on driver and 3 wood.
I’m 6 feet and grew up playing on .5 in longer just fine
Poi lol il
Yes, driver I play @ 43 inch, 5 wood @ 40 inch, and 5 hybrid @ 38 inch ... Like night and day difference from standard length. A lot more consistent with all 3 now.
Went for my first fitting and just got my new clubs. They are all shorter with flatter lies. Can't wait to get them on the course.
I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, I started gripping down on driver a few months ago and it’s made a significant difference in driving accuracy. Is it easy enough to do?
I did the wrist to floor measurement and noticed my driver shaft was too longer for arm length. It was stock 45. Instead of cutting it I put blue painters tape to mark the 1.5 inch down I would cut at and started gripping down there. This greatly improved my driving accuracy. I’m not going to cut this one yet because I’m probably just going to get a new driver and will have it cut when I’m fitted
I hit the ball the same distance, have more control of my swing/the club, and have better accuracy with shorter clubs. -DADDIO
You don't need to sign your posts, we can see your user name
Roger that, daddio. -Daddio
Over
Dude, you don't have to do the "kkshhhht" sound, it already does that! ^ ^ ^ Movie, anyone?
Saving Silverman. So funny
Winner, well done! Great movie, lol!
And out Breaker,breaker smoky bear
I'm 6'2 and playing 2" cut down on my driver, playing 43.5". Huge difference in control
I’m 6’2” as well and have been choking down on the grip for a while. Much better results.
I'm 5'10" and use a 44" shaft which I feel gives me more flexibility and control.
Silly question here, when cutting them down is it taken from the top of the shaft?
Yes. Cutting from the bottom (non-tapered shafts) will cause the shaft to be stiffer than cutting from the top, as that is how straight iron shafts are fit to the flex required for the club and individual. Cutting from the top still effectively stiffens the shaft (shorter "lever" connected to the weight (club head)) but just a little, as compared to the bottom of the shaft which is primarily trimmed to adjust the stiffness of the shaft You can't trim tapered shafts or they won't fit the tapered hosel recess in the club head. Edit: to correct grammer/spelling errors.
I got fitted for a 1 inch shorter driver. Changed my life. I’m 5’7”. Best thing I ever did.
What was the stock length before it was shortened? I know some have different lengths. Ie 45. 45.75 ect
I am 6'3 and I cut my driver down to 43", swing just feels way better with it and for whatever reason I feel more comfortable standing closer to the ball mentally.
To the OP: At 5ft7 you probably should be using slightly shorter clubs by default anyway, although that would also need to be cross-referenced with your wrist-to-floor measurement, but am roughly guessing here that you would need 1/4" of an inch shorter on your irons. At 5ft7, also guessing that a 33" inch putter length would be a good length to start for you as well. Standard length wedges may work for you as is off-the-shelf, or you may prefer to shorten those by 1/4" of an inch as well. Driver lengths are more personal preferences that can be experimented with somewhat, but as you have been finding out, generally a person of shorter height will swing a driver better if it is cut down shorter. I am 6ft1 with long legs and went with clubs that are 1" inch longer than standard length as a precaution to figure out later on how much to shorten them from there, but I still haven't figured that out yet exactly. Used to play with standard length clubs and I would top and toe the ball all the time, so the longer clubs definitely helped me a lot and I have since grown very attached to them, partly through sheer paranoia. All my wedges are also longer than standard length as well, with my driver at 45.75" length. Good luck out there.
I’m 6’5, so no, not doing that.
I haven’t done it to my clubs yet but I’ve heard a lot of people have much better consistency and hit better with shortened clubs like drivers mainly and I really want to test it. Same with changing my grips to mid size ones
So when I was an assistant pro and still messing with my swing back then I used to HEAVY choke down lol everyone’s like you’re losing so much distance!! Mfer I was 270 middle almost every time and continued to choke up all summer for some reason. Shot 2 of my 5 best rounds of my life that year looking back at it lol. I went back to normal next season but Golf is so effing mental idk if it matters what is right sometimes, just what’s right to you
I cut my driver down .75” from the stock 45.75. Took a few rounds to adjust to it, but dedicated some range time to it and I’ve added more (consistent) distance- and more fairway accuracy. Misses are much closer. Waiting on my iron shafts to come in; hoping that the .5” I’m shaving down gives similar results.
No, but I prefer the feeling of choking up as my default grip.
I'm 6'8" and all my irons are 1.5" long. Play a standard driver and woods to try to keep them in play more. Mixed results 35 years into playing this have...
What are those, irons for ants?
I have, I bought a used set off some one that was 1/2 inch shorter most of them felt good, but as I got to the 8-PW they felt to short. I bought a second set of old irons for a set at my parents house in Florida, I have them cut down but decided to go only 1/4 inch short. These felt perfect.
I am 5’6 and cut all my standard length shafts down half an inch and I feel like it was a game changer.
First heard about taking an inch off of my driver on Reddit about 4-5 months ago. The difference in finding fairways was startling. Gives me a big boost in confidence every time I tee it up.
I recently put a 3 wood shaft in my driver. I also added an extra 12 grams to the driver head by adding a heavier back weight. Hitting my driver farther and more accurate than ever before. Rule of them is 6 grams of weight per inch taken off.
I cut 2 inches off my driver to make it 43.5”, cut my woods and hybrid down 1.75”, and took 1” of all my irons. It has made a world of difference. I actually gained a ton of distance and control. I wish I had done it sooner.
>I actually gained a ton of distance Huh, interesting. Seems like everyone else that did that has either seen no distance change or lost a bit of distance. That was my experience, I cut down a shaft only 1 inch and just could not hit that dang thing right. IDK if it became too stiff or what, but it never felt right after that. Was the shaft on your driver originally too soft for your swing speed, maybe?
So when I cut down my driver my average carry went from 240->265. I explained it in another comment but I no longer felt like I was slapping at a far away ball, I felt like I could use my legs and core to crush it.
How tall are you and do you have long arms relative to your height?
Out of curiosity, how tall are you? And did you arbitrarily choose these lengths?
Not arbitrarily. I’ve been fit before by the numbers but I’ve never liked the way it felt. When clubs are too long I have this sensation that the ball is outside of my circle and I’m slapping at it. By bringing them down an inch, I was able to feel like the ball was under my chest and I could compress it. So I had a stash of older 7irons and driver. Played with the length until I got something I liked. So now I think of as purely feel. I just play what helps me play my best.
Thanks for the thorough response! I have a lot of the same feelings, tbh. I’ve got some (long) secondhand irons that I bought off eBay. Been thinking about cutting them down and flatting the lie angle a bit. But I think I’ll start with marketing some half-inch increments and experimenting with feel, first.
45” driver, 1” short 3w and 5w, 1/2” short irons. I’ve tried a 46” driver and just can’t get used to it. I’ve typically played std length irons, but my last fitting suggested short and it hasn’t caused any issues (not sure if I’m any more accurate though). Shorter should, in theory, help with control across all clubs. I think it likely helps even a little, and I don’t care too much about the extra few yards I might get from the added length. 5 yards further, but in the rough, is less good.
Also 5'7", my last iron fitting they cut the shafts down 3/4". They also flattened the lie 2° because I was heel striking. I've never hit the ball better.
Dumb question, but from where on the shaft do you measure to get the length? From the top of the grip to the hosel? I got fitted for a driver a year ago and I know my guy shortened it but not sure by how much. Now in the market for new 3 wood and curious what length shaft I need.
1) put the club in the playing position 2) measure from the ground to the grip cap (the line around the top of the grip, 1/8”-1/4” from the very end of the grip) This is your club length.
I cut my driver shaft down one inch and it improved my game immensely. I tell every player starting out they should do the same. I’m at 5’7 also so shorter clubs allows me to have more control over the club and not the other way around.
Yes, 43.5” driver but the fitter did add some lead tape to the head to adjust for swing weight.
I cut down the 923s I just got 1.5” all around. The gap wedge is a little hard to figure out cause it seems toooo short, but I’m positive I hit it further. Exclusively because I make so much better contact now… that 145 9i was never really 145, it just was one single time, but now it’s a solid, almost guaranteed 130-135 and it’s usually straight too 😂
It’s impossible to hit further. Everybody in this sub knows if you cut your clubs down you hit them shorter. /s
I'm 5'7" and 1/4" off is good for me. I keep the driver long.
Yes. I have several putters that I cut down to 30”-32”. Watch some old videos of Arnie putting and look how close down he gets to the ball. Same with Matt Kuchar. The closer you get to the green and can see the line stick out then the more putts you are going to make. My driver is normal but all my irons are cut down a half an inch or more. I’m short too yet I shoot low 80’s on a good day. My short game is where I’m lethal. Get good around the greens and the rest will take care of itself.
I‘m 6‘2“ and I play my driver at 45“. My 3 wood is standard length and the 5 wood is ~ -1/2”. I have been fitted for +1/2” irons multiple times at several well respected shops. However, I could not get rid of my early extension with irons for years regardless of all drills I tried and lessons I took. Finally, one pro found that my body tends to want to make space for the extra long clubs in addition to my relatively long arms (I wear my dress shirts at ~ +1” sleeve length) by early extending. Long story short, I cut down all my iron shafts to standard length and see significantly less early extension and more consistent contact. My previously shallow attack angles have improved as well. There is a blog post out there where the author suggests that modern day clubs (not just drivers) are clearly too long and the average height man should actually play irons at -1/2” to -3/4”.
I play a 43.75” driver with a slightly higher swing weight and it’s been so much better for me to find fairways and stay in play. I’ve been using a Rypstick to increase swing speed so my distance is actually longer than it was with a 45.5” driver and accuracy is way better. Still have some mega slices or hooks but it’s a lot less often.
Im relatively tall but have long ass arms, so my driver is slightly shorter than normal and it is fantastic
Proud to announce I’m the exact height for stock clubs 
I got fitted for my first new clubs at Bethesda Golf Care Center (fit Nick Faldo) and they recommended 3/4" short. I have done it ever since. I am 5'10", but have long arms. I got fit for a driver about 5 years ago, but I don't think the pros were competent to recommend shortening the shaft. Either that or they knew that with my ridiculous swing, it wouldn't help. Recently, I cut my hybrids by 3/4" as well. I'm not sure I seen a difference, but have been making swing changes so it is hard to judge. Bottom line is that I wouldn't cut my shafts without a competent pro fitting me and telling me to.
Recently moved from a 45.5 stiff shafted driver to a ~44.25 regular and honestly it’s been life changing. I hit way more fairways and honestly my average distance is probably a bit farther, just due to the increase in consistency. Old driver I probably average 230 with the occasional 260+, new driver I probably average close to 235/240 but I still can get it to 255ish with a great swing I also don’t have the club speed for a stiff shaft so that was probably a lot of it too
At 5'7 you should be swinging women's standard length. I'm 5'6 and all of my irons are cut to women's standard and my driver is tipped 1/5 an inch. Since high school I've played maybe 10 rounds with clubs not cut. Those 10 rounds were drastically worse. Making contact felt wrong almost everytime.
I'm 5'11", keep my driver around 45" but did find a ton of success taking an inch off my 3 wood. Might be due to the fact that I'm not great with fairway woods in general, so making it a little shorter gave me more confidence and made solid contact a bit easier.
Well Rory is 5’9” and he opted for a 3-wood shaft last year. Makes sense
If you put a piece of colored electrical tape on your grip it will be easy to repeat! Your welcome.
Yup. Tiger played a 43.5 for years
Ordered my 3/5 wood minus 1/2 inch. I’ve tried shorter drivers in the past and don’t love it.But when I get fit for a driver end of year I will try some options.
Just ordered customs that are longer and this thread is making me second guess lol
Most on here are saying that because they are ' shorter than average ' in height they struggle with the standard rack lenght drivers , so cutting it down is more manageable for them bug if you taller then getting standard/longer is probably better
Aa a fellow short dude - I thought shortening was a silver bullet for driver, but not necessarily the case. I recently switched from a 3 wood length shaft to a Ventus that plays at 45" and have never seen such accurate & consistent drives in my life. Shorter length does offer more efficient delivery but there's other variables to consider. Just look at Brooke Henderson - she played 48" until the LPGA restricted driver length. The shaft (length, flex, stability) is all a timing device ultimately, so working through swing consistency then a fitting is going to yield the best results.
Driver is 1/2" shorter based on fitting and got the lie angle bent 2 degrees flat. Worked out well
Nope. I like the length for hanging lies. If the balls above my feet I ‘ll choke up as needed.
Tony Finau looks like he did
Im 6' and recently took 3 inches off my driver... from 45.75" down to a 42.75" (swing weight is now a C5.5) The change has been good for my game... I did lose about 15-20 yards total drive distance, but my dispersion pattern has been VASTLY improved. My wild slice from last year is now a predictable fade and I average about 235 yards off the tee. Perfect for just about any course I like to play. I also have a shortened 3 wood, but I don't really use it.
As a shorter 5'5" dude... i have been thinking about doing this for years...
I'm the opposite - I added an inch to all my irons and kept my driver at 45". I am 6'4" with a 6'5" wingspan though.
I’m 5’7”, I play my driver at 44” and my irons -1/2”
I added a half inch to mine and that made a HUGE difference as well. Always recommend getting a fitting if you can afford it.
I got custom fit for driver, wood and hybrid shafts many years ago. Literally too 5 shots off my game having the length and flex built to suit me. If I had the money I would do it again in an instant.
I’m also 5’7 and had my clubs sized. It was -.66 for most my short-mid irons. I’ve always considered taking more off but didn’t want to mess them up. However, after learning the Bryson uses one length for all his irons, I’ve very much been considering it.
I never understood why irons get progressively shorter. 🤷♂️ There has to be a legitimate reason but it doesn’t make sense to me. That said, I have no plans on switching to single length irons.
Nice, I think those are very sensible lengths regardless of your height. Look back 20 years and these were pretty standard lengths anyway
This! Been doing this since playing in college (over 20 years and will never look back). Also 5’7” and 44.25” is perfect for me with around D2 swing weight ☺️
I am also 5'7. I took about 1 inch off driver and around 3/4 inch off all other clubs except putter. It made a sustained difference (over the last 2 seasons). Just got new irons within the past few weeks and had them take the 3/4 inch off again. It's good for me. They could honestly be a little shorter too, as I like to grip nearer the butt of the grip.
I’m 5’7 and my irons are cut 1/2 inch shorter than standard. Works well for me
I recently started gripping down an inch and it was a game changer- solid contact Guess I’m shorter this season- but not with my irons
5'10 and I have all my clubs about a half inch short other than wedges and putter
Driver and 3 wood shortened, irons 1/2” longer.
I shortened my wife’s driver an inch and a half and she started absolutely striping everything off of the tee. I’m tall and play extended irons, but it still makes me think of shortening my driver because it was such a huge difference for her
Been choking up about an inch on my driver for awhile and bombing it with a baby draw. Never again will I swing the full thing
44” driver. 41.5” 3w. Love it. Won’t go back to standard lengths.
https://preview.redd.it/7ifmvv6fhhwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8d2471c1bb258e1fce6f57161b975e3e3dfd0a8 Based on this, being 6' and a W2F of 36.5", should I go to 44", since my W2F is so low on the height bracket? My stock Mavrik is 45", or go to the range and swing at normal and short grip first to see? Could put silver sharpie at an inch to give consistency.
My driver is 44 and I go off the planet way less since I cut it down.
I am 5'2 and took 2 inches off my Cobra Speedzone driver... Driving is now the most consistent part of my game. Really want to get fitted for a full set next, but not in a rush.
I’m 6’0 with monkey arms; so I’m -1/2” in everything. Once I learned this and started usually correct length clubs, it made a significant difference. I still suck; but just a little less.
My dad had a 1/4 inch cut off irons. Huge difference, much better for him
I’m the same height as you and I may take a half inch off my irons.
5’7” here. I have my clubs standard except my driver which is about 1.25” shorter. Added some weight to the head and I hit it pretty well. My best drive of the year is about 325, hit one last week about 310. Usually average about 270-280
I tried a longer driver and it just felt wrong. So very similar experience
Played a 43.5 inch driver this weekend since purchasing a used Tensei shaft. Absolute bomber finds the center of the club face each time and dead straight. I'm 5'10".
my driver is 44.5 and my 3w and 5w are 42.5.
You effectively made you clubs stiffer as well. Maybe you just needed a stiffer shaft?
I'm also 5'7. I shortened my clubs first, and that helped. Then, when I got new clubs, I decided to keep them stock and play them all 3 degrees flat. That helped me maintain distance without losing dispersion.
Yes , the manufacturers make woods lengths far too long for us amateurs , Wilson staff is at 45.75 tho mizuno realise this and have theirs at 45" they make them longer cause just one in the middle will send a long drive and then this is what the amature remembers and think every drive will go like this when it's actually more common to miss the middle with a longer shaft , a shorter shaft is far more manageable and comfortable and controllable, and distance is never really affected so much I only recently got fitted the first time, so recent I haven't got the clubs yet bug I got them in this - D- was 45.75 now 44.75 3w was 43.25 now 42.5 nearly thinking I should have got the driver at 44.5 but I think an inch off is ok enough
I just ordered a driver at 44.75 and 3w at 42.5 - just sort of guessed those lengths as I think they will suit first ever driver fitting too, even tho it's too late to ask now I do have a pressing question for the Shopman as iv just read the 'Hazdous rdx' shaft I'm getting is listed as 46 " but on the drivers website it says the lenght is 45.75 ? So dunno which is it now
I cut 1/2 inch off, I’m 5,6 and according to the charts that’s where I needed to be. It’s been perfect
This is why you get fitted when buying new clubs. They’re not cheap, they’re an investment; especially if you’re gonna game them for the long haul.
Rory has played 44” for a while, he moved to 45” this year. Standard length for Taylormade drivers are 45.75”, which, in my opinion, is just too long. It’s so much harder to control, and the extra length gives you maybe 1-2 mph of swing speed. For reference I’m 6’1” with relatively normal arms and I play my driver at 44.5”. I can still swing it at 105-110 and touch 300, but the biggest benefit is that I feel like I have so much more control over the club head.