Shortening a driver

blindside88

I was playing yesterday and one of my playing partners suggested that I have my driver shortened by an inch or two. I'm 5' 6, right handed and hit all clubs except for my driver straight (ish) my woods tend to drift from left to right but not massively but my driver goes very left to right. He suggested that I shorten my driver to rectify this. My question is how will this effect performance and balance? And can any pro or golf shop do it?

Thanks in advance

Myksyk

Grip it down an inch to see what effect it's having.

blindside88

Thanks

Will that have the same effect?

Dtoffee

I used to have severe problems with the driver when a mate said I was standing too far away from the ball and to get in close. This did nothing for me as I felt awkward ..... so I decided to go down the grip .... boom, couldnt believe the distance and never looked back. I still play the same way, but find I can go back up the grip when my confidence is good.

Its horses for courses, not everyone is the same.

blindside88

Thanks I'll try that over the weekend

Tones69

Fact=shorter the club the greater the accuracy. You MAY lose a couple of yards shortening ur driver an inch but you prob wont notice as you will find more fairways 45inches is enough for most people over 6ft. Id imagine at 5ft6 a 43/43.5 inch driver would be more than enough. Im 6ft2 and use the stock 45inch

blindside88

Thanks. Could the pro int club shorten and re grip or would I need to go to a specialist like fore golf etc?

Tones69

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks. Could the pro int club shorten and re grip or would I need to go to a specialist like fore golf etc?

Id do it for ya myself if ya lived near ha. Any shop pro could do it for you dude, 10 min job

FANTAPANTS

took golf up last year had same prob with the driver...lad i played with told me same about going down shaft it works and when your hitting it well no harm going back up the shaft and see how it goes

FANTAPANTS

Tones69 wrote: »

Fact=shorter the club the greater the accuracy.

you wanna tell that to my 9 iron he aint playing the game

blindside88

Tones69 wrote: »

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks. Could the pro int club shorten and re grip or would I need to go to a specialist like fore golf etc?

Id do it for ya myself if ya lived near ha. Any shop pro could do it for you dude, 10 min job

Sound I'll drop it into him during the week

Sandwlch

blindside88 wrote: »

Thanks. Could the pro int club shorten and re grip or would I need to go to a specialist like fore golf etc?

It doesnt even need a pro.

- cut the old grip off with a Stanley knife
- wrap some electrical insulation tape around the top of the shaft where you want to cut it
- cut with a hack saw
- wrap some grip tape around the shaft
- brush some white spirit onto the tape, and swish a little around inside the grip
- slide on the grip

Takes about 10 minutes.

golfnut1

A correctly fitted driver in this case maybe shorter or gripping down on the club as has already been suggested may actually increase distance as it will be hit out if the sweet spot more often.

scubapro

Surely if you cut down the shaft you alter the swing weight!!!

Sandwlch

scubapro wrote: »

Surely if you cut down the shaft you alter the swing weight!!!

It does. Add the weight back. Have done so with some Taylormade clubs, and just changed the screw in weights. On other clubs have used the selfadhesive lead weights (our pro sells has them on his rack with tees, ball markers, etc).

Add about 6g per 1/2" shaft length reduction as a guideline - it will be so close you will not tell the difference of 1 or 2 swing weight points even if it is there.

Read Tom Wishon if you really want to understand the physics.

kagni

scubapro wrote: »

Surely if you cut down the shaft you alter the swing weight!!!

Yes you would, but swingweight is just another number. You would also be altering the overall weight, balance point, MOI and obviously the club length.
All or none of them may have an effect on how well you hit the club.