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The Hackers Paradise Are Driver Shafts Too Long
The Hackers Paradise Are Driver Shafts Too Long
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Not one person in our testing had a driver shorter than 45". I did think the accuracy was increased with the shorter driver, just not as much as we thought it would be.
There were two things mentioned that I think are significant and one of them begged a followup question that was not asked. The first was the statement from TaylorMade that "Tour players have always averaged slightly shorter than the market."
The very next thing out of my mouth would have been, "Why is that?"
I would still like to see how all of these people fare over the course of a season and see how the test numbers stack up against whatever numbers they'd generate during regular play and real-world situations as opposed to a controlled environment test such as this.
In a perfect world, that would be ideal JP, but I thought there were only two drivers, and I'm sure they had to be returned at some point.
That is exactly it Smallie. No company in their right mind is going to give out 24 drivers and say "go play for a season" and chart everything". Lets be real.
JB: I did not notice that it said what shaft was used, only that everyone used the same shaft. More important to me than the brand of the shaft is what was the flex of the shaft? And would different handicap levels benefit from different shaft flexes?
I disagree a tad about tour players choose shorter length drivers because of accuracy. While in general that is true, they play shorter length because they are fit for them and that is what the entire article says. Tour players do not just play shorter shafts because of accuracy and what they hear. They get fitted for the proper shaft. Both players we spoke to play shafts longer than 45".
It is much easier to trim a driver according to everybody we spoke to than to add length. So in that case, why not sell them longer and then when a person is fit, they can cut them down. That is what both companies seem to be preaching. That sure you can gain distance with the longer driver, but get fit properly and in full and see what the results are.
For my wife for instance, she gained both distance and accuracy with a longer shaft. Most high handicapped players lost very little accuracy and gained crucial distance with the longer driver. People should NOT emulate what is done on tour or by players that are not at their skill level. What works for someone on tour will NOT work for someone that is a 28 handicap. Most players that golf on the weekends are high handicappers not tour players. In the end when looking back at the testing we had done, it was the high handicappers that got more distance and better control from the longer driver despite what many experts said.
A driver on a 400+ yard hole doesn't leave me a 7 or 8 iron to the green!
I went to a bigbox type store a couple of day's ago and talked to the owner/pro about this very thing. My goal was to be fitted for my R9. As I am only 5'6" and 155 lb's, along with turning 50 very soon, I'm looking for anything that can add some length.
He suggested that my original driver length is the way to go. After putting me on a swing monitor he showed me that I hit 10 shots in a row, after warming up, 230 to 238 with a slight draw. Every shot was left of center and all stayed almost exactly on the same path. (Pretty typical of what I see on the course)
Then he tweaked my swing by scooting the ball a few inches forward and softening my grip. Felt really strange having the ball that far forward, but he explained he wanted me to try a few hitting the ball on an upward swing path. It took me a few swings and then I had 4 or 5 in a row that were all in the 250 yrd plus range. I hit two over 260 yrds. (wow, lol). He showed me that my actual swing speed was only 88 to 90, but not to consentrate on that. My angle changed from like 11 degrees to 13 and up which got me more heigth and more distance.
So now my question is, does this work on the course? I can see times where wind or softer fairways might hamper this some? Also, I did loose some accuracy. I had some issues of hooking which may have been the softer grip?
Any idea's as it relates to your test's of longer shafts? Great test by the way and great timing.
Thanks for the support JB. :thumb:It could Smalls. Driver 250 if you get one and then 150 left to middle or 140 to the front is most likely (totally guessing here) a 7 iron for you or a really soft 6 iron right?