18 replies to this topic

[jakkim]

I was watching some interview last night with Justin and he said he is playing a 47 inch Sumo. I know he has never been a long hitter but has recently stepped up his average the past few years. I always thought that it was from him reworking his swing but it looks like he took a bit of a short cut.

Are there any other players on tour playing extra length in their drivers? I have always seen players cutting them down but never adding length.

Now that divers are becoming so similar maybe we will start to see longer shafts from OEM's to squeeze out those last few yards. I know Ping and Taylor Made already have divers with 46 inch shafts so I guess it may already be here.

[S70B]

A longer shaft may not be for everyone. My friend bought a SuperQuad 2 months ago and was keen to insert a 46" shaft. Tried it and found that his SS was actually slower compared to 45" (on a LM). You need to be somewhere up there with your SS to actually consider one. Otherwise, you probably will leave some yards on the table.

[Maharishi]

Padraig Harrington is playing the Driver at 45" this week at the Open, but normally plays a 47" beast.

[NikeDD59]

My new driver is a titleist 905s 7.5 degree with speeder and its 46 inches. I love the thing!

[MBuckler]

46.5" Hibore

[thejosh31]

I've considered a longer driver but as you can see from my WITB I can't time a normal length graphite shaft. Any tips for a good longer graphite model? Sorry, I know this is off topic.

[Swingtheclub]

People have been adding length to drivers forever for more distance.

I remember when the std for a driver was 43 inches.  Manufactures started changing the std too 43.5. So they could advertise that there clubs went longer.

Longer will usually add distance.  It is important that you are strong enough to swing it.

But added length usually means you give up some accuracy.  It also will make the shaft you are playing more flexible.

If you do not believe me take and eight foot  pipe and put a concrete block on the end of it then measure how much it bends then do the same thing with a nine foot pipe the bend will be larger.


I play with a guy at my club that plays with a 47 inch driver.  This guy hits about a ten foot cut and never changes his tempo ever.

He kind of has a Bruce Lietske thing going on.  Aims it the same tees it the same swings at it the same everytime.  It does work for him. But he has great tempo, the discipline to hit one shot.

I like to work the ball change the height  and I have about three speed gears with my driver.

I dont think longer will work for me.


I hope you all get my point.

[Lowpro]

its a tempo issue i think, once one gets over the 44.5''   but 47''  is just wild that a pro's driver is that long.     shows you how he needs distance to compete'

[rhersch]

46" Burner TP with Ozik X-con.  It goes deeeeeeeeeeeeep!

[Paul Stewart Jones]

This isnt new, seem to remember Jarmo Sanderlin using a 47" drive in 99, think its was a killer bee shaft.

[Tigersworld]

Hey could anybody here verify that Justin Leonard is 5'9" as PGATOUR.com has him stated at. I stood next to him and thought no way 5'6" at best with his golf shoes on and with a 47" driver WOW is all I say.

Junior

[akanacl]

Cut my Burner TP down to 44" about two weeks ago.   Golf is boring again...fairway, fairway, fairway, fairway, fairwway.......................

[TCMP]

Geeze, I feel wimpy with my 43.5" driver.

[dab36]

I just shafted a head yesterday with a x stiff Saber Tour Vector medium launch shaft, came out to 47 inches to middle of face.  OH MY GOSH.!!!!!

After I got the timing down, the shots were lonnnnnnng and zero extreme shapes, mild draw, a total mis hit was teeny fade.  Cannot wait to try on the course.

[drpino]

played with a guy yesterday who worked on his own clubs as a hobby.  he had a Bang driver playing at 48.5" (i know, illegal) and said he was just messing around with the length and stuff.  was pretty inconsistent but tagged one on the 14th hole and came up 5 yards short of the front of the green (360 yd par 4).  next tee shot with it he got under it and hit a mile-high flop shot with a 60yd hook.  was pretty funny.

[Swingtheclub]

what is the legal limit for a driver now?

[drpino]

48" i believe.  i think long drive competitions measure total club length with the club exactly vertical instead of from proper lie angle.

[hodgw2]

I was told by someone that is the secret to the TM Burner. a lot of people got longer with that club simply because it has a longer shaft. supposively 46" std. instead of 45". I could be wrong (second hand info.)

[casey2121]

47 inch driver. That is around the same height as justin