Equipment
It might be a good idea to cut down your driver
There are a lot of ways to adjust your clubs at home with some simple tools, and one of the easiest jobs for the DIY golfer is cutting down clubs, especially cutting down a driver, and installing a new grip.
Cutting down a driver will have a number of impacts including making the driver more accurate because at a shorter length it is easier to control and make contact in the middle of the face.
PGA Tour driver length
Bryson DeChambeau testing a longer driver
On the PGA Tour, the average driver length is 45″, even though some golfers like Bryson DeChambeau with a Cobra SpeedZone and Adam Scott with a Titleist TSi4 *Prototype, have recently experimented with drivers close to the 48″ USGA limit to help pick up extra speed. Even Phil Mickelson has transitioned to a 47.5″ driver for extra speed, and has been using it on the Champions Tour and recently at The Match 3.
The longer driver theory works well for stronger and highly skilled players because of their ability to control a longer and heavier club at higher speeds, but for average golfers and most recreational players, this extra length means bigger misses and doesn’t always lead to extra speed—this is why playing a shorter length can help most golfers.
More on PGA Tour driver length: PGATour.com – Are long drivers here to stay?
Buying a new Driver
If you are buying a new driver, you can custom order any length you want through your retailer and the driver will be adjusted before final assembly. If you are buying a “stock” driver, most in the marketplace are now between 45.5″ and 46″ and many golfers struggle to control the club at those lengths. This is why many golfers choose to cut down their stock driver after purchase between 1″ and 1.5″.
What happens when you cut down a driver
When you cut down any club, especially a driver, it will feel lighter without any adjustment because you have moved the mass of the club closer to your hands. Just like a fulcrum scale used to measure mass, the closer the mass—in this case, the driver’s head gets to the fulcrum of the scale, the lighter it will “feel” to the golfer—this is called swing weight.
Thanks to adjustable drivers, it is easy to get extra weights from a manufacturer to help the driver feel the same before it was cut down, and as a general rule, for every 1″ you cut, you have to replace 12g back into the head,
To get an idea of what swing weight is, check out the video below that covers the subject.
TXG Driver length test
To see a shorter driver put to the test, check out the video by the team at TXG, where they compare a standard length 45″ driver to a 43″ driver and how they compare for distance and accuracy.
- LIKE455
- LEGIT66
- WOW19
- LOL11
- IDHT7
- FLOP12
- OB7
- SHANK33
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
- LIKE20
- LEGIT3
- WOW2
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK4
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE5
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK1
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Callaway...
Webb Simpson WITB 2024 (May)
Webb Simpson what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Keegan Bradley WITB 2024 (May)
Keegan Bradley’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. >14 clubs pictured. Obviously, Bradley will reduce that number to...
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole2 days agoReport: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week agoGary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks agoTeam McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoTaylorMade signs 15-year-old AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year to an NIL contract
-
Equipment1 week agoGolf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
Colin
Feb 19, 2021 at 4:11 pm
I’m still working on what suits me best but, a purple ice shaft 65gms stiff works better than regular. I like to feel the head so changed from weight from 2 to 8gms, but still a work in progress lol
Rick James
Dec 20, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Having spent time w/ Launch Monitor outputs I realized neutral face to path w/ driver is where its all at and I could do that w/ shorter lengths. I found better zones of contact on the face too w/ shorter lengths too that helped reduce spin. I tried to use 2.51 yds per MPH of clubhead speed to gauge if the length was giving me efficient results. I found shorter length was consistent.
PSG
Dec 10, 2020 at 9:41 am
This article is fine, except for the part where you say a player might not pick up extra speed.
Every half-inch is worth around 1.5 mph, for everyone. They might not pick up distance (because they don’t hit the middle) but every single human on earth swings a 48″ lever faster than a 45″ lever. That part is a little misleading.
Jay
Dec 10, 2020 at 11:32 pm
I think they mean ball speed.
Ndhd
Dec 20, 2020 at 1:34 pm
This
Ryan Hurley
Dec 9, 2020 at 2:37 pm
I work as a club fitter and see so many people come in with the notion they need longer drivers to match their longer irons
Griff
Dec 8, 2020 at 10:52 am
I went from a M3 at 45.75 to an Epic sub zero cut -1 inch to 44.5 and I hit it better than any driver I’ve ever had. Hitting it in the sweet spot more often…I’m longer and more accurate. Gone from a 8 to a 5 handicap. Distance is not the issue for me…squeezing another 10 yards out of a driver is irrelevant b/c most of the time I’m hitting some type of wedge into the green. If I’m in play I’m going to score well. I’ve always struggled with driver consistency and cutting it shorter has really changed things without any performance drop off.
JK
Dec 7, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Yup – cut down my Cobra F9 driver to play 44 5/8. added some swing weight to get it to D1 & drove the ball better this year than last 5 years.
Imafitter
Dec 7, 2020 at 6:02 pm
LOL! I’ve been advocating this for years, and before I just retired from fitting, I had every customer, especially seniors, try shorter shafts. My Ping G400MAX comes standard with a 45.75″ shaft & D3, and when I was fitted by Ping at the PGA Show, they recommended 45″, which I ordered. This summer for fun I replaced the shaft with a Mits Diamana at 44″ and experimented with the weight which is now D0. Not only am I hitting it straighter, but longer than most of my senior league (and the 45″ shaft)! Others have hit my driver and done the same or similar adjustments. Amateurs need to get fit, quit buying off the rack, and experiment with different lengths.
Trent Walden
Feb 15, 2024 at 8:32 am
What about just choking down a little bit on your shaft?
Martin
Dec 7, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Its wrong. Its not 12 grams per inch. Its actually 1.6 gram per swing weight. Does it matter? Yes, to some it does, cause we are all different and some of us are extremely sensitive to even the slightest weight difference. So if you cut down a driver 1 inch you the swing weight becomes 6 weights lighter, so to figure out how many grams you need to add you need 6×1.6 grams added to the head of the driver.
Ted Noel
Jan 11, 2021 at 9:49 am
Actually, we aren’t sensitive to “swing weight.” We are sensitive to “Dynamic Moment of Inertia.” SW is only the functional equivalent of DMOI at identical club lengths. That means if you test 6-irons and find the one you like, your progressive length set will feel best at the 6-iron, and all the rest will feel less good. That’s because to keep DMOI the same through the irons, you need to change head weight by about 9 grams per 1/2 inch change in length. To keep SW the same, the change is about 7 grams per 1/2 inch. This is another reason single length irons work so well. They all feel the same, just like Bobby Jones’ clubs.
Ultimately, the best measurement point for DMOI is from about 4″ from the butt end, which puts it between your hands, which is the physical hinge point. Using that point, I can match your entire set so that you won’t be able to tell which club you are swinging blindfolded.
Issues of flex and torque are separate concerns from DMOI and SW.
Mike C
Dec 6, 2020 at 6:02 am
By 2022 half the players on the PGA tour will be using a driver between 47”-48” long. Eventually 47 1/2 inches will be the standard on tour and for off the rack purchases. I’m currently experimenting with a 48 inch Krank driver. So far so good.
phizzy
Jan 5, 2021 at 5:50 pm
I’d like to see how straight you hit that driver, lol
Charles Mclaughlin
Dec 6, 2020 at 1:34 am
You can also grip your club an inch or two lower.
Jay
Dec 10, 2020 at 11:37 pm
The problem with gripping down is you change the swing weight dramatically. When cutting down a driver, you want to restore the SW to your optimal.
Tyler Durden
Dec 5, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Just cutting off some length off the butt of your driver is a good way to ruin a club
Alan Garner
Dec 7, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Agreed, gripping down is a far safer and prsctical way. I do this on tight fairways and when hitting into the wind. Then you have the option to grip back up when the fairway is wide open and there is little trouble to give the ball maximum pencil! #bombs
Tyler Durden
Dec 8, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Exactly. I once had a GBB 8 degree driver with a aldila Longwood shaft at 47.5”. I could crank drives out at the full length, and found that I could grip down to the grip end and be more consistent than with my 3 wood. In my infinite wisdom, I was choking down pretty much every tee shot, so I decided to just cut off an inch. Long story short, totally ruined the feel of the driver, and two more purchases of the longwood shaft didn’t recreate the original feel.