Effect of driver length on distance

[rhh7]

one of the most informative charts in Wishon's "Search for the Perfect Golf Club" shows what a swing robot which hit the ball dead center at a swing speed of 90 mph did with different driver lengths:

Driver length = 42 inches, ball speed = 133.0 mph, carry distance = 209.7 yards

Driver length = 46 inches, ball speed = 133.8 mph, carry distance = 211.0 yards

Why in the world would an average player like me attempt to hit a driver longer than 42 inches? You had better believe that it is exponentially more difficult to hit a 46 inch driver dead center than it is to hit a 42 inch driver flush...for a gain of 1.3yards!! What is the risk reward ratio?

Guess what my next driver length will be?

[Chieflongtee]

Depends on the golfer. there is this guy Bernie Baymiller who has been pushing long clubs for ages.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shoptalk/message/72567

[MusicMan]

i personally find that hard to believe

[Chieflongtee]

Which take SS?

[Weirfan]

nobody swings like a swing robot.....I suspect that this was done at a lower ss if the ball speed was 133......and what I think Tom was trying to show was that driver shaft length does not translate into the huge distance gains that people think that it does........

the majority of golfers will do better with a shorter driver and a higher loft....and I am building more 44 inch drivers with lofts of 12+ degrees than I ever have

there is alot more that needs to be considered .......some people do fine with a 46 inch driver depends if they can square the club and make good center contact...but for most the shorter club makes this easier to do so translates to better distances.

[rhh7]

I am planning to build a 14 degree, 460cc driver, with a heavy 43" steel shaft, with the flex between A & R. I want to have a 15 degree 3 wood, 19 degree 5 wood, and a 23 degree 7 wood.

Wishon says that 80% of the distance gap in a set comes from the loft increments, and the other 20% from the length increments. I guess I will make all of these clubs 1" apart in length.

[Chieflongtee]

some people do fine with a 46 inch driver depends if they can square the club and make good center contact...but for most the shorter club makes this easier to do so translates to better distances.

The longer the club the worse the swing flaw gets IMO long clubs are only good for flat swings,smooth and flawless swings.

[BC MIST]

IMO long clubs are only good for flat swings,smooth and flawless swings.

[TourIQ]

Driver length = 42 inches, ball speed = 133.0 mph, carry distance = 209.7 yards
Driver length = 46 inches, ball speed = 133.8 mph, carry distance = 211.0 yards

Hi rhh7

I too personally find this hard to believe.
I agree with Bernie B. that total wt. is critical to hitting longer drivers.

When was the last [or first time] you seen a guy / gal competiting at the Re/MAX World LD Championship using a driver of 42 inches in length?

Why do you think the LD community and the USGA capped maximum driver length?

[BC MIST]

I have written this in the past but perhaps it may be worth repeating.

At a major component company club making seminar years ago, a report was given of a "study" of several golfers hitting balls with drivers of lengths from 42" to, I believe, 46". Almost without exception, the longest drive occurred with the longest club. But more importantly, the LONGEST AVERAGE DRIVE occurred with the 42.5" driver.

For the macho type who wants to brag about the one 325 yarder he hit, on his way to a 90, longer is obviously better. However, for the golfer who wants to consistently hit fairways and score low, shorter is better.

Perhaps the answer is to find out how much distance one gains for every additional inch of club length and then find out how much one loses for hitting the ball an inch off centre. Then, using impact tape, find out how close you are to the centre with a shorter driver (very revealing) and then magnify this error when using a longer driver. Without ego influence, golfers would then play shorter drivers. But, how many of us don't have egos?

[rhh7]

When you play for 50 years, and break 80 twice, you finally lose your ego. I am going shorter, heavier, bigger, with a more flexible shaft. I want to hit fairways and greens, I want to score!

[BC MIST]

When you play for 50 years, and break 80 twice, you finally lose your ego. I am going shorter, heavier, bigger, with a more flexible shaft. I want to hit fairways and greens, I want to score!

Where I play now I scored in the 80's twice in 2005, and discovered that I still have an ego. It has motivated me to work even harder on my game with the goal of shooting my age before shooting in the 80's again.

Notice there was no mention of solving the problem by buying into the latest gimmick club.

[rhh7]

I am not in the least opposed to progress, although I would favor a uniform ball requirement for the PGA tour.

I intend to break 80 with steel shafts in all of my clubs, and without a lob wedge. Going to do lots of practice on chipping and putting.

Going to hit at least 70% fairways. If this means using a 15 degree wood with a 42" shaft, so be it.

Going to hit the ball with a clear mind, devoid of swing keys or any mechanical thoughts whatsoever.

Like a good Zen monk, I shall be detached from the outcome of my shot. And the score will follow, grasshopper!

[Strokesaver]

I have written this in the past but perhaps it may be worth repeating.

At a major component company club making seminar years ago, a report was given of a "study" of several golfers hitting balls with drivers of lengths from 42" to, I believe, 46". Almost without exception, the longest drive occurred with the longest club. But more importantly, the LONGEST AVERAGE DRIVE occurred with the 42.5" driver.

For the macho type who wants to brag about the one 325 yarder he hit, on his way to a 90, longer is obviously better. However, for the golfer who wants to consistently hit fairways and score low, shorter is better.

Perhaps the answer is to find out how much distance one gains for every additional inch of club length and then find out how much one loses for hitting the ball an inch off centre. Then, using impact tape, find out how close you are to the centre with a shorter driver (very revealing) and then magnify this error when using a longer driver. Without ego influence, golfers would then play shorter drivers. But, how many of us don't have egos?

Believe what you will but I extended my 46" driver 1.5" and gained an avg of 17 yds (carry). It took about a dozen or so swings to get my timing down but the overall swing remained very much the same with approx the same amount of effort. As far as people believing the concept of "drive for show/putt for dough"..... here's a little food for thought... and PLEASE feel free to research it..... the top ten from these two categories from PGA : Avg distance off the tee AND Avg fairways in reg... 1st group averages around 22-24 in the money list! How bout the 2nd group? Well those "Steady Eddies", they're closer to 123rd on the PGA money list!!! You've gotta keep in mind, if I'm having an avg round only hitting, let's say, 50% of fairways and they're having a great round and hitting.... 80% .... I've had 2 or 3 par 4s that I had maybe 7-9 iron in and they simply can't expect to tie or beat me very many times when they have a 4-6 iron in.... The holes that I miss the fairway.... Well heck, I'm still 30 yds past them and folks, you don't always have a bad lie just because you miss the mowed grass! Just sayin....

[Chieflongtee]

But if this is true why stop at 46"? Maybe so next years model can be "the longest driver ever" .....

Isn't 46 the maximum allowed by the USGA?

[lms]

Isn't 46 the maximum allowed by the USGA?

I'm no rules expert, but this is what I found:


http://www.usga.org/playing/clubs_an...he_rules.html#


c. Length
Appendix II, 1c states that: The overall length of the club must be at least 18 inches (457.2 mm) and, except for putters, must not exceed 48 inches (1,219.2 mm).

[Chieflongtee]

You are right:
http://www.usga.org/equipment/protoc...ength_r1_1.pdf

However I think they want to get it down to 46 but not sure though.

[rockford35]

You are right:
http://www.usga.org/equipment/protoc...ength_r1_1.pdf

However I think they want to get it down to 46 but not sure though.

Why?

I think an entire arguement against club length has been made in spades here. If you want to go long, fine. But shorter is better. Wouldn't the USGA have the same thinking?

I'm just questioning out loud here....

R35

PS...I swing a 45.5" only because it feels comfortable and I get my best in terms of consistency with it. That, and I'm an idiot...

[sammypvt]

Why?

I think an entire arguement against club length has been made in spades here. If you want to go long, fine. But shorter is better. Wouldn't the USGA have the same thinking?

I'm just questioning out loud here....

R35

PS...I swing a 45.5" only because it feels comfortable and I get my best in terms of consistency with it. That, and I'm an idiot...

There are numerous reports on this and other sites ref length V distance. I can tell you as a former tour pro the following.
I have tested 3 drivers. A 41 inch A 44 inch and A 47 inch. The 41 gives me 102mph with good center contact and around 270 on the fly. the 44 gives me 105mph with reasonable good center contact and flies around the 274 mark, the 47 is no faster than 107mph ss and the center contacts are all over the place and distances are not much different but the flight pattern is much higher. All shafts tested where the Assassin and none where tipped trimmed. I use this setup to show customers that length isnt as important as center contacts. A general rule of thumb is that for every 1 inch of lenth, the ss will increace by around 1 to 1.5mphand distances will increase around 3 foot. The cut off point is where center contacts fade away. I play 44 inch and have no probs. The ave on the tour this year is 44.5 to 44.75. They are all coming down in length and relating to Launch angles and low spins and the tour heads help. The long drive guys use low launch heads on high tees and xxxstiff shafts with low torque, HOWEVER, THEY DONT NEED TO HIT THE FAIRWAYS EVERYTIME. I play with a long drive guy that records 360 yds in comp but he plays a V2 in an SMT head at 45 inches. He knows that the big drives on the course are usually behind trees. They also use different balls than we do and treat the long drives as a joke for money.
Stick to center contacts and easy swings for the short mown green stuff. 44.5 is a lovely length for a good player.

[boylebj]

Interesting video on 48" Driver....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOjL4sI6DAU

[leftylucas]

I think it really is a personal thing, I used to have a 46" driver and the Chief suggested I go to a 44" or 44.5" driver which I did many years ago. I definitely hit a lot more fairways since then and oddly this club and my putter are my 2 best clubs. I can no longer brag about the rare 270+ drives which were very long for me but I can vouch for my game improving since I went with the shorter club.

[Chieflongtee]

Actually there is no set length for anyone. Here is the best article I ever read to maximize distance and find the right length.

Do it yourself fitting

[Marcos]

Last year, Chief traded me a 3 wood length driver with a old school steel shaft. Result, hitting more fairways. Tried going back to standard length driver and just cant hit it as straight.

[Chieflongtee]

The shaft was a TX-90 True temper. Light steel. Great shaft. Unfortunately they do not make them anymore. The clubhead is a Hireko Thriver. It has the size of a modern driver but 14 degrees of loft. And even though it's got 14 degrees of loft the ball does not fly that high.
Best of both worlds

[john8888]

for golf nerds only

http://docplayer.net/20967386-Driver...s-program.html

[Marcos]

for golf nerds only

http://docplayer.net/20967386-Driver...s-program.html

Very interesting read. Thanks for sharing