Many golfers struggle to hit a driver off the tee. Most of the time, a golfer’s swing is the main culprit for errant tee shots. However, sometimes a player’s driver specification can be the cause for their slices or hooks off the tee.
Too long of a driver shaft may be causing all your problems on the tee box. Shortening your driver shaft length, replacing it with a 3-wood shaft, or choking down on the golf club all lessens the distance between the golfer and the ball. This change often helps improve consistency and accuracy but comes with a cost.
In the article below, we will cover all you need to know about shortening your driver shaft. We will look at the benefits and drawbacks of having a short driver shaft as well as how to best shorten it. We have a lot to cover so let’s jump in!
What Is A Normal Driver Shaft Length?
Driver shaft length for amateur golfers is typically set at 45 inches in length. However, driver shafts come in a variety of lengths. It is not uncommon to see shorter golfers with drivers as low as 42 inches and taller golfers as long as 48 inches.
For professionals, the average is set around 46 inches. Pro golfers use longer driver shafts because they can increase club head speed, which leads to longer drives.
However, a longer driver shaft does introduce some challenges. The longer the shaft on your driver, the more difficult it is to achieve consistency and accuracy in your tee shots.
This happens for several reasons. As a starting point, the longer the shaft the greater distance between yourself and the ball on the tee box. The further you are from the ball, the greater the chance of things going wrong during your swing.
One slight movement of your body or on the club’s grip and result in you making poor contact with the ball on the club face. When this happens, the ball is much less likely to go straight.
Will A Shorter Driver Shaft Help With Accuracy?
A shorter driver shaft will help you hit more accurate shots off the tee. A shorter driver shaft naturally allows you to stand closer to the ball. This helps reduce the risk chances of mishits, leading to straighter, more consistent tee shots.
Another reason why a shorter driver shaft will increase the accuracy of your shots is that the arc of your swing won’t be as wide. Just like standing closer to the ball will allow you to make better contact with the golf ball, a narrower arc means there is less chance of your swing deviating off the proper club path.
Will A Shorter Drive Shaft Reduce Drive Distance?
Although a shorter driver shaft will help to improve the accuracy of your tee shots, there are some negative side effects. The main drawback is you are less likely to hit the ball as far with a shorter driver shaft.
When a golfer hits the ball 300+ yards with their driver, they are obviously doing a number of things right. However, one key fundamental component is having a quick club head speed. What we mean by that is how quickly the club moves through the ball upon impact.
The quicker the club head speed, the further the ball will travel assuming equal contact. It’s that simple.
If you have a shorter driver shaft, then you ca not generate a high club head speed because there is less club to swing. Naturally, the longer the shaft, the more time you have to generate speed through the swing as the swing arc is higher.
Another reason why shorter drive shafts typically result in golfers not hitting the ball as far is that shorter shafts are typically heavier than longer ones. A heavier shaft means it’s harder to generate as much power and speed through your swing.
There is an argument, though, which suggests the accuracy gained from a shorter shaft means that you will hit the ball further on average over the course of a round. While you may hit the odd peach with a longer shaft, you also have to take into account all of the shots you mistime that fly out of bounds.
What Is The Maximum Length You Can Reduce A Driver Shaft?
We would recommend that you reduce your driver shaft to no more than two inches. By doing this, you will be taking enough off to notice a difference but not so much that you compromise the shaft. If you take much more than two inches off, then you’re getting into the territory of ruining the shaft.
Should I Shorten My Driver Shaft Or Buy A New Shorter Shaft?
Modifying your golf clubs takes skills and expertise. Golfers who do not have experience modifying their clubs should opt for buying a shorter driver shaft over modification. Plus, shorter driver shafts made by a manufacturer will have precise weighting and flex.
However, knowledgeable golfers can effectively modify their own golf clubs or can have their local golf pro make the adjustments. Just be sure you know what you are doing before cutting into your clubs.
Choking down on your driver shaft is also an alternative solution. This
Final Thoughts
For those struggling off the tee, it may be time to switch to a shorter driver shaft. A shorter driver shaft can increase the accuracy and consistency of a golfer’s tee shot. This consistency and accuracy come at the cost of distance, but the tradeoff is well worth it.
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