So I played with a shortened driver today. Shot 71 from the Blues at TDS.
Before you run out & cut down your driver, here's the "why" for me & the results.
I've been hitting my 3 Wood very well & it had a "different feel" than my Driver. It felt "lighter", even though a 3 Wood head is usually heavier than a Driver. I sensed I could swing it better and get it "higher" on the backswing.
I had an extra after-market shaft for my driver, that I didn't love. I was a little too "live" for my tastes. It was already 1/2" shorter than my regular driver shaft. I cut it down another 1/2" and put a new grip on it.
It felt more like my 3 wood (being an inch shorter, the swingweight dropped at least 3-4 points. Also by shortening it, I stiffened the flex about 1/2 a flex, so it was more like a semi-stiff shaft.
I lost about 2 mph in clubhead speed (I had my launch monitor with me at the course today). I gained about 2 mph in "ball speed", which equates to about a 4 yard gain. My Smash Factor increased from a typical 1.45 to 1.49. I didn't miss a fairway.
So under the right circumstances, shortening your driver can certainly be beneficial.
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