[SHIBUMI]

Driver Equipment has messed up more drives than helped. Yes those 1 in 20 great drives is like gambling. You only remember your wins, but forget all the losses.

I always profess golf lessons, but in this case, change the equipment first then learn how to use it better. The equipment will then not be holding you back from straighter and more consistent drives.

No it's not bigger faces and supposed bigger sweet spots. It's not a new space age metal discovered on the moon trips. It's not a super duper shaft material with various flexes. Standard sold drivers are just too long. And golfers regularly accept the length as not being the problem. This and not the proper grip size have killed more drives than any swing error.

When a driver is too long you give up accuracy for occasional distance. Now if that make you happy enjoy the fantasy. And club makers are banking on you enjoying that 1 in 20 went farther drives year in and year out. Wake up. Hitting the driver should not be like hitting the lottery.

The best players thru out history are the winners of the most events, all drive the ball very very well controlled and long. They had a golf swing. But they changed their equipment to promote accuracy as well.

Evidently, 1/2 to 1 inch shorter driver length did that for them. Nicklaus driver
43-44 inches, Woods 43 1/2 to 44 1/2, Snead 43. Now today's drivers come 45 to 46 inches standard. So why would they give up distance. They did not. They all had a good golf swing and distance was a by product. They wanted accuracy as well. And that small change created better drives. Unbelievable! Yes throw Scottie in there at 1/2 inch shorter as well. They all must know something we don't. They know that the driver is a game of inches also. And the driver sets the tone of play on a hole.

So, you can put tape on your driver face or powder to see where the ball gets struck or you can just watch the ball, my preference. The ball tells all, it goes crooked or straighter. Not that complicated.

And it's not about choking down, that process changes your swing and grip feel.
But it will give you an indicator to get it cut down. And while the pundits will say it changes the swing weight and shaft flex, you wont notice it. They used to say one swing weight is the weight of a dime. If you can feel the weight of a dime or two
we will see you on the tour. Just enjoy the better drives.

It may only take 1/2 inch off to reach your nirvana off the tee. I would recommend not messing your swing up before doing that first. Enjoy the fairways more off the tee.

[Sparky99]

2 foot putt is worth just as much.....

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Sparky99

2 foot putt is worth just as much.....

Sadly, that's not true.

Statistically, your Drive is approximately twice as important to scoring as your putting.

Mr. Shibumi is correct. Driving is one of the most important skills on the golf golf course for amateurs and there's no reason the average golfer should be using a 45" driver ... or ... any driver for that matter. He's also correct, that the Swingweight won't change dramatically ... although at +/- 1", the shaft flex will (every 1" of length on a driver, is approximately 1/2 flex difference).

I would bet any amount of money, that 10 random golfers in The Villages, using a 42"-43" Driver (or a 3 Wood) off the Tee, would skunk any other team of 10 golfers in TV.

[justjim]

Interesting information. Instead of spending money on a new 43” driver would “choking” a bit on my current driver help any?

[SHIBUMI]

and if it does get 1/2" cutoff and try it. If it works great.probably a 15$ fix.if it's still off get another 1/2" off. Cheaper than driver. Sarasota Pro Shop will do this.

I would not take more than 1" off--- if not working better at that point you need a driver lesson.

Originally Posted by justjim

Interesting information. Instead of spending money on a new 43” driver would “choking” a bit on my current driver help any?

[Michael G.]

I think I'll just go out golfing with my mix bags of clubs, enjoy the game and camaraderie of friends.
Save the $$$$$ on expensive matching set of clubs, and don't get excited when I duff my drive.

Your Welcome

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by justjim

Interesting information. Instead of spending money on a new 43” driver would “choking” a bit on my current driver help any?

"Gripp down" is better terminology; "choking" with respect to golf is a negative connotation.