When to shorten the driver

I'm considering cutting down my driver by an inch or so. It's a 983K 10.5 deg with a Grafalloy ProLite35 in regular. I'm a mid handicap with a length of around 250 yds avg. My good shots can reach 280 yds, but that is probably 1/10 shots, most of the time it goes straight then slices off badly to the right, an acceptable shot is a left-to-right fade, and sometimes I pull it left. Overall I'm coming over the top. Looking at my swing in slo-mo, I do tend to hit the ball off the heel, about a ball's width from the centre. I struggle to come in from the inside often. I have a similar problem with the 3 wood, but not as bad, probably due to the shorter shaft and more loft.

Should I cut down the shaft to overcome one, some or all of the symptoms here? I didn't like the stiff version of the shaft as it was too "woody", so I don't mind if the shaft stiffen's up a bit, but what other affects am I going to see? I have gripped down the shaft for the past 3 or 4 rounds and don't see much distance loss (300 yds one hole!).

Thanks

A shorter shaft won't make you come from the inside. Work on fixing your swing, then adjust your equipment once your swing is correct. Go out to the range with a carboard box and place it parallel to your target line, giving you just enough room to get the clubhead through the impact zone with an inisde-out swingpath. Work on this drill with all your clubs. As I said, don't start adjusting your equipment to fix a problem that you are aware of and is fixable.

Do you mean inside-square-inside, or do you mean having the feeling of inside to out?

When working on drills, always overexagerate so you can really get the feeling of what changes are needed to be made. If you have an outside-in swing and want an inside-square-inside swing, work on drills creating an inside-out swing.

Cutting the shaft down will stiffen the driver. In most cases, it is not a good idea. Most people swing a shaft too stiff for their swings anyway. I agree with [b]gord962[/b[ and fix the swing.

Gord,
I was thinking of doing this myself. I continually hit off the heel with push/slices to the right. I saw my swing recently on video and it appears that although Im inside to outside (which is good, IM told) I straighten up on down swing, with my left arm extending too soon. I was advised to place golf ball outside of ball that I want to hit about 2-3" and then try to not to hit that outside ball. Is this the same drill as placing the cardboard box outside it. I seem to always hit the outside ball. Should you be clearing the ball and in your drill not touching the box?

Thanks.

Mike

Tom Wishon suggests cutting down a 45" driver at least an inch for more control. Like you say, you're hitting on the heel, meaning you're giving up distance.

Here's the thing - go ahead and try it. If it doesn't help (because of your swing flaw), then go ahead and epoxy an extension back in place.

I understand what Gord is saying. However, in general, longer shafts are harder to time. More rope to hang yourself with.

So if my Cally 454 is 45" long. Cutting it down to say 44" might see some hits closer to the sweet spot. Does choking up tell you if that would work or is it something different? I do tend to hit my other woods closer to heel but not as drastic, the clubs are shorter and the head is smaller. My best shots occur with a 3 and 5 wood when I get it. Im doing some drills to increase sweet spot hits but I would like to try the shorter driver experiment. Thanks for your input, gentlemen.

The logic that goes with cutting down your clubs is that shorter clubs are easier to control.

My own personal experience is that I get wicked control at 43.5". However, I prefer to spray it a little more, and squeeze out a little more distance at 44.75 or 45".

Tom Wishon's logic is that since the boys on Tour are playing at 44" (and still aren't all over the fairway) then why are you playing a longer (read: less controllable) driver?

My arguement is that I don't play tour courses (most of the fairways on my home course are pretty wide), so for that course, my 45" driver suits me fine.

But like I said, I have a much tighter dispersion with a 43.5" driver than I do with a 45" driver.

Now, braveheart, since you're hitting all your woods on the heel, I don't think cutting it down will solve your problem.

It seems as though you're consistent with where you're making contact.

To me, you have two solutions.

Solution 1: Start teeing up with the ball at the toe of the club, for an on-center hit. I play with a guy every week who, when teeing with a driver, has the ball almost outside of the clubhead, but finds the middle of the clubface.

Solution 2: Change your swing so that you keep everything else the same, to produce center shots. It may be something simple like setting up a little further away from the ball or standing a touch more upright, that sort of thing. But without seeing your swing, it's tough to say.

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For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

It may also be that even though it appears like you are aligning your ball to the center of the club face, it really isnt. This is really becoming quite a problem with the popularity of the extra large driver heads. Have someone check your actual alignment and adjust you so that you are aligned for a center hit. Once you do this a few times you will remember where the ACTUAL center is and you should be on your way.