A lot of retail drivers seem to come with 45-46" shafts these days, but read the average on tour is 44.5". Has anyone tried using a shorter shaft for more control and benefiting from it? I've heard some golfers going down to 43.5-44.75" and say they not only had straighter drives, but also average distance was better due to being more consistent on the sweetspot?

Which might make some sense as I've read you can potentially gain about +8yds per shaft inch, but for every 1/4" off centre you can lose -6.67yds. Supposedly you can get away with taking an inch off the butt end without too much effect on the shaft flex as the bend point is lower? But swingweight goes down by 3 points (6g) per 1/2". Although supposedly you can get tip weights that fit inside the shaft to correct this.

Maybe chocking down on the club would give you an idea of how a shorter shaft might perform. Although will be gripping on a smaller part of the grip.

I think some article in Golf Digest has highlighted it recently, although supposedly Tom Wishon in his
'Search for the Perfect Golf Club' book has been advocating it for years. Listen to Chp2 of 12 Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game.

You need to read 'In search of the perfect club' or 'in search for the perfect driver' by Tom Wishon - and yes for the average player 43 or 44" is more than long enough - I play my driver at 44 and 3 wood at 42 - not only have I gained distance (more often catch the sweet spot, but I'm longer now.

Sorry, I can't agree. I have recently started using a driver with a 47 inch shaft, 2 inches longer than standard. It not only goes longer but with the extra shaft length, I tend to have to swing at a must slower swing speed, which has improved my accuracy off the tee greatly, and with a standard length shaft, I was far from accurate. I feel if the shaft were even shorter than standard, I would have to increase the club head speed to compensate, thus becoming less accurate.

Interesting, how did you come to try 47"? Would seem it's another individual thing and longer might work for some who don't swing within themselves normally but are forced to with a longer shaft?

Might be something that needs experimenting when being fit, especially on a launch monitor. Do most custom fitters have access to different length drivers though?

Reason, 6'9" tall. But always used standard length drivers and custom, longer irons.

What has to be remebered that the length for calculation of swing speed is not just the shaft length but also the length of the arms.

Given that a big majority of tour players are over 6ft tall, it stands to reason that the overall length is probably longer which would produce a higher swing speed.

can be both as each has experienced - once over a certain length it can work against you , just the same as going too short.
Each person has an optimum plane relative to shaft length that allows them to square the clubface at impact. Flatter or more upright paths other than the one their mechanics naturally produce can be done also but require a higher level of timing and control

Tom Wishon did extensive tests and discovered very little extra length can be obtained from longer shafts,and only then you have to have a certain build,such as the gorillas in the worlds longest driving comps,they rip,and know how to do it properly.

Wishon discovered 95% of golfers get extra length from shorter shafts due to increased control,its why the ave length on tour is under 45,around 44 1/2 last time I read something on it.

But then many players just lop the butt off and stiffen the shaft up,and mess with swing weight as well.If you are going to shorten,do it properly and pull the head.

I've trimmed both my Ping G2 and G5 drivers to 44.5" and getting more drives on the fairway and no loss in distance.

I'm 6'2 and have definitely found better control through using a 44" vs 45" inch shaft. Can't say there is any effect on distance, possibly because I'm hitting better trajectories with the shorter length, and in particular getting less distance-sapping fade-spin. Best move I ever did.

Does any anyone know a manufacturer making 44" shaft as standard in their drivers? I can only see 45 in every shop I ever go in to.