Golf Driver Shaft Length Buying Guide

When it comes down to raw entertainment, there are only a few things as satisfying as hitting a golf ball with a driver. The sheer showcase of force and sportsmanship is in a world of their own.

To enjoy hitting a driver to the fullest, you need the perfect shaft length. While you get away with longer clubs by hitting it far, you cannot always get the accuracy you want. Browsing between different shaft lengths is a pain as well.

That’s why we’ve created this handy golf driver shaft length buying guide for you.

Everything You Need to Know about Driver Shaft Length

If you’re interested in knowing the normal length of your driver shaft, you’re in the right section. For the longest time, the driver shaft length has been hovering around 43 inches to 45 inches.

If we dive down deep enough, we’ll notice that about 20 years ago, the average length for a driver shaft was 43 inches. Fast forward to today, the average length has increased to 45 inches.

What do these numbers tell you?

It shows that players are more comfortable with longer shaft lengths on their drivers than ever before. But why is that?

The debate between distance and accuracy regarding golf drivers has been going on forever. There was a time when 43-43.5 inches of shaft length was the perfect match for a respectable distance and accuracy.

Over time, the materials to make drivers have changed. The club head designs have changed. The shaft designs have changed.

All of these changes have provided more forgiveness to the players. And that’s why modern players can get away with up to 45 inches of shaft length without compromising with accuracy.

A general rule of thumb for drivers is that the longer the shaft length, the more distance you can cover. Every extra inch you add to your driver shaft length will result in up to 5 yards in distance covered!

Does that mean you should go to your local golf supply store and get the longest driver you can get?

It’s a hard no all the way. While you may get more distance with longer drivers, you lose accuracy dramatically! And less accuracy almost always means a higher handicap. Is that what you want from your shiny new golf driver?

Remember, the goal is always to get the optimum driver shaft length for yourself. What may have worked for your friend may not work for you at all!

Resource: Golf Plan to Break 100, 90, 80

Getting the Ideal Shaft Length

If you haven’t figured it out already, let us clarify. There is no straight answer to what’s the perfect driver shaft length for you! It varies from player to player.

Some of the factors that play a role in accordance with the shaft length are your swing speed, your height, your age, your average ball speed, etc.

For example, if you are only 5’2 and try to use 45” drivers, it’s going to be a nightmare for you to get accurate shots.

It doesn’t mean begin short is wrong. It simply means that your choice of the driver is wrong. You need to cut down the length of your driver shaft until you’re comfortable controlling it.

Your best bet is always to get custom fitted. An instructor knows your capabilities more than you do. He/she can correctly anticipate which driver shaft length would be ideal for you.

If don’t have the option to get custom-fitted, at least go to your local driving range to test out different drivers. Among the hundreds of options on the market right now, you’ll certainly find one that suits you perfectly.

The Eternal Debate on Distance and Accuracy

There have been more discussions on distance vs accuracy on a driver than any other golf topic!

Think of it as the discussion about which comes first? The egg or the chicken?

You’ll find many people voting for longer driver shafts to get more distance. The logic here is that you can always guide the ball with your irons or wedges as long as you’re close to the hole.

The other school of thought is to get shorter drivers to hit the fairways every time. In this case, the logic is that you take each of your shots precisely and in a planned way so that you don’t end up in roughs or bunkers.

Unfortunately, both of the arguments here are valid. We cannot take sides because both make sense from two different perspectives.

When it comes to you, you should always choose what you think is right for you. You need to physically test out both types of drivers, even if you have to borrow them from your friends.

When you compared a long driver and a shorter one side by side, a lot of things will clear up for you. You’ll understand how both of them perform in your hands.

For example, if you can lower your score by playing with a long driver shaft length, you should stick to it.

On the other hand, if your performance with the short driver is better than the long driver, it means the short driver is a better choice for you.

Whatever you do, your target is to lower your score as well as playing comfortably. It might be a 42-inch short driver or a 46-inch long driver. The choice is always yours.

Resource: Golf Plan to Break 100, 90, 80

Can I Cut My Driver Shaft Down?

You can. But you certainly shouldn’t.

When a driver comes out of the assembly line, every single attribute of the golf club is intertwined. While cutting down a longer shaft to make it short may seem simple, it’s of the fatal mistakes you can make for your golf career.

When you cut a driver shaft, you effectively change the weight distribution, the torsion, the flex of the shaft, the swing speed, your ball speed, and everything associated with it!

There’s no way you or any machine shop can accurately predict the results. If you cut down your driver shaft length by yourself, you’re essentially ruining a beautiful piece of engineering.

Final Words

We know that getting a new driver is exciting. If we were thinking of getting one, we’d be excited as well. But don’t let your excitement hamper your overall progress as a golf player. A driver is quite sensitive when it comes to hitting the ball straight and toward the target.

As you already know, every inch you add or take away from the shaft will change your distance by up to 5 yards. Not only that, it will change the accuracy factor as well. So, read our guide carefully and always try to get custom fitted for your golf drivers.

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