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Does anyone use a driver longer then 45 inches?

I was playing my TM Burner at its stock length of 46", found I was getting too much dispersion and not hitting it in the center of its face regularly. I butt cut it down to 44 3/4" and find it to be much straighter and little or no loss of distance.

I have drivers from 45 to 45-3/4 inchs. I don't see much lose in accuracy with the longer length, or much increase in distance or clubhead speed with the longer shafts.

I don't but a friend of mine who has a +1 handicap plays a 47 inch driver. He smashes the ball on the few times he pulls it out of the bag. His drives are over 300 on average, I have seen him drive a 280 par 4 with his three wood and leave the ball 3 feet from the hole.

The problem with a longer driver is that you have to flatten your swing more the longer you go. Back in the day the transition wasn't as much of a problem since your were going to a 44" standard driver but since the "Manifest Long Ball Age" has come around, the standard went to 45" and is now trying to push for 46" included with a lighter shaft. Problem is, you are looking at less weight and a flatter swing that changes the physics of a standard stroke (just a touch). I have found about 25% of golfers can make the transition hitting the center of the club face just as good with more distance but the average golfer with the average scores of 87+ aren't going to find a solution in the longer drivers. They will find a longer drive from time to time but most cases these golfers need to consider a slightly shorter driver with alittle more weight to help keep their swing on plane.

I am getting a new driver for Christmas and when i go to get it fitted, I am going to talk to the pro about any advantages to getting it cut down maybe an inch to help with my control.

Wishon's book "Search for the Perfect Golf Club" is worth every penney, because it has the answers to questions like this.

He put identical clubs of different lengths on a iron byron. Each extra inch in length only resulted in drives going an extra 1.5 yards, so going from a 43 to a 46 inch length club in theory buys you a whopping 4.5 extra yards MAX.

Unfortunatly, it is harder to hit the sweet spot with a longer club than a shorter one, so in the real world the average golfer is going to hit the ball SHORTER using a 46 inch driver than using a 43 inch driver. Exactly the opposite of what you would think.

He does have some good advice for club modifications that will help you hit the ball farther, but lengthening the club isn't one of them.

Funny, Golf magazine did a test last year comparing 45 and 46 inch drivers. It seems in the test, the golfers were not only longer with the 46 inch drivers. but also a few yards closer to being on line. Not what they expected, but that's what the test data showed.

There can be a problem when you shorten a driver. Some of the new driver heads of less than the standard 200 grams, some as light as 190 grams. This means if you shorten the length from 46 to 45 or 44 inchs, the swing weight will be very low. You might not like it that light. I know I don't. Just something to think about before you cut that shaft down.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

One Putt you are right on the money. They have to balance out the Club.
A sligtly longer Driver means that I have to setup a hair father from the ball
and nothing more.I have no problem hiting the sweet spot. My Driver is 46" long and being that I always choke up an inch anyway so it doesn't fell too long.

I might be the odd ball here. My driver is 47" I am only 5.10. I was using my old Taylormade R7 Quad at the range one day. One of my friends showed up who makes clubs for a living. He had just made a 47 with a graffaloy shaft. He asked me to give it a try and I was amazed how much extra distance I was getting vs my stock R7. I had him make me the same club. I don't seem to have a problem adjusting to the added length.

There is one thing most golfers don't take into account with the longer shaft drivers. If you know you have a longer driver, and remember to make a more relaxed swing, you can hit the ball just as solid as you would what a harder swing and a shorter driver. So if you remember this, it can help you make a relaxed swing, and still hit the ball as far if not farther than with the shorter drivers. A lot is it is all in your head. I think most of us will agree the most golfers try to swing too hard. And with a longer driver, those same golfers might just remember they don't need to swing so hard now. and they might just make decent contact with the longer driver.

OnePutt's comments are right on. Longer drivers must be swung with a controlled smooth swing. Let the club produce the distance.
An added benefit if you like to draw the ball, is that the longer clubs promote a "toe up" condition. That causes the face to point more left (for a right hander) and makes the draw shot shape easier to hit.

Redwing. Welcome to the site. I don't know who you are, but I like the way you think. Anyone that agrees with me is always welcome here.
Also, the idea of being able to hit a draw easier with the longer driver, makes sense. Now all I have to do is get it to work for me out on the course.Saturday at the range I was hitting balls with a bunch of drivers. and measureing clubhead speed, Couldn't see any difference with 45 and 46" drivers. What I did notice a few times, was how my speed went up when I remembered to make a Relaxed swing. When I remembered to start down slowly, with a hip turn back to the left, my speed was higher, and my contact was better. Pretty much what most of us are looking for with the driver. My friend had a 44-1/4" driver, and it was hard to hit well. I'm assuming it was the light swing weight at fault. I measured it when I got home and it's only D0. I like my drivers at D4 or higher. I have a FT-i Tour that is D10, 45-3/4" and my swing speed was pretty much the same with both driver. Contact was much better with the FT-i Tour.

I always aim to swing at around 80-90% of what i am capable of.a nice relaxed full swing with a full follow through always results in a better shot,looks better and feels better and goes just as far as trying to hit the paint of the ball.