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Does a shorter driver shaft Reduce distance?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 18, 2026

It is possible that shortening your driver shaft will actually decrease the distance that you drive the ball. A longer driver shaft has generally meant a greater distance when driving.

Do you lose distance with a shorter driver shaft?

When fitting a driver, it's important to get loft, lie, shaft, and grip sorted, but better driving may be hiding in a shorter shaft. In fact, a shorter shaft should help you find the sweet spot more often and may even add distance.

Does length of shaft affect distance?

Benefits Of Longer Driver Shafts

Testing shows that an inch of extra shaft length adds approximately 10 yards in distance to your drive. Therefore, everything else being equal, a 45.75” could add 20-25 yards extra over a 43” driver.

What happens if your driver shaft is too short?

What Happens When Golf Clubs Are Too Short? For most golfers, having clubs that are too short will be better than if they're too long, but can still result in inconsistent shots. Clubs that are too short will make you stand bent over, which can cause back pain. You'll also have the tendency to push the ball a lot.

Does driver shaft affect distance?

A shorter shaft will be a little stiffer, again think of the lever analogy, but it can actually lead to increased distance as well as accuracy. Shorter clubs are easier to use so you will hit more shots out of the middle which means longer straighter drives.

33 related questions found

Does the length of a golf club affect the distance you can hit the ball?

Our testing has shown conclusively that there is absolutely no measurable difference in distance due to the standard 1/2″ incremental shaft length increases between clubs. The only affect of the standard length increases between clubs is to make each successively longer club harder to hit.

Does a lighter shaft increase distance?

Using a lighter shaft allows more weight to be placed in the clubhead through adjustable weights, hotmelt, etc. without increasing the total weight of the club. This “redistribution” of shaft weight into the clubhead can be one of the last tweaks in a fitting that unlocks more distance off the tee.

Is a shorter driver easier to hit?

The short answer is, yes, it is easier to hit with a shorter driver. As we talked about before, a shorter driver will decrease the width of the arc to your swing and increase your frequency of hitting the center of the clubface.

Will a shorter driver help my slice?

The long and the short of it

Your current length may be perfect for you. You may even need a longer one. But, as our experts and test have shown, a good number of golfers would benefit from a shorter shaft. You may actually increase distance and there's a good chance you'll hit more fairways.

Does longer driver shaft increase distance?

Typically most players do pick up speed (around 1 mph per inch) with a longer driver shaft, and since every 1 mph of additional driver speed generally yields about two yards of extra carry distance, technically the advice you've been given is true.

What length driver shaft do pros use?

PGA Tour Professionals tend to play drivers between 44-46" in length. The vast majority of pros are in the 44.5" to 45.75" range from what we've been able to gather. There are, of course, exceptions in both directions.

How much distance can a good driver add?

Year-over-year, distance increases in new equipment are generally minimal. If you bought a driver in 2019, the 2020 model may only be 1-2 yards longer. But, if you have a driver from 2004, then the 2020 model could be 20+ yards longer.

What is the length of Bryson DeChambeau driver?

Bryson DeChambeau can only use a 48-inch driver when he's competing in Long Drive Association events. Golf's governing bodies announced a new “model local rule” available Jan. 1 that would limit the maximum length of all clubs except the putter to 46 inches.

How long is Tiger Woods driver shaft?

(Tiger plays a 43.5 inch driver).

How far does Phil Mickelson drive?

The Golf Central crew discuss Phil Mickelson's advantage over the field in the PGA Champions Tour with his average driver distance at over 300 yards.

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?

Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots.

Should I hit down on my driver?

To cure your slices and pulls, hit down on the ball with your driver. A good thought is to try to take a little divot after impact or to hit with the shaft leaning toward the target (top photo). This will help you shift to your front side on the downswing and swing into impact from inside the target line.

Should I choke down on my driver?

When a shot comes up that requires the best of your accuracy, but you still want to hit your driver, consider choking down on the grip of the club. Even moving down the grip by just an inch or two can go a long way toward improving your accuracy.

Are shorter drivers more accurate?

More importantly that test showed a 28% increase in accuracy with the shorter shaft. Every golfer is different, and this doesn't conclusively say that all golfers would benefit from a shorter shaft, but it certainly is enough to raise your eyebrows (and mine).

What length driver does Brooks koepka use?

At the top end of the bag, Koepka has a new Srixon ZX7 driver at 10.75 degrees, equipped with a Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited 70 TX shaft that he's used for years.

How long is Rory McIlroy's driver shaft?

"I went back to 44 1/2 [inches] earlier this year," Rory McIlroy said. "I don't think driver length is the right way to tackle what the governing bodies want to do. I mean, I would be in agreeance with Phil. A lot of amateurs just pick a driver off the rack and it's going to be 45 and a half inches.

Can a golf shaft increase distance?

A heavier shaft will only increase distance for the golfers that have high swing speeds. For golfers with slow swing speeds, a heavier shaft will decrease the distance. Hitting a golf ball far is all about ball speed.

Does 10 grams make a difference in golf shaft?

While most focus more on shaft flex, shaft weight is equally important. 10 grams may not sound like a big deal, but during the golf swing, it can make a big difference. This weight can make a big difference to feel, clubhead speed and dispersion (the accuracy of your drives).

How many grams should my shaft be?

The shafts in most drivers typically weigh between 40 grams and 85 grams. Shaft manufacturers will offer stiff and regular flex in nearly all weight classes while most light and ladies flex clubs will weigh no more than 55 or 60 grams, but could be as light as 40 grams.