The 44-inch Driver

Most amateur golfers would lower their scores by playing drivers that are about 44 inches in length or less instead of the longer behemoths (up to 45.5 inches or more) commonly sold "off-the-rack" at retail outlets. The shorter custom driver allows for a more effective address position, an improved swing path, and greater accuracy off the tee -- it's better to hit the ball into the fairway leaving you a more predictable shot towards the green rather than sending the ball into the rough where creatures with pointy teeth live.

Most professional golfers use drivers that average 44.5 - 45 inches in length. Why do most amateurs play with drivers up to an inch longer than the best professional players? The answer is marketing. When increasing sales every year is the goal, the folks in OEM marketing departments need to invent reasons why you should buy their product. Convincing you to buy a shorter length driver is a more difficult sell than a longer club. 

A driver that's too long for you requires more energy to swing and greater physical control (better technique) to keep on plane. It's also more difficult to contact the ball in the center of the clubface where it needs to happen to get maximum distance from the club's design. An off-center hit of an inch will cost you a significant loss in distance -- and it sure doesn't help with accuracy either. 3D motion capture and video analysis reveal how excessive length in a driver can adversely affect your swing mechanics.

How much distance do you lose hitting the ball with a shorter driver? Surprisingly, some golfers gain distance. Improved contact with the center of the clubface results in greater "spring effect" and sends the ball farther. Accuracy is often better -- less shot dispersion leaves the ball closer to the hole. 

OK, what is the optimum length for a driver? Well, it depends on the individual. Some golfers do best with substantially less than 44 inches. If you hit a 3-wood as far as your driver, that's a clue your driver should be checked. Perhaps a modification in swing technique might improve your efficiency with a longer driver. Swing analysis combined with a launch monitor and using impact tape or the equivalent is the most effective way to get it right.

There are many factors that affect driver distance and accuracy in addition to length including weight, balance (swingweight), and ball spin. The loft of the clubface and the angle of attack of the swing have major effects on ball trajectory. A launch monitor helps to understand how these factors work together. It's best to measure performance instead of guessing the results -- your eyes often tell your brain what it wanted to see, not what really happened.

Custom clubfitting where you can test the effect of length while minimizing the effects of the other variables is the best way to find the longest length club that you can hit accurately and achieve the distance you expect from your swing. You may end up with a driver that's likely to be significantly shorter than the one you have now. Maybe it will be a 44-inch driver like the one I play.