If your averaging 300 yards and pretty consistent, why would you even be concerned with the length?
Adding an inch to standard length is probably going to lose your consistency.

Well it's like I said, it's more about confidence and feeling that I would be more comfortable standing over the ball. It's probably hard to understand unless your going from a 975 to a ts3.
I was hoping that someone might have felt similar. I think its just the difference in head size that's making it feel uncomfortable. I just thought I would have adjusted by now.

Even though I think I would be more confident with 1" added... I don't want to be the guy with the 47" driver

It's a strange topic for sure and I'm not sure what I'm looking for in answers.

Well it's like I said, it's more about confidence and feeling that I would be more comfortable standing over the ball. It's probably hard to understand unless your going from a 975 to a ts3.
I was hoping that someone might have felt similar. I think its just the difference in head size that's making it feel uncomfortable. I just thought I would have adjusted by now.

Even though I think I would be more confident with 1" added... I don't want to be the guy with the 47" driver

It's a strange topic for sure and I'm not sure what I'm looking for in answers.

Many pros still play 44”. USGA limits the design so improved forgiveness is most of the changes Assuming the 975 was already 460 cc. A longer shaft is a longer fulcrum. Determined for each golfer, is the crossover point from increasing head speed versus dispersion. That also widens with increasing shaft length. You can use a 48 inch shaft if your dispersion pattern - fairways hit is acceptable. You can add a shaft extension for a trial of 46.5 or longer shaft.

Best thing I did before COVID 19 was change from 44.5 to 44”. About 6 months ago I changed from a Bassara to Diamana S60+ R at A6. Keeps it straight and lower.

I had a 975D with a Proforce UST shaft in my bag in the mid/late 90's. No way was it 46 inches. Standard length back then was 44 inches if I remember.

I'm wondering if your off the rack club may have been a special order that someone returned and the store sold it to you as new,

My 975 is a later 2003 L-FE "hcr" or something is written on the face. I double checked. With it flat against a wall upright it measures 46.5"

The TS I'm using measures the same.

I think I'll I'll stick a 1/2 extension in the TS and see how it feels.

Right now my swing with it feels "tight" like I'm strangling it.

For reference when you measure the playing length, I believe you lean the driver against a wall with the head on the ground at the angle of swing setup. I think the standard lie angle is 58.5. Then run a tape from the end of grip to where the shaft would intersect with the floor. Nothing wrong with experimenting with different shaft lengths. Ideally you would have a fitter do it because they usually have access to several different shafts and will give you an unbiased opinion.

MARK L: I did some research on the internet regarding this subject, it appears that over the past 20 year, off-the-shelf driver lengths go from 43 inches to 48 inches, the maximum allowable by the USGA, and back to somewhere around 45 inches. What is it most golfers are seeking? Distance, distance, distance, off the tee. I bet if you asked most golfers which they preferred, distance or accuracy, they would say distance. They love to see Bryson, DJ and Rory hit those bombs. With the USGA governing the rebound effect off the face of the driver (CT), it seems logical that adding length to the driver creates a longer swing arc and therefore more club head speed. But, if you "do not hit" the sweet spot on the face of the driver, you will actually LOSE distance because the efficiency (smash factor) will drop and you will generate less ball speed. With your current set up and am assuming you are hitting it in the middle (the, therefore increasing you scores. You can look at the numbers below based on your current age, handicap and see how your numbers stand up. Bet they look pretty good at 300 yards against the average in your category.

He are some recent numbers regarding lengths by age and handicap:

A 25-year-old scratch player drives it, on average, 38 yards longer than a 15 handicapper of the same age, once again showing that skill and technique equals distance.

25: 271 yards

35: 267 yards

45: 260 yards

55: 251 yards

65: 238 yards

The 25-year-old 15 handicapper hits it between 25-22 yards longer than a 30 handicapper, whereas the difference from scratch to 15 is a longer 48-36 yards depending on age.

25: 233 yards

35: 230 yards

45: 224 yards

55: 215 yards

65: 202 yards

*** Source Golf Monthly (Internet)

My age group (75) is not listed for a 15 handicapper. Guess the average would be somewhere around 200+, if listed. Suppose I am above average, depending on if I hit the sweet spot. Hakuna matata.

All of my older drivers are shorter than modern standard. More 44.5 - 45'

If I were you, I would go to a fitter and try out different shafts with different specs.

Then you can compare performance, feel and looks and thus chose the shaft that better suits your needs.

I have made an error, I have just looked up how a driver is actually measured properly, then just read that last reply! (thanks)

A driver that measures 46.5" upright against a wall ( which I did) actually measures 45" when at a 45 degree angle. That explains why my measurement was off with my 975.

I am still going to extend my TS by 1" so at least it will now be 46" instead of 47"

Sorry about this guys.. my error. Thanks for all the input!

I go with the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Tour average is 44. Seems like most 6 footers are 45 max

Mark L,

I'm going to be that guy! Today I am picking up from Valley Golf in Temecula, CA, two stiff Accuflex Vizion 50s, 60 gram shafts both cut to a playing length of 48 inches. I had them install a Titleist Sure fit adapter in one and the other with an older model TM R11s adapter. I want to compare the 8.5* TS4 head to the R11s 8* head with the exact same shafts (manufacturer, length, weight, and flex). Both will be set to 8.5*. I'm monitoring length and dispersion. I'm 58, 6-2, 180 pounds, about a 10 handicap, and still hitting a TS4 with a stiff 43 gram 46.25 inch Miyazaki shaft an average of 280. I only use my driver on par 5s and hit the U-510 16* for par 4s. The 46.25 feels right. Would the 48 inch give me more distance? Perhaps. Dispersion? I'll know tomorrow! 48 inches is currently within regulations. Do I care about what others think? Hardly!!! Be comfortable and do what works for you.

Update to my post on the 48 inch driver shafts. I found the consistent sweet-spot and figured out where in my stance to place the ball and the correct tee height. The 48 inch shaft gave me an additional 15-20 yards carry. I've adjusted the TM to 6*. I'm once again clearing bunkers that I hadn't carried in years. At the Legends Golf Course (Temeku Hills) in Temecula, CA., on the range, I'm carrying 267 and rolling out across the sidewalk and up the hill. At Pala Mesa on Sunday, into the wind, my 18th hole tee shot was 301 yards. Testing for my TS4 begins today. I can only adjust the loft down to 7.75* but I'd like to see the total carry and roll comparison. More to follow...

When I first started in golf, a driver was 43". The head was Laminated Maple ( I didn't get my first Persimmon driver until a few years later.) The head was the size of today's 3 wood. Even when TM came out with metalwoods, the driver was still 43". Not until cally came out with Big Bertha in the early 90's, did the shaft increase to 44", along with head size. From there, it was off to the races with shaft length and head size, along with shaft and head material composition.

My TSI D2 Driver is the longest followed by 910 D2 and 905R.

My 905R was a fabulous driver and i had a hard time putting it down for the 917D2. My shot dispersion is worse with the 917 so i am thinking of changing shafts.

Well, my testing and comparison of the TS4 set to 7.75* and the TM set to 6*, both in the 48 inch play length stiff shafts is completed. The 48 inch play length was easy to get comfortable with and I am able to consistently control the flight paths and trajectories. Bottom line: I wish Titleist had a TS driver adjustable to 6*.

I had the 917D2 because in my previous fittings I moved up from the 910, 913, 915 because I continued to get a tighter pattern and more distance. I skipped the TS series. The performance was minimal. Am not a young lad like most of you on this forum, am 75 and accuracy with some distance is very important to me. My new TSI3 is an awesome club. Am fighting hip and back issues but when I hit it solidly I can get it over 250 yards, in the middle. The hip issue has really bothered me lately and in my right side which does not help when hitting a driver. At my age I am a very happy camper. In my younger days, and most seniors like to look back, I had a small headed TM driver, 7*, think it was about the size of my current 18* Titleist hybrid, and it would go over 300 yards. Memory. Titleist keeps me on track now.

Chuck, funny you should mention that. I still have the 7* 320 TI. Over the years, various other drivers (910, 915, TS4) have chased it out of the bag. I need to measure it for play length.