Question:
I got tired of guys saying, "is that a juniors set?" I literally dwarf standard clubs. All my clubs are two over.
I was watching the match play wondering the same thing about one of the players. Looked like he was holding a putter when he was swinging a 6 iron.
Response:
I play with a 48" Ti Shafted X-stiff with 1/2" tip cut and a 4" or so steel butt extension under the grip. The clubhead is a Ping Zing copy at 10.5 loft. My 3 wood (which I usually hit) is 46.5" and the same thing with the Ti X and butt extension and it is the matching 3 wood to the driver clubhead. I usually hit over 300 yards, and lately have been gaining some yardage at the range – I only get to the range at night now – it’s easier to see the ball flight with the floodlights than in the day. If I practice driver during the day I find myself raising my head up too quickly looking for the ball in the sky. I bought a 48" Ti Killer Bee recently at a Play It Again Sports and hit it for a couple of nights. It started looking like the face was caving a little so I sold it to the greedy PIAS in my area for what I bought it for – they marked it up to more than double what I paid for it in the first place. I found the shaft to be fairly stiff, but I kept worrying that I was going to break it – the real problem with this specific Killer Bee graphite shaft was it was way to twisty – a very high torque rating – probably due to its length and its narrow diameter, I’d estimate it at 4.5 degrees. The Ti shafts I have are probably 1.5 degrees. I also have a 50" Tornado shaft with butt extension that I have tried different experimental clubheads on – most cast out of graphite epoxy – and this has very low torque for a graphite shaft (it’s a big butt end shaft).. And this will probably be the setup I use when I enter long drive contests this summer. Thanks, Rick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver My driver is a 45 1/2" Golfsmith Blackhawk with an EI-70 graphite shaft. When I first built it, I didn’t trim the shaft at all. It was about 48" long. I soon discovered that it was more or less unhittable at that length. I started gripping down on it, and when I got to where I could hit it with some consistancy, I marked it and cut it down to that length. I currently hit it about 240 on an average good drive. Am I losing any distance from a longer length? Maybe, but I’d rather hit it 240 consistantly than 260 20% of the time and OB the rest.
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
My driver is a 45 1/2" Golfsmith Blackhawk with an EI-70 graphite shaft. When I first built it, I didn’t trim the shaft at all. It was about 48" long. I soon discovered that it was more or less unhittable at that length. I started gripping down on it, and when I got to where I could hit it with some consistancy, I marked it and cut it down to that length. I currently hit it about 240 on an average good drive. Am I losing any distance from a longer length? Maybe, but I’d rather hit it 240 consistantly than 260 20% of the time and OB the rest. BTW, when I built my irons, I measured up about 1/2" shorter than standard, so a 45 1/2" driver is consistant with a 46" driver in a standard set. Which leads me to believe that I chose the right length. — "And if you want to find me, I’ll be out in the sandbox," -Steven Page
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there – and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
My driver last year was a 10 degree Calloway Big Bertha (original) reshafted with, a 2.5 degree torque Harrison shaft, at 46 1/2". I can get some monster hits with it, my best being 345 (slight tailwind), and over 300 not too unusual. But I’m very inaccurate with it, and only use it on wide fairways without any trouble or O/B. Usually I tee off with a 3-wood. I have a new one this year – can’t wait to try it outdoors. 8.5 degree 260cc Titanium cpmponent club, 47". Getting some big-sounding hits in an indoor dome range with it. but it’s still way too cold for outside.
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
I use a BBB with a 46" Grafalloy Solite 50 gram shaft. Previously, I was using a 210 cc Ti/Al head on a 43" 90 gram shaft. I didn’t really choose the shaft, it chose me. I was looking for a used BBB with the intention of reshafting it with a Grafalloy Prolite shaft, when I found this one new & cheap on ebay. I decided to try it for a while, and so far I like it a lot. I get about 30 yds more distance than my old driver, no question about it. Accuracy is at least as good, due to the larger head size. However, if you were to put the SAME head on a longer shaft, expect accuracy to suffer.
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
Actually, I play with a 47.5" driver. I’m 6′4" with a 37 inch sleeve on my dress shirts. I absolutely need the extra length or I top everything in sight. As it is, I’m a 26 hcp, so I need all the help I can get. I have a custom-made Vulcan titanium driver with an offset to reduce my snap-hooks. The graphite shaft speed is about halfway between average men’s and senior. The extra length lets me take a slower and shorter backswing than most players, sort of like punching a 6-iron instead of hitting a full 7 iron. I can still hit it 225-240 with much more control, as opposed to the 260-290 I get if I just want to smack the heck out of it and don’t care about which fairway it lands on. Of course, that’s only for the 50% of the time that my swing mechanics are correct and I don’t mis-hit….. That’s why I’m still a 26 hcp! I don’t carry a 3W or 5W, but I do carry a 7W with the same characteristics (2.5" extra length, slower graphite shaft, etc). hope this helps, nick in Chicagoland
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver
I do!!! It’s a 46-inch Henry-Griffitts oversize, stainless, 12-degree, somewhat offset, True Temper filament-wound regular shaft. My teacher sold me on it. He’s an H-G clubfitter, and he thought I’d gain a little extra distance to help my overall game. I’m not a fast swinger, and the length improves my clubhead speed and hence distance. Plus I’m tall (6′4"). I get about 200-220 metres average and about 240 metres max. with roll. Even if I hit it thin, it goes about 170 six feet off the ground! I’ve got an agreement that if I’m not happy with it after three months, he’ll give me something else for it. He’s that confident. So I’ve had it for nearly three months, and it looks like he won’t need his guarantee. One thing I’ve had to do is to change/improve my swing. 46-inch drivers are not all that forgiving of faults. I wouldn’t recommend one unless you’ve got a good swing (i.e inside-out etc.), or you are prepared to work to achieve one, like I am currently 
Cheers Colin Wilson Trentham Golf Club http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/trentham
Response:
Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there –
Yes, I currently play with a ti BBB which has a 46" shaft and a loft of 9*. I do a lot of practicing with a steel 46" Killer Bee which has been extended by 2" to 48" (my gorilla club), which gives it a really good swingweight feel for me. As soon as I have tamed the gorilla (not far off now) I’ll be switching to the 48" club for playing. My gorilla club has a 7* loft which is really great in a coastal city like Cape Town because of the wind. Why? Because I just LOOOOOVE trying to knock the covers off the ball. Having heard the many pearls of common wisdom (as espoused, for instance, by the namby-pamby Penick, who I consider a very bad golf-mechanick) I tried playing pitty-pat golf but only did worse. As an example I don’t practice with a wedge to improve my long iron play – I practice with a 1-iron to improve my wedge play! — Eddie Haynes-Smart Cape Town, South Africa
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there – Yes, I currently play with a ti BBB which has a 46" shaft and a loft of 9*. I do a lot of practicing with a steel 46" Killer Bee which has been extended by 2" to 48" (my gorilla club), which gives it a really good swingweight feel for me. As soon as I have tamed the gorilla (not far off now) I’ll be switching to the 48" club for playing. My gorilla club has a 7* loft which is really great in a coastal city like Cape Town because of the wind. Why? Because I just LOOOOOVE trying to knock the covers off the ball. Having heard the many pearls of common wisdom (as espoused, for instance, by the namby-pamby Penick, who I consider a very bad golf-mechanick) I tried playing pitty-pat golf but only did worse. As an example I don’t practice with a wedge to improve my long iron play – I practice with a 1-iron to improve my wedge play!
The man’s an absolute animal! I love that! Azona, I play a TM Ti2 TS shaft 9.5 Deg, two inches over. I’m 6′2", 260lbs, with arms on the shorter side. 1st issue: I got tired of guys saying, "is that a juniors set?" I literally dwarf standard clubs. All my clubs are two over. With my irons, my swing is still very vertical. With the driver, I get to stand more upright, hense, it’s easier to take the club back a little more behind me. This lowers my drive’s trajectory, even with the 9.5 titanium. This gets me more consistancy than if I were to go with a shorter shaft and a 6 or 8 Deg face, but no loss in distance. Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Eddie Haynes-Smart Cape Town, South Africa
Response:
1 club length and 2 club length drops would definitely be a plus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Would like to know what 46 inch drivers are being played out there — and what kind of results have you been having — what made you choose a 46 inch driver over 45 or less? What are your driving characteristics — distance, fairways hit, clubhead speed, etc. Would appreciate your input. LongDriver