Rory’s driver length

[rwhitlock]

Ok, this is probably not picky, but i’m curious if Rory’s driver total length is 44” or if that is just the shaft length?  From his comments ‘shortened 44-inch shaft’

[DoubleDawg22]

I have wondered this too as he has been on record at a 45.5 to my knowledge. 
 

The math generally ties out as well that if we dropped from 44.5” to 44” that’d put him now at 45”. 
 

44” is really short, i’m not buying it.

[ode1]

Unfortunately too many people think they are the same thing and/or just don't know any better.  I have a hard time believing he's actually talking about the length of the shaft vs. actual clublength.  

[Phabs]

Usually what they list is playing length… as the that’s easier to understand than the cut lengths of his shafts which is pretty pointless.  
 

With that guys speed and efficiency I wouldn’t doubt for a second he can play a 44” driver and still punish a ball 330. 

[Chunkitgood]

If he says he has a 44 inch shaft, why wouldn’t you believe him?
 

It’s not as if he said 8 inches.

[cav5]

Yes it’s strange. I’ve deff see TM build outs at 45.5 EOG. Chopping 1.5 is a lot! But I’ve been hearing same thing about the 44.5 thing. 

[Phabs]

5 minutes ago, cav5 said:

Yes it’s strange. I’ve deff see TM build outs at 45.5 EOG. Chopping 1.5 is a lot! But I’ve been hearing same thing about the 44.5 thing. 

Not that I can hold a candle to any pro but going to a 44.5” drivers been a god send for me after going though Howard’s DIY driver fitting.   

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, DoubleDawg22 said:

I have wondered this too as he has been on record at a 45.5 to my knowledge. 
 

The math generally ties out as well that if we dropped from 44.5” to 44” that’d put him now at 45”. 
 

44” is really short, i’m not buying it.

 

44 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Usually what they list is playing length… as the that’s easier to understand than the cut lengths of his shafts which is pretty pointless.  
 

With that guys speed and efficiency I wouldn’t doubt for a second he can play a 44” driver and still punish a ball 330. 

"+1" on @Phabs' view.  Many other pros (eg Tiger and RIckie Fowler) have reportedly used 43.5" playing-length drivers. (eg this google-search)

 

I think Cobra markets 44.5" as "Tour Length".

 

 

[Trippels]

He says 44" driver

 

 

[Phabs]

4 minutes ago, Trippels said:

He says 44" driver

 

 

19 putts at Augusta… oooohh weee.  

[SaVo_]

It was hard to believe initially for me too how short pro's can really be playing their drivers. Rory playing 44". Doing some research recently I found cam smith was listed using 44.5" driver last summer before leaving for Liv, Finau is one of the bigger guys on tour, has been recorded using 45 to 45.25" driver. Cameron champ's driver in 2021 was listed as 44.25" playing length. These guys are in the top percentile of speed, so it makes sense they'd opt for as much accuracy as they can going with a shorter driver length. Besides phil using a 47/48 inch to win in kiawah. Longest I remember reading about being in play was DJ at 45.75"

[puresurfr]

Jimmy Walker has used the shortest driver I have heard of at 42"

[Hot Rod 71]

I moved from  45.5” drive to a 44.5” driver several years ago. Much easier to make center contact. With more center contact comes more consistent drives, both directionally and in distance.
 

I did not notice a loss in distance. In fact, I feel like I hit it further due to more consistent center contact. 

[ac6]

22 minutes ago, puresurfr said:

Jimmy Walker has used the shortest driver I have heard of at 42"

 

Was that the one he played with DG X100 in it?

 

[Avidswampthing66]

Maybe he's testing the soon to be released BRNR Mini "driver" 🤔

[puresurfr]

23 minutes ago, ac6 said:

 

Was that the one he played with DG X100 in it?

 

 

Driver: Titleist 917D2 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver Limited Edition 80X (42 inches, tipped 1.5 inches), D1 Swing Weight

[dwboston]

Trottie made some interesting comments about club length in a fitting video with former Tour pro Dean Wilson.  He referred to "old ruler" and "new ruler" a couple of times and said there is a 0.75 inch difference between them - it seems like it's just a different way of measuring the same thing?  I don't know about Rory and 44 inches - he's not that tall so it wouldn't shock me.  Sergio played a 43.5 inch driver.

 

It's right at the 5:00 mark of the video below. 

 

 

[mwgreen431]

Best driver I ever had was 10° G400 at 43.5”, swing weighted to d4 with yarn.  Cracked the crown and Ping sent a standard length 410 and it was never the same, even cut down and swing weighted. Built a 44.5” Sim that was ok, but  TM replaced it with a 45” hot melted Stealth setup when the sim broke, and it’s been decent at best. Playing a standard length TSR3 and it’s been pretty decent, but I am thinking about getting another 400 head. Any club head speed I lost was made up for with better contact and a better swing. 

[Stuart_G]

8 hours ago, dwboston said:

Trottie made some interesting comments about club length in a fitting video with former Tour pro Dean Wilson.  He referred to "old ruler" and "new ruler" a couple of times and said there is a 0.75 inch difference between them - it seems like it's just a different way of measuring the same thing?

 

Don't do vids, but TM specifically changed measuring methods not all that long ago (2009), maybe that's what he's referring to?

 

Taylormade Length Measurement Notice.pdf

 

 

 

[NPSpar4]

I started playing my driver at just over 44” and its been awesome.  Granted, I'm 5’7”, but noticeable improvement from standard 45”ish.   Helps me draw the ball as well.  But again, gotta test everything.   You’d be surprised at what works.  And what doesnt ha

[Bye]

10 hours ago, dwboston said:

Trottie made some interesting comments about club length in a fitting video with former Tour pro Dean Wilson.  He referred to "old ruler" and "new ruler" a couple of times and said there is a 0.75 inch difference between them - it seems like it's just a different way of measuring the same thing?  I don't know about Rory and 44 inches - he's not that tall so it wouldn't shock me.  Sergio played a 43.5 inch driver.

 

It's right at the 5:00 mark of the video below. 

 

 

That guy is a machine! 

[dwboston]

7 hours ago, Bye said:

That guy is a machine! 

 

He was a Tour pro who barely kept his card each year.  Shows just how good those guys really are. 

[abh00]

It’s definitely 44” but Mark Rolfing said it was 40” yesterday on the postgame live on golf channel with a straight face and didn’t get corrected. He must not be a gear head

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[Phabs]

349 yard carry… guys an animal. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Phabs

[GooseHook]

Rory's listed at 5'9". It's not totally crazy to thing he's playing a driver at 44" total. I'm 5'8" myself and always ended up playing driver at that length just because it's comfortable posture-wise. 

 

I always thought that I'd try to go longer and lighter as I got older, but here I am almost 37 and still enjoying the hell out of a 44" driver. My ball speeds are pretty much unchanged from over the past handful of seassons. 

[BirdieBob]

I'm 6'-2" and used to play a 43.5" Driver....

(oh...it had steel shaft)

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by BirdieBob

[2over]

The "new ruler" video comment makes a lot of sense and thanks for posting that--I think that came in when the USGA limited length to 48", maybe? Here's a link to a story 2 years ago https://golf.com/gear/drivers/rory-mcilroy-taylormade-sim2-driver-setup/ that says his driver playing length is 45.5. I just can't see a tour pro cutting an inch and half off his driver. Swing weight, shaft stiffness would be tough to duplicate and these guys are very, very sensitive to slight changes in equipment. But he did say 44" and that it was too stiff the shaft at that length so he went softer. I started a thread on this question yesterday that got no informed answer and shut down for "having too many threads" on it and this is the only other one. 2 is too many? Surely Greg can ask someone in the Taylor Made tour van? Cutting an inch and half off your driver seems massive for a tour pro. Cam Smith cut off a half inch and thought that was a huge change. I'm not interested in arguing just getting the facts.

Edited March 25, 2023 by 2over

[phizzy30]

On 3/23/2023 at 7:08 PM, Phabs said:

349 yard carry… guys an animal. 

Yep.  188 ball speed as well.  What's more impressive is that he's using a 44 inch driver to do it.  Definitely in the top echelon of speed and distance on tour.  I can only think of maybe 5 tour pros that are faster.  Gary Woodland, Wilco Nienaber, Cam Champ, Tony Finau and Bryson who are all in the 200 ball speed club. 

Edited March 25, 2023 by phizzy30

[Phabs]

2 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Yep.  188 ball speed as well.  Definitely in the top echelon of speed and distance on tour.  I can only think of maybe 5 tour pros that are faster.  Gary Woodland, Wilco Nienaber, Cam Champ, Tony Finau and Bryson who are all in the 200 ball speed club. 

Crazy that out of the of the 5 you listed none of them are winning tournaments.