What really happens when
you shorten your irons?
Customization plays a crucial role in enhancing golf performance, and altering the length of iron shafts is a popular modification among golfers. This article explores the effects of shortening iron shafts on swing mechanics and overall game improvement. With some help from our sponsor True Temper and their new Dynamic Gold Mid shafts, we’re going to break down what shortening your iron shafts may do for your game.
The length of a golf club's shaft significantly influences swing dynamics and impact efficiency. While manufacturers offer standard shaft lengths, you may find that you feel the need to shorten your clubs. In theory, and with the proper fit, shortening iron shafts aims to provide better control and accuracy, potentially leading to more consistent ball striking.
Enhanced
Control
Shortening iron shafts can improve control over the golf ball. By reducing the shaft's length, the club becomes lighter, enhancing balance and control throughout the swing. The shorter length allows for increased control over the clubhead, making it easier to square the face at impact and resulting in straighter shots. This benefit is particularly valuable for players with faster swing speeds or those struggling with shot dispersion.
With a shorter shaft, some golfers have a greater ability to consistently strike the center of the clubface, leading to more precise shots. The reduced length promotes a compact and repeatable swing, minimizing inconsistencies in swing path and reducing the chances of off-center hits. This precision translates into tighter shot dispersion and increased confidence on the course.
Changes in
Your Swing
Shortening iron shafts may require adjustments in a golfer's swing mechanics. If shortening the shafts isn’t something that agrees with your fit it could be a negative change to your game. With a shorter shaft, modifications to posture and setup may be necessary to accommodate the new club length. These adjustments could involve bending the knees more or standing closer to the ball. Additionally, shortening the shaft can affect the swing's tempo and timing, requiring the golfer to adapt and find a new rhythm that maximizes the benefits of the modified club.
The other thing that shorter shafts will do is move you closer to the ball, which impacts your dynamic lie angle. By being closer to the ball you’re going to be pushing the handle up and the toe further down during the swing, effectively playing flatter. This effect could have a negative impact on your iron performance, and may require that you get your clubs bent to adjust for the new length if that flatter dynamic lie angle doesn’t agree with your game.
Club Build
Changes
Before deciding to shorten iron shafts, it's important to consider a few factors. Understanding that shorter shafts may slightly reduce overall distance potential is key, as longer shafts tend to generate more clubhead speed. Finding the right balance between distance and control is crucial. Experimenting with different shaft lengths and evaluating their impact on your game through practice and play can provide valuable insights into what works best for you. This is one of those times where spending some time in a demo bay at a golf store would be a really good decision.
You also need to consider the loss of overall weight from the handle section of the club as well as a change in the balance of that club on both of which will decrease the swingweight as well. This change can cause performance differences, and should be discussed with your fitter or custom builder before cutting down the shafts. It’s likely that at the shorter length, you may actually feel comfortable with the lighter swingweight, but it’s best to be sure. For every .5” you cut down you’re going to be losing about 2-3 swingweight points. Building the clubs back to the correct swingweight will require pulling the shafts and rebuilding the iron set.
Thanks to our sponsor True Temper for providing us with the Dynamic Gold Mid shafts that you saw used in today’s topic. For more information on all True Temper shafts and accessories visit truetempersports.com/golf
