Getting a second shaft for driver to make a “safety setup”

[NoodleShanker]

What should someone consider when getting a second shaft for a driver head?
 

I was fit to a Callaway Elyte with a HZRDUS smoke blue rdx 6s that plays at 45.25. When I hit it confidently and keep my form in check, it works beautifully. But those HZRDUS shafts really seem to demand a confident swing and when my game is a little off and I’m timid with it, I start getting some weird results and needing to choke down for safety. 
 

since then, I discovered in my newer fairway woods that the Diamana BB shaft  is like magic for my swing. I have great clubhead awareness, it’s easier to load, has a bit more kick in the tip to get the clubhead around. I can be a little off, in other words, and still get very usable results. Huge confidence boost. 

So I bought a raw BB shaft (63S)  and am going to get with a fitter to make a “safety” setup for my driver. I figure this one can be a little shorter and maybe I’ll play it early season or when I’m not striking my best. 
 

I need to decide how long to go. Probably 44.5” or 44.75” to make the club a little more controllable. Not sure how to decide this. And then there’s head weight. Should I also be thinking of getting a second set of clubhead weights to swap in when I change shafts? My driver currently plays at a D5. But honestly, I’m probably not a good enough player to notice a slight difference there…

 

How would you approach making a confidence-boosting “safety setup” for your driver?

Edited May 12 by NoodleShanker

[Jdudley13]

How far do you choke down when you’re taking confidence swings now? Might be smart to measure that overall length and try to mirror that to start. I’m 5’11” and I went down to 44.5” with my gamer and have absolutely 0 regrets. I think my overall potential distance on bombs might be a little shorter, but my average is probably higher because I’m finding the center of the clubface. I think you just need to be aware of your swing weight when going shorter. For me it gives me more confidence to free swing. I messed around with the swing weight after I went shorter but found it to be fine without any additional weight. I would also say I am not incredibly sensitive to small changes in swing weight. 

[getitdaily]

You are chasing a shaft as a fix for bad mechanics. That doesn't work. 

 

How will you know what shaft to play any given round? Are you just going to swap shafts mid-round when your game gets a little off?

 

Chasing shafts to band-aid bad form will become an expensive proposition. You'll get this new shaft and it'll perform good at times and bad at times. So you'll swap shafts based on how you think you're playing. Ultimately you'll try another shaft and another and another and they'll all produce the same results...good when you're good, bad when you're bad.

 

Just be prepared to start chasing shafts if you don't want to improve mechanics so your good shows up more often.

[Mookieb10]

How would you approach making a confidence-boosting “safety setup” for your driver?

 

 

1) take golf shaft

2) attach Ping driver head

[NoodleShanker]

57 minutes ago, Jdudley13 said:

How far do you choke down when you’re taking confidence swings now? 

yeah good call. Probably I choke to about 44.5 but I’ll measure it. 

 

32 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

You are chasing a shaft as a fix for bad mechanics. That doesn't work. 

 

 

Yeah, I know you are right to a degree. I take lessons, I practice a lot, I play a lot. And my swing has improved. Obviously I would like it to improve faster but this stuff seems to take time 🤷‍♂️

through lessons I have fixed some faults. My setup was different when I got fit to the current shaft. Had a lot more spine tilt and weight on my trail leg, high and forward with the tee. 
 

I wonder if the more boardy shaft that smoothed out some of my faults is, in fact, more demanding than I need with a comfortable, neutral setup. 
 

also, the new shaft is beautiful. Augusta green with pink azaleas near the butt. 😅

[rsballer10]

I don't think the Diamana BB is so much different than the Smoke Blue RDX that it requires a whole 2nd driver setup. My experience is unless you REALLY go stiffer or softer, shaft flex and profile is really a fine tuning element. The Diamana BB might be a revelation today, but over time it probably won't change much.

 

I'd only go shorter with your driver if you get better strike locations more consistently. I don't notice any difference when I go shorter, so I play my drivers pretty standard lengths. Plus, modern drivers are so low spinning that a longer shaft just works better when combined with a shallow AoA, or even hitting up on the ball from the inside. 

 

 

[getitdaily]

15 minutes ago, NoodleShanker said:

yeah good call. Probably I choke to about 44.5 but I’ll measure it. 

 

Yeah, I know you are right to a degree. I take lessons, I practice a lot, I play a lot. And my swing has improved. Obviously I would like it to improve faster but this stuff seems to take time 🤷‍♂️

through lessons I have fixed some faults. My setup was different when I got fit to the current shaft. Had a lot more spine tilt and weight on my trail leg, high and forward with the tee. 
 

I wonder if the more boardy shaft that smoothed out some of my faults is, in fact, more demanding than I need with a comfortable, neutral setup. 
 

also, the new shaft is beautiful. Augusta green with pink azaleas near the butt. 😅

If you got fit ans then made swing changes then the shaft could just no longer be a good fit.

[Primo1868]

Can't believe you are on WRX with only one driver set up.....................

[vandyfan]

1 minute ago, Primo1868 said:

Can't believe you are on WRX with only one driver set up.....................

 

That's very true. I have two mizuno heads and 4 compatible shafts which feels a little light for WRX. 

[NoodleShanker]

3 minutes ago, Primo1868 said:

Can't believe you are on WRX with only one driver set up.....................

I’m relatively new here. Show me the way!

[Primo1868]

15 minutes ago, NoodleShanker said:

I’m relatively new here. Show me the way!

Well peep my sig: "searching"

 

my personal stash

G440 9* LST for when I'm swinging good

G440 9* Max for bad streaks

Both same headweight

and 5 shafts that I was all "fit" into at one time or another

ahhh - the joys of a 7 cap with swing flaws.............

[Cliffy2020]

 

[jah7838]

They only time I've ever really gone with a 2nd shaft is one that is a bit softer and lighter in the winter time when I'm wearing more layers and a bit tighter in my back.  For a long time, I would play 70g mid/low launch shafts, but in the winter, those became a bit tougher to load when I couldn't get loose.  I would go to a slightly lighter weight shaft with more of a mid launch profile, and that worked well for me.  Once the weather warmed up, I would go back to the heavier shaft. 

 

This past year, I stuck with a 65g driver shaft year round, and it's worked well for me, even in the winter.  I found a deal on an Aldila Rogue Silver 60s on ebay, and it's been a very good setup for me.  You might try and find a shaft that's a good balance between the shaft for your good days and your bad days instead of trying to guess what will work on the range or when you show up.  I don't swing the HZRDUS models well at all.  I've tried a few of them and I just don't load them consistently, but haven't had any issues with the Whiteboard or Blueboard models in the past.    

[me05501]

If you need to be fit for a new driver or a new shaft, go for it. A good fitting will include fitting for length to see whether you can be more accurate playing a driver that's slightly longer or shorter than stock.  But the lie angle and weighting of your driver head was designed to work with the standard 45-46" shaft. 

 

Chopping off an inch or more from a driver shaft works for some players but it's not magic. You may end up swapping center contact for heel or toe contact.

 

You can do your own experiments but you'll probably spend more on trial and error than it would cost to have a follow-up fitting. Speaking from my own experience. 🙂

 

 

[getitdaily]

1 hour ago, NoodleShanker said:

I’m relatively new here. Show me the way!

You're thinking about a new shaft for your off days. You already found the way. Now, you just need to ramp up that PayPal account and head on over to the Classifieds and Wanted to Buy forums...

 

Oh, and keep the boxes your shafts come in. You'll need them when you get full on into wheeling and dealing shafts to sell to justify shafts to buy...with the wife.

[NoodleShanker]

5 hours ago, getitdaily said:

Oh, and keep the boxes your shafts come in. You'll need them when you get full on into wheeling and dealing shafts to sell to justify shafts to buy...with the wife.

way ahead of you on that one. My garage has a nice line of black Fairway Jockey boxes along the wall. They’ve already come in handy selling off older clubs 

[Roejye]

When I built my second driver, which turned into my safety driver, I had found the lower lofted head of my current driver on ebay. I looked for something in the same flex and weight of the driver shaft I was fitted into, and in the price range I wanted. I ended up with a mid/mid, figuring for a backup driver it doesn't really matter. 

 

When I think safety, I think more launch and spin. I'm not particularly familiar with the hzrdus line you were fit into, but blue is usually a mid/mid, so maybe look into something high/high if you really want to tinker.

[Nickb333]

14 hours ago, Mookieb10 said:

How would you approach making a confidence-boosting “safety setup” for your driver?

 

 

1) take golf shaft

2) attach Ping driver head

3) buy ear plugs

 

😉

[Phabs]

If you need a safety back up you should just sell the main. 

[Stuart_G]

22 hours ago, NoodleShanker said:

I need to decide how long to go. Probably 44.5” or 44.75” to make the club a little more controllable. Not sure how to decide this. And then there’s head weight. Should I also be thinking of getting a second set of clubhead weights to swap in when I change shafts? My driver currently plays at a D5. But honestly, I’m probably not a good enough player to notice a slight difference there…

 

All that (or how to figure out all those things) is answered in Howard's DIY tuning tutorial linked above by @Cliffy2020

 

Those are things only you can get the best answers for by the testing outlined in the guide.   Anything else is just a WAG.

 

22 hours ago, NoodleShanker said:

How would you approach making a confidence-boosting “safety setup” for your driver?

 

I wouldn't think of it like a safety setup.  I'd think of it as my new driver setup.   At least based on what info you gave us, I see no reason or benefit in keeping the HZRDUS around.

 

[jarediogolf]

You could just try lofting it up a degree or two for when you are struggling.  Helps a lot until you find form again. 

[gvogel]

On 5/12/2025 at 10:28 AM, NoodleShanker said:

I’m relatively new here. Show me the way!

Step one: buy a Diamana BB shaft with a Callaway tip, and try playing at 45-1/4", just like the shaft that you are playing with now.  Maybe that gives you the confidence to play with the BB all the time.

 

Step two: choke up on the Diamana BB and see how that goes.  Maybe you keep the shaft at 45-1/4" and choke up when you need to.  Maybe you decide to play the BB at a shorter length.  At least you have done your homework.

[Ty_Guy]

On 5/12/2025 at 7:08 AM, NoodleShanker said:

What should someone consider when getting a second shaft for a driver head?
 

I was fit to a Callaway Elyte with a HZRDUS smoke blue rdx 6s that plays at 45.25. When I hit it confidently and keep my form in check, it works beautifully. But those HZRDUS shafts really seem to demand a confident swing and when my game is a little off and I’m timid with it, I start getting some weird results and needing to choke down for safety. 
 

since then, I discovered in my newer fairway woods that the Diamana BB shaft  is like magic for my swing. I have great clubhead awareness, it’s easier to load, has a bit more kick in the tip to get the clubhead around. I can be a little off, in other words, and still get very usable results. Huge confidence boost. 

So I bought a raw BB shaft (63S)  and am going to get with a fitter to make a “safety” setup for my driver. I figure this one can be a little shorter and maybe I’ll play it early season or when I’m not striking my best. 
 

I need to decide how long to go. Probably 44.5” or 44.75” to make the club a little more controllable. Not sure how to decide this. And then there’s head weight. Should I also be thinking of getting a second set of clubhead weights to swap in when I change shafts? My driver currently plays at a D5. But honestly, I’m probably not a good enough player to notice a slight difference there…

 

How would you approach making a confidence-boosting “safety setup” for your driver?

 

If you don't mind spending money to solve this issue, it has mini driver written all over it. Half an inch with another driver head isn't going to see that much difference, especially considering you're already fit into the Elyte.

 

Also, if you are loving the Diamana BB, go for it. I love when my fairways and drivers have the same shaft. Or at least very similar profiles. Are you able to demo a 45.25" Diamana BB and compare to your HZRDUS? This may solve the problem.

 

Is it more of a big mishits with driver issue? Callaway's Mini drivers are the best of the minis off the tee and are very comfortable to use. I'd assume a Diamana BB 73s or go the exact same in a 63s. This will be a bandaid fix until whatever swing issue is resolved. But the mini will easily adapt to it's evolving role in your bag as you improve.

 

Lastly, and maybe the lowest hanging fruit, everyone here likes to direct to Howard's driver tune up. It takes some mental discipline and I'd want to see the same results after two different range sessions, but there is a reason people keep pointing to it. If the tutorial is a bit too dense, just spray your club face with foot powder and hit a few balls at a time, gripping .5" lower each batch. When you average center impact grouping, note how far you gripped down and see if you can replicate those results in the next range session.

Edited May 14 by Ty_Guy

[NoodleShanker]

7 hours ago, jarediogolf said:

You could just try lofting it up a degree or two for when you are struggling.  Helps a lot until you find form again. 

So my main fault is coming in steep and hitting balloon shots that pop way up and lose distance. Hard to imagine lifting up would fix that. For some reason, I can come in shallow more easily when I choke down. Just better control overall. 

[NoodleShanker]

7 hours ago, Ty_Guy said:

 

If you don't mind spending money to solve this issue, it has mini driver written all over it. Half an inch with another driver head isn't going to see that much difference, especially considering you're already fit into the Elyte.

 

Also, if you are loving the Diamana BB, go for it. I love when my fairways and drivers have the same shaft. Or at least very similar profiles. Are you able to demo a 45.25" Diamana BB and compare to your HZRDUS? This may solve the problem.

 

Is it more of a big mishits with driver issue? Callaway's Mini drivers are the best of the minis off the tee and are very comfortable to use. I'd assume a Diamana BB 73s or go the exact same in a 63s. This will be a bandaid fix until whatever swing issue is resolved. But the mini will easily adapt to it's evolving role in your bag as you improve.

 

Lastly, and maybe the lowest hanging fruit, everyone here likes to direct to Howard's driver tune up. It takes some mental discipline and I'd want to see the same results after two different range sessions, but there is a reason people keep pointing to it. If the tutorial is a bit too dense, just spray your club face with foot powder and hit a few balls at a time, gripping .5" lower each batch. When you average center impact grouping, note how far you gripped down and see if you can replicate those results in the next range session.

buy a mini driver you say? A compelling idea. Since I don’t currently play a 3 wood, it would definitely add some versatility. 
 

yeah my main issue is rushing the transition, coming in steep and hitting these big spinny balloon shots. Seems to be much less of an issue on shorter shafts. When I get warmed up I can groove it in nice and send it. But that doesn’t help in a round where I pull the driver maybe half a dozen times in a morning.  
 

[jarediogolf]

15 minutes ago, NoodleShanker said:

So my main fault is coming in steep and hitting balloon shots that pop way up and lose distance. Hard to imagine lifting up would fix that. For some reason, I can come in shallow more easily when I choke down. Just better control overall. 

In that case I would not rule out a shorter shaft, perhaps even all the way down to 44”. But you don’t need a new shaft to try it out. 
DIY Driver Tune Up. 👆

 

Mini sounds good too. 
But working on tempo and sequence is probably the final answer. 
 

I personally went with the thriver bandaid 😅 

[Spinozist]

I've driven my best (300+ yards multiple times per round) with an aerojet driver at around 43.75".

[NoodleShanker]

Speak of the devil, my new shaft arrived. A beautiful BB 63s in matte Augusta green metallic and black with pink azaleas. 
 

Now I must decide 

 

1) build it into a shorter version of my Elyte driver 

2) build it into a mini driver

3) make it a mini and just chop my HZRDUS a half inch. 
 

I guess it’s to the fitter tomorrow !

Edited May 15 by NoodleShanker

[Ger21]

On 5/12/2025 at 10:27 AM, vandyfan said:

That's very true. I have two mizuno heads and 4 compatible shafts which feels a little light for WRX.

I have 4 heads and two shafts. 🤣 Recently sold another head with 2 other shafts.

[vandyfan]

Marco Penge is 6’1” and plays his driver at 44.5” and still hits 190 ball speed.