What Size Golf Clubs Do I Need & How To Tell If Your Golf Clubs Are Too Long or Short?

Is it possible that my golf clubs are too long? Is it possible that my golf clubs are too short? Many newcomers have these inquiries but don’t know how to answer them.

Beginners frequently struggle with accurately sizing their golf clubs.

Unfortunately, when it comes to clubs, size does matter a lot. In reality, the proper club size can considerably improve your game, whilst the incorrect club size can have a negative impact on your play, making it harder to swing accurately and comfortably.

Learning how to fit oneself properly with the appropriate clubs can have a significant impact on your play.

Before you buy, we’ll teach you how to properly size your clubs, ensuring you’re using the ideal length of clubs for your size based on your height and playing style.

How do you select golf clubs based on your height?

The golf club sizing tables below can assist you in determining the ideal length of the club to pack in your golf bag.

Golf club sizing chart: irons

We recommend utilizing the golf club size guide below to select irons for your height:

• 6ft 9″ – 7ft 0″ Add 2″ to Standard Length
• 6ft 6″ – 6ft 9″ Add 1 1/2″ to the Standard Length
• 6ft 3″ – 6ft 6″ Add 1″ to Standard Length
• 6ft 0″ – 6ft 3″ Add 1/2″ to Standard Length
• 5ft 9″ – 6ft 0″ Standard Length
• 5ft 6″ – 5ft 9″ Subtract 1/2″ from Standard Length
• 5ft 3″ – 5ft 6″ Subtract 1″ from Standard Length
• 5ft 0″ – 5ft 3″ Subtract 1 1/2″ from Standard Length
• 4ft 9″ – 5ft 0″ Subtract 2″ from Standard Length

Wrist-to-floor measures are also becoming more prevalent, and an increasing number of golfers are employing golf club charts to cross-reference height and wrist-to-floor measurements.

When completing a static fitting, cross-referencing golf club length calculations are more accurate than utilizing height or wrist-to-floor measures solely.

What is the definition of standard-length golf clubs?

For golfers of ordinary height and wrist-to-floor measurement, standard length clubs are the norm. These would likely fit in the 34′′ to 35.5′′ range, as seen in our golf club size chart above.

What are the advantages of choosing the correct golf club sizes?

There are various advantages to selecting the proper golf club size for you. These include improving your connection with your shots and striking them from the proper lie angle. Both of these advantages will help you improve your golf handicap score.

Improved contact

When you use the proper golf club sizes, you will be hitting your shots with the optimal length club, allowing you to make good contact with your shots.

This precise measurement might assist you in making consistent contact by ensuring the club face is squared at impact.

Improved lie angle

To improve the feel of your golf swing, match your lie angle to your club length based on your position in relation to the club. This will allow you to hit shots that seem more natural, as well as swings that are more consistent.

A basic rule of thumb is that taller golfers benefit from a more upright lie angle, whilst shorter golfers gain from a flatter lie angle.

Enhance your golf handicap

You will have a higher chance of improving your golf handicap if you hit more consistent strokes as a result of accurate wrist-to-floor measurements. The golf handicap index works by calculating your previous round scores.

As a result, stronger shots are more likely to result in higher scores on the golf course.

Golf club lengths

If you’re a beginner, you might not know much about the proper length for your new clubs or how the length can affect your performance.

According to the pros, the length of golf clubs is the most important parameter to consider when purchasing a new set of clubs or an extra driver or hybrid.

The club’s length is measured from the end of the grip cap to the ground. When determining the proper length, the club should be positioned in the position utilized when playing at the address.

The length of the club might help or hinder your swing’s distance. In general, a longer club can provide more distance.

Static and dynamic

There are two methods for measuring the length of your new clubs: dynamic fit and static fit. The static fit approach employs a number of different measuring methodologies, making it less reliable in the opinion of most seasoned golfers.

Some players, for example, choose to measure a club from the ground to their wrist to estimate length. Others prefer to take measurements from the ground to their fingertips.

The dynamic fit measuring technique is more reliable because it is taken as a player swings a club using a launch monitor. A launch monitor is used to evaluate the ideal head and shaft combination for the golfer’s playing style.

When a player gets fitted for new clubs based on length, their posture during setup is critical. The shaft of the club should ideally travel through the golfer’s waistline.

If a golfer bends forward too much at the address, the shaft of the club will fall below the golfer’s waistline. If they stand too straight at the address, the shaft of the club will strike them above the waist.

The ideal technique to size for length is to choose a length that maximizes accuracy and distance.

When getting fitted for a new set of clubs, launch angle, dispersion, spin rate, and ball speed should all be considered to ensure you buy the correct length.

Only after you’ve decided on the shaft and club head should you consider the lie angle and length. Face tape can be used to do this.

Face tape is commonly used to aid in the fitting of clubs for length.

Four steps to measuring your clubs

If you already have a set of golf clubs and want to know how long they are, use the measuring procedure below to calculate their length easily.

1. Use a 48-inch aluminum ruler with a strong straight edge. A tape measure is too flimsy and will not provide an accurate measurement even when put against the shaft of the club. If you don’t already have an aluminum yardstick, you may get one up at your local home improvement store.
2. Don’t measure the golf clubs on your workbench. A preferable option is to stand and place the club in the proper position at the address. The club’s sole should be absolutely flat on the ground.
3. The straight edge should be arranged in such a way that the corner touches the ground. At this point, the club should be in address, with the ruler squaring up against the hosel. The hosel is the part of the club that connects the club head to the shaft.
4. The straight edge should be pressed as near to the shaft as feasible. Now, take a look at the measurement on the bottom of the grip cap. This should tell you how long the shaft is.

Sizes of standard clubs

• Iron: The one iron club measures somewhat more than forty inches in length. Each iron size decreases by half an inch until you reach the nine iron, which measures little more than thirty-six inches. Iron differences can also emerge as a result of shaft material. Steel shafts are typically one inch shorter than graphite shafts. Did you know that irons built for males are normally one inch longer than standard-size irons manufactured for women?
• Drivers: A standard driver measures 45 inches in length.
• Three Wood: This club is 42 inches long, which is two inches shorter than other types of woods.
• Putter: The conventional length of a putter is thirty-four inches; nevertheless, putter length is measured very differently from iron length. It is frequently determined by the putter’s manufacturer. Unlike other clubs, a center-shafted type is not measured to the bottom of the hosel. Instead, it is measured where the shaft enters the head.

Now that you know the typical length of the fundamental clubs in a set, you must match the length and style of your golf swing to determine the right bend and flex.

How to know if your clubs are too long

What happens if your golf club is too long?

Physically, we are at our fastest when our arms are “straight.” If a club is too long, preventing our arms from straightening out, we will almost certainly decelerate into impact, and the clubface will be unable to square itself up.

A longer length does not imply a greater distance!

The following are some common indicators that the clubs you’re using are excessively long:

• You must almost completely straighten your back.
• You can’t move your lower body with good swinging mechanics.
• The ball frequently veers to the left and flies excessively high.
• The shaft of the club appears to be fairly weak.
• You’re always hitting the ball with the toe of your golf club.

Here’s a more detailed look:

Measurement

Measuring your golf clubs is the most obvious way to determine if they are too long. You can measure your club, then your own height and wrist length to the floor.

Because of the effect, it will have on posture, the wrist to floor length must be considered. With these two measures, you should be able to determine if you need normal length clubs or if you require any adjustments at all.

When you measure the length of your golf club, you can compare it to the industry standard.

When purchasing used golf clubs, many people must go through this process. It might be difficult to tell if a secondhand set of golf clubs has ever been altered.

Taking the right measurements can tell you if you’re holding a normal golf club.

The posture

When a golf club is too long for you, you must stand quite upright. You will be unable to maintain your typical posture because you will feel as if you have no control over the golf club.

In your golf swing, the right spine angle is crucial. Your posture must be perfect in order to get the golf club on the proper swing plane.

This overly upright position may potentially lead you to lose your equilibrium.

When you stand particularly tall, your weight will naturally gravitate to your heels. This can have an impact on your entire golf swing simply by standing a little too tall.

The proper takeaway

When a golf club is overly lengthy, it can feel as if it is in the way. Because it is too long for you, you may not have enough room to take a proper takeaway.

To begin, this will cause you to swing the club on a more outside path. This is done to keep the club away from your body and let you swing freely.

You should be able to take the club back straight back along the line with a correctly fitted golf club.

Ball flight

If your golf club is excessively long, the ball may move to the left and a little too high. This issue can be more difficult to detect because other swing defects can produce the same issue.

If you find that even your perfect swings aren’t landing where they should, it might be time to reconsider the length of your golf club.

Heavy shaft

If a golf club is too long for you, it may also be overly heavy. Clubs that are excessively lengthy feel clumsy and difficult to manage.

A golf club that is too long for you may also be overly heavy. You will lose distance as a result of both of these concerns.

The toe shot

If you find yourself hitting a lot of your golf clubs off the toe, they may be too long for you. This is related to posture and stance. You can’t get near enough to the golf ball because the club is too lengthy.

When you stand so far away and try to manage this lengthier golf club, you will end up barely getting it with the golf club’s toe.

How to know if your clubs are too short

The following are some of the most prevalent problems that might arise when golfing with too-short clubs:

• The swing path is from inside to outside.
• You must bend too much at the waist and too far at the knees.
• The tempo is too fast.
• The ball frequently goes to the right.
• The ball frequently strikes the club’s heel.

Here’s a more detailed approach:

Measurement

If you are unsure whether your clubs are standard length, you should measure them. Some people buy old clubs from a buddy or playing partner and have no idea what the clubs’ history is.

Initially, a set of clubs may have been ordered a half-inch short. People forget with time, and they offer them as standard length. If you are unsure whether your clubs are standard length, tall, or shorter than the standard, you must measure and determine.

Once you have that measurement, you may compare it to the normal golf club sizes.It is usually a good idea to measure the seven iron because it is a common club for which measurements may be found.

Swing pat

A golf club that is excessively short can leave a lot of space between the player and the club.

This area enables a person to return to the club in a very inside way. This inside path may cause you to deviate from your intended course and may result in a variety of mis-hits.

People who begin the club too far inside may wind up hitting a hook or a block out to the right. The location of the ball is determined by whether or not the player releases the golf club.

Taking the club back slightly inside isn’t always a terrible thing, but if you take it too far inside, you’ll get into difficulty.

Your posture

Your stance will be too hunched over if your golf club is too short for you. Because you’re reaching for the golf ball, your stance will be this way.

The trouble with this type of bad posture is that it will destroy your spine angle. You may have difficulty rotating correctly if your spine angle is improper.

Another issue with bad posture is that your weight will not be distributed evenly. The weight will fall to your toes as you grasp for the golf ball.

When your weight is on your toes, you may feel as if you are leaning or tipping forward when swinging.

If you’re trying to keep your balance, this will be difficult, and you may wind up with some pretty awful shot results.

The tempo is too fast.

You may also find that your golf swing tempo becomes a little too quick. You may be able to swing the club faster because it is too short for you.

Although swinging a golf club quickly might improve club head speed, doing it too quickly will throw your pace off.

It’s difficult to remain consistent and repeat the same swing over and again when your tempo is incorrect.

Loss of distance

In theory, a longer golf club should be able to go further than a shorter one. You should use a golf club that is as long as you can manage.

If you use a golf club that is too short for you, you may find that you lack distance.

If you are a taller player with plenty of clubhead speed but can’t keep up with your teammates, the club may be too short for you.

Iron height recommendations

The following are the usually acceptable height measurements for golf clubs:

• Add two inches to the usual length of the club if you are six feet, six inches, or taller.
• Six feet, five inches—add one and a half inches to the club’s regular length.
• Six feet, three inches to six feet, five inches—adjust the club’s usual length by one inch.
• Six feet to six feet three inches—adjust the club’s usual length by half an inch.
• Add half an inch to the conventional club length of five feet, ten inches to six feet, and two inches.
• Five feet, nine inches to five feet-nine inches. The usual club length should suffice.

What is the optimal driving length?

The longer the club shaft on a driver, the greater the distance. However, while a longer distance may appear to be a positive thing, employing a driver that is too long has problems.

Most golfers use a driver that is forty-four inches long on average; however, club shafts up to forty-eight inches in length are permitted for competitions.

The ideal putter size

The putter you choose should provide you with complete control and precision. Putter length will, of course, affect both accuracy and control, which is why it is critical to use the proper length.

However, the length of the putter is not primarily determined by the golfer’s height. Before you buy a new putter, you should think about your playing style because the technique is a big element in choosing the right putter.

What about golf clubs that are custom fit?

There are two techniques to custom-fit golf clubs when it comes to deciding the size you require.

The first sort of golf club fitting is a static fit, which is a static measurement taken from your fingertip or wrist to the floor, followed by attempting different lie angle heads and then taking a glove measurement to establish the amount of grip required by the golfer.

Static fittings are more appropriate for golfers with little or no experience, and while not always reliable, a fitting for length and grip size is preferable to no fitting at all.

Dynamic fitting is another method for determining the correct golf club size for you. This is a more exact method of fitting that includes the use of a launch monitor to assist select the ideal shaft and head for the golfer.

During the fitting, characteristics such as ball speed, spin rate, dispersion, and launch angle are considered, which helps to ensure that the golfer selects the right equipment for their game.

After determining the club head and shaft, the next step is to establish the requisite length and lie angle. This is accomplished by utilizing a lie board and face tape; some fitters may also use a measuring stick but will cross-reference this with strike centering on the club face using the face tape.

FAQs

Conclusion

You’re probably aware that the length of your clubs can have a significant impact on your performance. If you’ve been struggling with accuracy and control on the course, it’s possible that you’re using the wrong club size.

Beginners, on the other hand, are typically unaware of the significance of golf club measurement and how a longer club can improve range while a shorter club can improve control and accuracy.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Are my golf clubs too long?” Alternatively, “Are my golf clubs too short?” Hopefully, we’ve provided you with the answers you’ve been looking for.

And now that you know how to properly measure yourself for new clubs, you should have no trouble finding clubs that offer the perfect fit to improve your golf game, increase or decrease your range for certain shots, and improve your playing accuracy, providing the type of control over a shot that you’ve been looking for.