Think golf club length is a head-scratcher tougher than a 200-yard bunker shot?
It’s actually simpler than you think and it’s important whether you’re a Sunday golfer or single digit golfer.
Below we will detail the best techniques to choose the correct club length for irons, putters, and drivers.
Let’s dive in.
How to choose golf club length for your height
Golf club sizing guide for irons
The following golf club sizing guide recommends sizes for men and their clubs.
- 7’ 0″ – 6’ 9″ – Add 2″
- 6’ 9″ – 6’ 6″ – Add 1.5″
- 6’ 6″ – 6’ 3″ – Add 1″
- 6’ 3″ – 6’ 0″ – Add 0.5″
- 6’ 0″ – 5’ 9″ – Standard Length
- 5’ 9″ – 5’ 6″ – Subtract 0.5″
- 5’ 6″ – 5’ 3″ – Subtract 1″
- 5’ 3″ – 5’ 0″ – Subtract 1.5″
- 5’ and Below – Subtract 2″
For women, many companies will make the length of their clubs to match a woman standing at 5’ 7” for an average height.
You can use the sizing guide to help you pick out the right size for your clubs. A golf professional can also help you get fitted at the course or at the golf store.
📋 Keep in mind: The standard-length golf clubs purchased in a set or off the rack at a store will be ideal for men whose height range from 5’9” to 6’0”. An inch taller or shorter for someone shouldn’t make too much of a difference but more than that can cause problems to arise during a swing.
Golf club sizing guide for drivers
The standard club length for a driver is 45 inches. Some companies will make them half an inch longer. It comes down to preference and performance for many people.
One golfer who enjoys playing a longer shaft in his driver is PGA Tour legend, Phil Mickelson.
The longer the driver, the faster the clubhead speed will be, resulting in longer and more powerful drives.
Over the last decade, driver shafts have increased in length by many manufacturers.
Some well-known companies that make reliable drivers are TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, Ping, and Cobra.
Putting longer shafts on their clubs allows companies to brag about distance and sell them better. It feels good to crank one down the middle 300 yards.
It’s crucial to have the most reliable golf shaft for your driver. It helps with swing speed, attack angle, making solid contact, and the swing path.
All of these factors are important to bombing drives down the fairway and being able to control your ball with a draw, fade, or straight shot.
Many club designers are creating larger and larger sweet spots, so if you miss it closer to the toe or heel you’ll still have a desirable result off the tee.
A golf driver size chart isn’t too common to find because of the golfer’s preferences. Depending on a golfer’s height, they should try and buy about a 45-inch driver if they’re able to hit it solidly.
Going to a bay at a golf store and talking to a specialist can make a huge difference.
Some people hit 44.5 inch drivers better and others hit 45.5 inch drivers longer. It depends on their swing speeds and heights.
📋 Keep in mind: You can have a long shaft in your driver and a high swing speed but the key attribute is making solid contact right on the sweet spot.
Golf club sizing guide for putters
Putting is extremely individual in terms of style and comfort among golfers. Some golfers prefer longer putters who don’t want to put as much stress on their backs.
Having the correct length putter does make a huge difference though and can help you clean up your game on the greens.
If you drain a lot of putts and hit them straight, as well as are good with lag putting don’t be too concerned with putter length.
Should you use the wrong length of putter, your swing arc can be thrown off and you could begin pushing putts to the right or pulling them to the left. It can make life a whole lot more difficult when trying to sink 5-footers.
The length of the putter affects the lie angle when setting up the putt.
If you aren’t lining up square when you’re about to putt, it can make you miss either side of the hole.
Aiming wrong when you’re thinking it’s going straight is because the loft and lie angles are wrong. This goes for all clubs too.
If the putter is too long, you can have a strong upright lie angle with the heel of the putter lying on the ground with the toe pointing too much in the air off of the ground.
This enables golfers to miss the left.
Should the putter be too short, the heel will be in the air and the toe will be on the ground low.
This pushes the ball to the right of the cup.
You want the putter head to be flat on the ground at address and having the proper length putter is important here.
Another important aspect of putter lengths is making sure the length allows you to have your eyes right over the ball when about to putt.
You can also go to a golf specialty store and have them test and fit you with different lengths of putters and take your measurements.
Different postures can require different lengths so you don’t always have to base it strictly on height.
💡 Golfible Tip: One way to measure what length putter you should use is by taking your natural putting setup. Have a friend measure the length from your wrist all the way down to the ground. This will be about 32-36 inches depending on how you set up and how tall you are.
Below is a putting length fitting guide:
| Your Height | Putter Length |
|---|---|
| Above 6’4” | 36 inches |
| 6’2” to 6’4” | 35.5. inches |
| 6’0” to 6’2” | 35 inches |
| 5’8” to 6’0” | 34.5 inches |
| 5’6” to 5’8” | 34 inches |
| 5’4” to 5’6” | 33.5 inches |
| 5’2” to 5’4” | 33 inches |
| 5’0” to 5’2” | 32.5 inches |
| Below 5 feet | 32 inches or shorter |
Techniques to know what size golf clubs to get: Best tips
The most well-known way to measure what length clubs a golfer needs is the wrist to floor method. The person doing the fitting measures from the “crease” of your wrist to the ground.
It is double-checked with your height to get a more precise length. Many fitters at top golf companies use this technique.
It is extremely accurate because it combines the two measurements showing different lie angles needed. Measuring strictly overall height is helpful but different people have longer or shorter arms so the club length will vary based on the two combined factors rather than just one.
The two previous measurements are considered “static” measurements since the golfer was standing and not moving.
Dynamic measurements taken during a fitting are based on action.
A custom fitter will watch players swing and hit balls.
By evaluating their swing and ball flight, fitters can fit golfers with the correct length shafts, lie, and loft angles.
For example, if a player bends over or stands dramatically upright during their swing, they might need a shorter or taller than standard length club. If they hit closer to the toe or heel a lot a more upright or flat lie angle might be needed.
📋 Keep in mind: Getting a fitting with both static and dynamic measurements will be the most accurate way to determine the proper golf club length.
Importance of getting the correct club length
Having the correct club length is extremely important. Below are a few reasons why golfers should use the right size equipment.
- Using clubs that are too long or short can lead to negative swing changes.
- Bad habits can be formed using the wrong-sized clubs and can be difficult to fix.
- Golfers can lose distance and not reach their full potential with bad lengthed clubs.
- It’s harder to hit the sweet spot and make solid contact with clubs that aren’t the right height.
- It can be easier to hook or slice the ball.
- Using the proper-lengthed clubs increases accuracy, leads to lower scores, and welcomes positive habits.
- If you’re asking yourself how tall should your golf clubs be? Remember, getting professionally fitted is the best option and it will provide the answers.
FAQ
How long is a standard-length golf club?
The length of a standard golf club varies depending on the type of club but typically ranges from 34 inches for a putter to 45 inches for a driver. Irons and wedges have shorter shafts, with the length decreasing as the club number increases. However, the length of golf clubs can vary depending on factors such as the golfer’s height, swing style, and preferences.
Is It Better To Have Clubs Too Short Or Too Long?
It is recommended to have golf clubs that match your height and swing style to ensure good performance. Clubs that are too short may affect distance and make it challenging to reach the ball, while too-long clubs may result in poor accuracy and control. It’s best to get fitted by a professional to ensure you have the right length for your height and swing.
