What is the Right Club Length for You?

One of the greatest aspects of golf is the fact that virtually anyone can play the game. The sport wouldn’t be around today if it weren’t for the wide variety of men, women, boys and girls that make spending a day out on the course one of the most popular sporting traditions in the world.

Golfers don’t just vary in age and gender, either. Golf attracts players of all shapes and sizes, all of which depend on reliable equipment to make their rounds enjoyable and fulfilling.

So if no two golfers are alike, then why would playing with a standard golf club length seem acceptable to so many intermediate players? Knowing how to properly determine golf club length is crucial before making your first golf club set purchase. Ensuring that all of your clubs are a perfect fit for you will help you get the most out of your game.

How To Measure Golf Club Length

Determining the golf club length that will suit your swing best is as easy as one-two-three. First, you’ll need to find out your height and wrist-to-floor length, all while wearing your golf shoes. You can do that by following the simple steps below.

1. Grab a measuring tape. A measuring stick will work for your wrist-to-floor length, too, as long as it’s at least 48 inches long (most men’s drivers are around 45 inches long).
2. Take two measurements. You’ll want to have a friend assist you in measuring your total height from the top of your head to the soles of your golf shoes, then obtain your wrist-to-floor distance. You can do this by locating the inside break or crease of your wrist (looking at your palm, it’s the horizontal line between your wrist and your palm). Then hold your arm down naturally at your side while your friend measures from the break of your wrist to the floor.
3. Fit your golf clubs. Once you’ve got your two numbers, you can use them to fit yourself to a set of clubs by observing a golf club fitting guide provided by a reputable custom golf club maker. You can then use these numbers to find out how much longer or shorter your clubs should vary from the standard golf club length.

Standard Golf Club Length

Standard golf club length may be a confusing concept for players that not only need clubs that differ in length from the so-called standard variation, but are also under the impression that standard clubs are the clubs that they’re supposed to play with. Let’s clear some of the air on standard golf club lengths now.

There is no official standard golf club length that is designated by any professional golf regulating authority, like the United States Golf Association (USGA). Golf club manufacturers make clubs in a variety of different lengths that usually progress in half-inch increments. In other words, purchasing an iron set that begins with a 39-inch 3-iron will yield a 38.5-inch 4-iron, a 38-inch 5-iron, and so on.

Women’s clubs are usually shorter than the same set of men’s clubs by a full inch, so a men’s driver that is 45 inches long will usually mean that the female version of the same club will come in a 44-inch model.

For the most part, standard golf club length refers to the average club lengths that golf club manufacturers have adhered to over the years. It in no way applies to club lengths that a golfer is required to play with, because as we’ve already learned, golfers come in all shapes and sizes.

So before shopping for golf clubs, make sure that you’ve taken the time to be measured for a set of clubs that will be properly fitted to your specifications. Playing with the right golf club length will make a positive difference in your rounds, all while giving you a better chance at lowering your score.