A critical aspect of lowering your scores in golf is making sure your clubs are the right fit for you, and that starts with the lengths of your clubs.
Everybody is different, and each club is a different length.
This article will teach you how to measure golf club lengths, what lengths they should be, and how to get them to those lengths.
Measuring Your Golf Club: The Correct Way
Selecting the right golf clubs for your game is crucial, and a critical factor in this selection is ensuring each club’s length is accurately measured. You’ll need a reliable measuring stick or tape to achieve this. Here’s a step-by-step guide to measuring your golf clubs effectively:
- Determining Measure Points: Start by placing the end of your measuring stick or tape at the heel of the club head. This is where the bottom of the club head meets the shaft.
- Measuring With the Grip: To ensure precision, lay your golf club on a flat surface with the club face down. Align your measuring stick or tape alongside the club, up to the line near the butt-end of the grip. It’s important to note that the grip adds approximately 1/8 of an inch to the overall length of the club. This addition is crucial for accuracy.
- Measuring Without the Grip: If you prefer to measure the club without the grip, remove it and measure to the end of the shaft. This measurement will give you the true length of the club sans grip.
- Using a Wall for Support: Alternatively, you can stand the club against a wall for a vertical measurement. Ensure the club head is aligned correctly at the base and the shaft is straight against the wall. Measure to the line closest to the butt end or the end of the shaft, depending on your chosen method.
- Repeat for Consistency: Use the same method for all your clubs to maintain consistency in measurement. This will help compare the lengths and understand the size progression across your set.
- Record Your Measurements: Keep a record of these measurements for future reference. This can be particularly useful when purchasing new clubs or comparing them with standard lengths.
By following these steps, you can ensure that you’re correctly measuring your golf clubs, giving you confidence that your equipment suits your game. Golf clubs can significantly impact your performance, starting with accurate measurement.
Standard Club Lengths
Each golf club has a standard length, from your driver to every iron. Generally, each golf club manufacturer’s standard lengths are similar.
Men’s Woods and Hybrids (Measured In Inches)
Driver – 45 ¾ (Ping is the exception here, as its standard length is 45 ½)
3 Wood – 43 ¼
5 Wood – 42 ½
7 Wood – 4
3 Hybrid – 40 ½
4 Hybrid – 40
5 Hybrid – 39 ½
6 Hybrid – 39
Irons
4 Iron – 38.5 with steel shaft, 39 with graphite shaft
5 Iron – 38 with steel shaft. 38 ½ with graphite shaft
6 Iron – 37 ½ with steel shaft. 38 with graphite shaft
7 Iron – 37 with steel shaft, 37 ½ with graphite shaft
8 Iron – 36 ½ with steel shaft, 37 with graphite shaft
9 Iron – 36 with steel shaft, 36 ½ with graphite shaft
Pitching Wedge – 35 ½ with steel shaft, 36 with graphite shaft
Gap Wedge – 35 ½ with steel shaft, 36 with graphite shaft
Sand Wedge – 35 ¼ with steel shaft, 35 ¾ with graphite shaft
Lob Wedge – 35 with steel shaft, 35 ½ with graphite shaft
Putter – Putters come in three standard lengths: 33, 34, 35
How To Know What Club Lengths You Should Be Playing
Understanding the right club lengths for your game is essential for optimal performance. While a professional club fitting is ideal, you can still determine the appropriate lengths on your own. Here’s how to do it using a reliable measuring method:
Step 1: Prepare Your Footwear
Ensure you’re wearing your golf shoes or athletic shoes with a similar sole height. The type of footwear you wear influences your stance and, consequently, the club length you need. Shoes with thinner soles could lead to inaccurate measurements, affecting your performance on the course.
Step 2: Adopt the Correct Stance
Stand upright on a level surface, with your arms relaxed and hanging at your sides. Maintaining a natural posture is crucial for accurate measurements. Any deviation from a normal stance can alter the wrist-to-floor distance, leading to incorrect club length selection.
Step 3: Measure Wrist-to-Floor Length
Using a measuring tape, determine the distance from your lead wrist (the wrist closest to the target when you swing) to the ground. This measurement is a key factor in selecting the right club length. Make sure the measuring tape is straight to the ground for precision.
Step 4: Consult a Golf Club Sizing Chart
With your wrist-to-floor measurement in hand, refer to a golf club sizing chart. These charts correlate your physical measurements with the ideal club lengths for your stature and swing. Remember, these charts are a guideline; personal comfort and swing style should also be considered.
How To Get Your Clubs To The Determined Length
If your golf clubs are the correct length for you, great! But if you need your clubs’ lengths adjusted, here are some ways you can go about that:
- Service golf stores will have no problem changing the lengths of your golf clubs. These include stores like Golf Galaxy, PGA Superstore, and Club Champion.
- Local country clubs sometimes perform services, so check and see if your go-to golf course can do it.
- It is possible to do it yourself, but only if you have the necessary tools and are experienced.
- To lengthen your golf clubs, you’ll need a hook knife, a steel or graphite extender, epoxy, and a motorized cut-off wheel or a rod saw blade (a safer alternative).
- You’ll need the tools above to shorten, excluding the extender and the epoxy.
Play Better Golf
Learning how to measure golf club length is just one step toward improving your golf game. As we’ve explored, the process of measuring your clubs is straightforward.
Remember, the standard lengths provided by golf club manufacturers are a good starting point, but personalization is key. Your unique physical build and playing style may necessitate adjustments to these standard lengths.
