Do you know if your golf equipment is working for you or against you? Do you know how to measure golf club length?
The game of golf is hard enough without playing with clubs that are not engineered for your golf swing.
Your golf clubs are designed to work for a golfer with a specific height and swing speed. Swing speed will tell you the appropriate flex for your shafts.
Today we are going to focus on your height and how to measure golf club length. Your current clubs are perfect for a golfer, but they might not be perfect for you.
An older golfer that is trying to break 100 for the first time should not be using the same clubs as a PGA professional.
Using golf clubs that are too short or too long for you can cause you to lose distance. It can also lead to wild golf shots.
To avoid banana slices and duck hooks you learn how to measure golf club length.
Let’s make sure your golf clubs are helping you and not holding you back!
How Does Golf Club Length Work?
Before we learn how to measure golf club length, let’s take a few moments to discuss how golf clubs are designed.
First things first, not all golf clubs are the same length. Your driver will typically be your longest club and your wedges will be the shortest.
In fact, no two clubs in your bag are the same length. Your 7-iron is slightly shorter than your 6-iron and your 6-iron is slightly shorter than your 5-iron.
The length of the club and the loft is why they travel different distances.
The vast majority of golf clubs on the market are “standard” length, but this is not the correct length for all players.
A set of golf clubs can be adjusted in increments of 1/2 inches. For example, a player that is 6’3″ tall might want a set that is .5 inches longer than standard.
In this scenario, all clubs in the set would be 1/2 inch longer than standard.
Keep reading to learn how to measure golf club length and how to determine if you require non-standard clubs.
How To Measure Golf Club Length
Are your current golf clubs standard length? Do you need to adjust them?
To answer these questions you need to understand the standard length and learn how to measure golf club length.
Let’s start with standard length for Men’s golf clubs:
- Driver: 45″
- 3-wood: 43″
- 5-wood: 42″
- 3-iron: 39.5″
- 4-iron: 39″
- 5-iron: 38.5″
- 6-iron: 38″
- 7-iron: 37.5″
- 8-iron: 37″
- 9-iron: 36.5″
- Pitching Wedge: 36″ (all wedges will be this length)
You can see minor variances depending on the company and the type of shaft (graphite/steel), but these numbers are consistent across the golf industry.
One exception is the idea that Bryson DeChambeau started – he likes all of his irons to be the same length (7-iron length). Cobra even sells a set like this.
One thing to keep in mind, the standard length for women’s golf clubs is 1 inch shorter for each club.
This is great information, but you must know how to measure golf club length to determine if your current set is “standard”.
The length of the club is not the length of the shaft. It is the combined length of the shaft and the club head. You are measuring from the sole of the club to the end of the grip.
Step-by-step instructions for how to measure golf club length:
- Find or buys a measuring device (48″ measuring stick or measuring tape)
- Rest the club flat on the ground – similar to how you would address the club to take a swing
- Make sure the toe or the heel of the club are not elevated off the ground
- Measure from the ground to the end of the grip – this is the length of your club
Now that you know how to measure golf club length, we need to determine if “standard” length is right for you!
What Golf Club Length Is Best For You?
There are two different ways to determine the correct golf club length for you and we will explain both below.
First, let’s start with the most obvious. Golf club length based on your height.
- Less than 5 feet tall: 2″ less than standard
- 5’0″ – 5’3″: 1″ less than standard
- 5’4″ – 5’7″: 1/2″ less than standard
- 5’8″ – 6’1″: standard clubs are perfect
- 6’2″ – 6’4″: 1/2″ longer than standard
- 6’4″ – 6’6″: 1 inch longer than standard
- Taller than 6’6″: 1.5″ – 2″ longer than standard
Two golfers of the same height might prefer different length clubs. Most commonly, this is because of leg and arm length.
This is why most golf club fitters will leverage the WTF measurement. They measure the distance from your Wrist To the Floor when your arms are hanging at your side.
The general consensus is that this is a more accurate way to determine the perfect clubs for you. Here are the numbers for WTF:
- Under 25 inches: 2″ shorter than standard
- 26″ to 29″: 1″ shorter than standard
- 30″ to 34″: 1/2 inch shorter than standard
- 34″ to 38″: standard length
- 38″ to 40″: 1/2 inch longer than standard
- 40″ to 42″: 1″ longer than standard
- Greater than 42″: 2″ longer than standard
This should allow you to leverage your height and “Wrist To the Floor” measurement to confirm the correct golf club length for you.
Will Golf Club Length Impact My Game?
Yes, there is no doubt. Using golf clubs that are the appropriate length for your height, WTF measurement, and swing will help you in several ways.
First, it will help you keep the appropriate angles in your swing. This will create more consistent contact and improve your ball striking.
Improved ball striking means lower scores and you will start to see your golf handicap drop.
Yes, you will need to spend time perfecting your swing and improving your short game, but you will also see improvement when your equipment is designed for you.
