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how do you know if your golf clubs are too long

by Prof. Jordi Ebert Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Below you’ll find common signs that indicate the clubs you’re using are too long:

  • You have to stand up almost completely straight.
  • You’re unable to move your lower body using proper swinging mechanics
  • The ball often flies off to the left and too high.
  • The club’s shaft feels very weak
  • You’re constantly hitting the ball with the toe of the golf club.

The most common way to tell if your clubs are too long is that your back will be too upright, the toe of your club will be off the ground at address, and you will often make contact towards the toe of the club.

How do you know if your golf clubs are too upright?

Check Your Clubs First. But if your clubs are too upright, the toe would be off the ground, and you'd have a tendency to pull the ball ( inset, top ). Too flat, and the heel would be up, and you'd tend to hit pushes ( inset, bottom ). Starting with the face slightly off can produce exponential misses, so make sure your clubs fit.

Can a golf club be too long?

Even a “standard” length club can be too long for the average golfer to achieve the posture and swing positions that will help him hit pure golf shots.

Why do golf clubs have different lengths?

Let’s go over each individual type and talk about the reason behind their lengths. Your driver is technically your most important club. These tend to be somewhere in between your woods and your wedges, and it’s for a very simple reason. More momentum.

What happens if your golf clubs are too flat?

Too flat, and the heel would be up, and you'd tend to hit pushes ( inset, bottom ). Starting with the face slightly off can produce exponential misses, so make sure your clubs fit. HANK HANEY, * a Golf Digest Teaching Professional, runs the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, in Hilton Head.*

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How long should my golf clubs be for my height?

Using the ratio of every 6" of height there should be a 1" change in length then there should be a 1 ½" difference between their 5-irons. For example, recommend 36.5" for the lady and 38" for the man (or 36.75" / 38.25").

How do I know if my irons are too long?

How to Tell if Your Golf Clubs are Too LongCompletely upright posture.Improper golf swing.Odd ball flight.Feels cumbersome and unmanageable.Shaft feels weak.Consistency hitting with the toe.The measurements are wrong.

How do I know if my golf clubs are the right size?

To choose golf clubs that are the right fit, all you need is your height. If you're between 5 ft 9” and 6 ft (1.5 m 23 cm and 1.8 m) tall, you should go with the standard length for golf clubs. If you're taller than 6 ft (1.8 m), you'll need longer clubs.

How long should your golf clubs be if your 6ft tall?

The Tall and Short of It For example, if you are 6-feet tall and your wrist-to-floor measurement is 35 inches, a standard length driver -- 44 inches for a steel shaft driver and 45 inches for a graphite shaft driver -- would be appropriate.

How tall should my clubs be?

1. Measure Your Overall Height (i.e. “static” fitting)OVERALL HEIGHTGOLF CLUB LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS5'4″ to 5'7″minus 1/4″5'7″ to 6'1″standard length in inches6'1″ to 6'2″plus 1/4″6'2″ to 6'4″plus 1/2″7 more rows

How long should golf clubs be for 6 2?

For example, for a golfer that stands 6'2” and has a wrist-to-floor of 39”, the recommendation for proper club length would be 1/2” longer than standard length.

What is standard club length?

All clubs, including putters, must at least 18 inches long. Putters with straight shafts are measured from the top of the grip to the sole, directly down the shaft.

What is the standard length of golf irons?

The standard length of a steel 9 iron is 35.5 inches. For female golfers, the average length is 34.5 inches. With graphite shaft, the standard length for men is 34.35 inches and for women, it is 33.75 inches.

How do I know if my golf clubs are too short?

6 Signs Your Golf Clubs are Too ShortYou need to bend too much at the waist before swinging.You also have to bend your knees pre-swing.You keep hitting the ball with the golf club's heel.The swing path is in to out.The tempo is too quick.The ball tends to veer off to the right.

What height is Tiger Woods?

6′ 1″Tiger Woods / Height

What club is 37.5 inches long?

Fitting ChartsMen's Standard Shaft LengthsClubLength5 iron38″6 iron37.5″7 iron37″13 more rows

Should I shorten my irons?

A shorter club technically should improve control and accuracy. A longer club technically should increase distance. A club that is properly fitted in terms of the length of the shaft will maximize accuracy and distance.

How to measure golf clubs?

Measuring Your Clubs in Five Steps 1 Use a forty-eight-inch sturdy straight edge aluminum ruler. A tape measure is too flimsy and won’t give you an accurate measurement even if it is pressed against the club’s shaft. If you don’t currently own an aluminum yardstick, you can easily find one at a local home improvement store. 2 Don’t use your workbench to measure the golf clubs. A better alternative is to stand and place the club in its correct position at address. The sole of the club should be completely flat on the ground. 3 The straight edge should be placed so that the corner is touching the ground. The club should remain in address at this time with the ruler squaring up against the hosel. The hosel is the portion of the club where the clubhead is connected to the shaft. 4 The straight edge should be pressed as close as possible to the shaft. Now, read the measurement at the bottom of the grip cap. This should tell you the length of the shaft.

How to tell the length of a golf shaft?

The straight edge should be pressed as close as possible to the shaft. Now, read the measurement at the bottom of the grip cap. This should tell you the length of the shaft.

How many inches to a standard length golf club?

Six feet, five inches-add one and a half inches to the standard length of the club. Six feet, three inches to six feet, five inches-add one inch to the standard length of the club. Six feet to six feet, three inches-add half an inch to the standard length of the club.

How tall should a golf iron be?

Height Recommendations for Irons. Here you’ll find the standard recommended measurements for golf clubs based on height: Six feet, six inches and taller-add two inches to the standard length of the club. Six feet, five inches-add one and a half inches to the standard length of the club.

What is the most important spec to pay attention to when you’re shopping for a new set of golf clubs?

According to the pros, the length of golf clubs is the most crucial spec to pay attention to when you’re shopping for a new set of clubs or an extra driver or hybrid.

Why is dynamic fit measuring more reliable?

The dynamic fit measuring technique is more reliable because the measurement is taken as a player swings a club with the help of a launch monitor. A launch monitor is used to determine the correct head and shaft that will best suit the golfer’s playing style.

What should be taken into account when buying a new golf club?

When you’re getting fit for a new set of clubs, launch angle, dispersion, spin rate, and ball speed should also be taken into account in order to ensure you purchase the correct length.

Why is the length of a golf club shorter than the number below it?

Some more evidence that club length is overrated as a source of distance: In most sets of clubs, each iron is one-half inch shorter than the number below it. That is what creates the change in distance, right? Not really. Usually the clubs stop getting shorter above the 9-iron, meaning the various wedges are the same length as the 9-iron. And yet each wedge above the 9 hits the ball less far. Why? Because of the loft; the angle of the clubface has more to do with the change in distance from club to club than the length of the shaft.

What is the standard length of a golf club?

Tom Wishon, one of the top club designers in the world, said in his book The Search for the Perfect Golf Club, “Ninety-eight percent of men’s drivers these days are built to a “standard” length of 45 or 45.5 inches, and I am here to tell you that a 45-inch driver will not fit 90 percent of all golfers and will never allow them to achieve their best combination of distance AND accuracy.” This agrees completely with what I have seen on the driving range.

Why are long shafts attached to melon sized clubheads?

Thank goodness the long shafts are attached to melon-sized clubheads with tons of forgiveness, because the swing planes that result from these long clubs make it nearly impossible for most golfers to hit the sweet spot.

Why do you need a shorter golf club?

It takes a shorter club for most people to create the desired spine and shaft angles, swing planes, and contact with the ball. As would be expected, the shorter club and improved planes create better accuracy with the golf shots.

Why is a shorter club better than a longer club?

A shorter club technically should improve control and accuracy. A longer club technically should increase distance . A club that is properly fitted in terms of the length of the shaft will maximize accuracy and distance. What I am saying is that the clubs most golfers are playing with, and even fitted for, are too long to maximize either; even when we call them “standard” in length.

How to compare tour players to average players?

Comparing tour players to average players gives some anecdotal evidence. Notice that tour players look “big” compared to their clubs. Even with a longer iron, say a 4-iron, they seem to be standing “on top” of the ball, meaning the ball is not too far from their feet. Their spines are generally bent forward a fair amount, and the shaft of the club points at the belt-line, and often higher.

How long are golf drivers?

Tour players, who play golf courses that are hundreds of yards longer than the courses we play, and play for millions of dollars, have drivers that average about 44 inches in length. If longer drivers helped them maximize their distance and accuracy, they would definitely use them. But they do not use them, and yet duffers with less ability insist on playing with the longer, more challenging clubs.

What happens if you use too long golf clubs?

If you’re using clubs that are too long for you, you’re going to have a rough time closing the gap between your tee and the hole. If it’s too short, you’re going to hit it too fast without proper form.

How does a lengthened golf club work?

A longer distance can be achieved with a lengthened club if you have the ability to swing it with the same force and speed that you did with a shorter club . This increases the ball’s velocity upon impact, and you can hit it farther. Flex: The flex of the shaft will be altered. This happens for a few reasons.

What does weight on a golf club mean?

Swing Weight: The club is actually having more weight added to it. If you’re increasing the shaft by 1.25”, that’s more grams of weight (which many golf clubs are measured by), and it adds up. This makes the club a little bit harder to swing, unless you’ve been working with clubs that were too small this whole time and your radius has increased. The swing weight will determine your swing speed, if that’s something you keep track of, and be directly related to your distance.

Why use irons on flat ground?

Irons are used on flat ground and are supposed to give you a way to get the ball closer. If the club shaft was longer, you’d hit the bottom hemisphere of the ball on your downward swing and send it flying through the air. That’s not what we want.

Why do you need to lengthen a golf ball?

The length is to compensate for the lighter head. You can’t lightly tap the ball in if the head is heavy and the shaft is short.

What is distance in golf?

Distance: Quite simply, the maximum distance that you can drive the ball. Since clubs are designed within half an inch of each other, the adjustments are small, but the overall force changes dramatically. This is relevant to your arm length and size when swinging. A longer distance can be achieved with a lengthened club if you have the ability to swing it with the same force and speed that you did with a shorter club. This increases the ball’s velocity upon impact, and you can hit it farther.

Why do you have to swoop on your golf club?

Because the club is longer, you have to swoop on your downward swing, causing the force of your wood – if you’ve hit it correctly – to be applied to the bottom of the ball and send it upwards. A wood without enough length just doesn’t cut it. You’d be sending the ball higher but with almost no distance.

What is the best length for a golf iron?

I usually recommend the longest length that a player can hit solidly. For me, optimum length was -1/2" from standard.

Why are greenshit irons not the same length?

"GreensHit", irons are not all the same length because you would be longer/less accurate with the short irons and shorter/more accurate with the long irons. Same with woods.

Why should length be established first?

Length should always be established first because length determines spine angle and posture. Also, changing the length alters the dynamic lie angle while changing the lie angle does not alter the dynamic length. Hence, you should measure for length first. Lie angle is a fine tuning device.

Does length matter on wedges?

Length only matters on the wedges where if your wedges are short and you can't properly reach the ground and maintain your posture swinging. And it matters on your longest iron, it needs to be short enough to be able to swing it with a descending strike. Doing a length fitting with a 7-iron makes no sense IMO.

Does changing the length of a lie angle change the dynamic length?

Also, changing the length alters the dynamic lie angle while changing the lie angle does not alter the dynamic length. Hence, you should measure for length first. Lie angle is a fine tuning device. Important but not as important as length.

Does 85g shaft launch higher than KP shaft?

Like with my 588-TT, the kickpoint of that stock 85g shaft launches the ball much higher than other higher KP shafts. More offset and COG pushed back away from the shaft axis makes it launch higher than *just* the loft is going to provide. Also, a LONGER shaft length will generally provide the mechanical advantage over a shorter length to launch the ball higher as well. And finally, new grooves let the ball slide up the face more than the old grooves, again upping launch.

How does length affect golf?

The right length of the golf clubs can make all the difference in a golfer's game. Each club's length can greatly influence how far a golfer hits the ball and how straight they can hit. By following these simple steps, you can help get the right clubs for you.

How high should the toe of a golf club be?

With your middle irons, the toe of the club should be slightly raised, about 1/2 to a 1/4 of an inch. With longer hitting irons (2, 3, 4) the club head will rest completely on the ground, while with your others (8, 9, PW) the toe will be more elevated.

Why are graphite clubs longer than metal shaft clubs?

Be sure to include graphite and metal shaft clubs. Graphite clubs will be a bit longer for the same weight club because graphite is a lighter material.

How long is a golf shaft?

This is the length of the golf shaft you will need. The average male has a measurement of 43 inches. Depending on your arm length and height, this may vary but it should be around that number. If you get a number that is wildly off from this one, check your stance and remeasure.

Why is it important to hit balls with the club before buying one?

It is important to hit balls with the club before you buy one to get a feel for how the different lengths affect your shot. The longer the club the more power you can hit with, but it will also be harder to control. Always give up distance for accuracy when choosing the club.

What happens if you play with a wrong length golf club?

With the wrong length club in your hand, you will start to run into issues, and some swing flaws will be created . These flaws will lead to long term issues.

What happens when a golf club is too short?

When a golf club is too short, it can create a lot of room between the player and the club. This room allows a person to take the club back on a very inside path. This inside path can cause you to get off track and will potentially cause a few different types of mis-hits.

Why is my golf club bent over?

If your golf club is too short for you, then your stance will be too bent over. Your stance will be this way because you are reaching down for the golf ball. The problem with a poor posture like this is that it will ruin your spine angle. Once your spine angle is off, you may have trouble rotating correctly.

What happens when your tempo is off?

When your tempo is off, it is hard to be consistent and repeat the same swing over and over. 5. Losing Distance. Technically speaking, a longer golf club should be able to go further than a shorter golf club. You will want to play with a golf club that is as long as you can handle.

Why do you need to get fitted for golf clubs?

Getting fitted for a set of golf clubs will ensure that you have the proper equipment in your hands this time around.

How old was Britt Olizarowicz when she started playing golf?

Britt Olizarowicz started playing golf at the age of 7. She played Division 1 College golf at St.Johns University, where she won two tournaments at the collegiate level. After college Britt went on to become a Class A PGA Professional. Her love for the game spans almost her entire life. Today Britt loves sharing her knowledge of golf through her writing. After all, to teach the game of golf, you must first have a love for it.

What happens when you go for a custom fitting?

When you go for a custom fitting, you will be put on a launch monitor, and they will determine all of your specifications.

How do you know if your golf clubs are too long?

To start with, if your club is too long then you are going to find yourself forcing your body to be pretty much completely straight when you are taking a shot.

How to tell if a golf club is too short?

First of all, the path of your swing goes from in to out. You will find that when you are trying to take your shot that you are needing to excessively bend at the waist area.

Why is it so hard to make contact with the golf ball?

As the length of the shaft increases, a lot of golfers can have a difficult time making their delivery consistent with the club, and this means that it can be more challenging to make contact with the ball. In this case,

How long is a standard golf club?

5 foot 9 inches to 5 foot - A standard club length will suffice.

What to do if you aren't sure what fit is best for you with a putter?

If you aren’t sure what fit will be best for you with a putter then you should try to have a proper fitting with somebody who knows what they are doing. Again, length can have a big impact on this particular golf club.

What happens if you have a shorter shaft?

If you have a shorter shaft then it is going to feel stiffer, so you are probably going to need to change your power and swing to work with a stiffer club.

What happens if your golf club is too long?

If your club is too long, then you will also find it difficult to move the lower half of your body when you are using the correct swinging mechanics. You will also find that when you are taking a shot that the ball is going to move too far to the left and much too high than what you need.

How to determine the length of a golf club?

The first step in figuring out your proper club length is to start with your overall height measurement. This is the most basic method of identifying the proper club length you’d need, but by itself, does not offer enough information for an accurate determination. In the normal club fitting procedure, a player’s overall height is used, but only as part of the complete process of fitting a golfer for club length.

When is the length of the club correct?

Only when the length of the club is correct, calibrated to the golfer's height, will players be able to assume a proper stance that will allow them to make the right swing action , which will give them the best chance to have consistency in their ball striking.

Why are static measurements considered a club fitting?

The two prior measurements discussed are considered “static” methods of club fitting because the measurements are performed while the player is standing still. Professional club fitters will often supplement these static measurements by incorporating an additional element into their club fitting sessions, a process that is considered “dynamic.” In a dynamic club fitting, a player will be evaluated during the course of their actual swing motion, with measurements taken at impact and by observing ball flight.

What does a professional club fitter do?

Professional club fitters take a number of factors into consideration as they assess the club specification requirements of each golfer. Specifically as it pertains to club length, they will look at a couple of static measurements, and they will also conduct a “dynamic” fitting assessment:

How important is shaft length in golf clubs?

The length of the shaft in your driver is extremely important, as it plays a big role in determining how fast you can swing the club, the club’s path and angle of attack and, ultimately, how well you’re able to make center-face contact.

Why is playing with clubs too short bad?

Playing with clubs that are either too short or too long can cause a golfer to change their stance or swing in ways that could negatively affect the outcome. It can lead to subconscious swing compensations that can result in inconsistent ball striking.

What happens if a golfer has a short club?

If a player has clubs that are too short, they will usually bend over too much from the waist in their address position. Conversely, clubs that are too long will require the player to stand too erect. Both of these subconscious adjustments could potentially make their swing motion less effective than it should be.

What do college coaches look for in a high schooler?

Top college coaches look for two things: the ability to shoot under par in tournaments and room to improve. To attract attention, high-school girls generally need to be shooting in the mid-70s and boys in the low 70s. It also helps to have good grades, a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.

Should a putter be flat on the ground?

All clubs -- from putter to driver -- should sole flat on the ground when you address the ball ( main photo ). If a club is too short or long, you'll have to change your posture to get it to sit flush. That causes inconsistency.

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