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what happens when you play golf with a club that is too short

by Dr. Natasha Pfeffer Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What Happens When Golf Clubs Are Too Short? For most golfers, having clubs that are too short will be better than if they're too long, but can still result in inconsistent shots. Clubs that are too short will make you stand bent over, which can cause back pain. You'll also have the tendency to push the ball a lot.

Full Answer

How to tell if your golf clubs are too short?

On the other hand, below are the common red flags that your clubs are too short for you:

  • You 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.

How can I tell if my clubs are too short?

  • Your posture will be too upright
  • The takeaway will be too far outside on the backswing
  • Ball flight could be high and also to the left
  • The shaft may feel very heavy
  • You may hit shots off the toe of the golf club

Should all my golf clubs be the same length?

Some sets are made with all clubs the same length as the eight or six iron, but the seven iron is the most popular. You will still need to make sure you get your clubs fitted adequately for you; in fact, it is more important with the one length than with variable length. There are lots of reasons to switch to a one-length iron.

What golf clubs should I buy?

  • PXG Drivers – RRP $299 – $529 each.
  • PXG Fairway Woods – RRP $249 – $429 each.
  • PXG Hybrids – RRP – RRP $229 – $375 each.
  • PXG Irons – RRP $119 – $650 (per club)
  • PXG Wedges – RRP $295 – $650 each.
  • PXG Putters – RRP $189 – $399 each.

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Can I play with shorter golf clubs?

While longer clubs can help increase speed and launch angle, shorter clubs can be easier to hit solid due to the reduction in swing arc. That's why “choking up” on the club offers a golfer more control, in general.

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

4:136:06CLUBFITTING | Are Your Irons the Correct Length? | The Golf ParadigmYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you'll notice every single groove on a club is 1/8 inch apart. The difference in your clubs.MoreIf you'll notice every single groove on a club is 1/8 inch apart. The difference in your clubs. Being a half inch too short or too long is a difference let's say it's too short is the difference

Does height matter with golf clubs?

Because golf is a game of repetition and your swing should not vary in most circumstances, your stance will be the same. It doesn't matter how tall you are if you have a deeper crouch in your swing because your wrists will then be closer to the ground, which means you need slightly shorter clubs.

Should shorter golfers use shorter clubs?

Shorter golfers are often better served with shorter clubs, while the lie angle (how the club sits on the ground) may also need tweaking. If your clubs are too long and/or upright, you'll be forced to adjust away from a swing that's natural for you.

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 much does it cost to lengthen golf clubs?

Lengthen Shaft ($5.99 Steel or $6.99 Graphite per club*): Most irons, putters, and woods can have length added to the existing shaft. *Save grip Fee may apply.

Is being short an advantage in golf?

The numbers indicate that taller players on the PGA Tour do not hold an advantage over shorter players. In the reverse, shorter players on the PGA Tour may hold a slight advantage over taller players based on their durability, making them less prone to injury.

Is it better to have longer or shorter golf clubs?

The longer the club, the harder it is to make a clean hit on the sweet spot. It is much easier to strike the ball on the center of the face with a shorter club. A golfer, short in height, with a good ball striking ability, can handle a club that is 1/2 to 1 inch longer than standard.

How long should your golf clubs be if you are 5 7?

2. Get Your Wrist-to-Floor Measurement (once more, “static” fitting)OVERALL HEIGHTWRIST-TO-FLOOR MEASUREMENTGOLF CLUB LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS5'4″ to 5'7″32 to 34 inchesminus 1/4″5'7″ to 6'1″34 to 37 inchesstandard length in inches6'1″ to 6'2″37 to 38.5 inchesplus 1/4″6'2″ to 6'4″38.5 to 40 inchesplus 1/2″7 more rows

What happens if your golf club is too short?

That means that if your club is too short or is not the right length, you’re likely going to miss the sweet spot on the ball and connect only with the top of the golf ball.

Why is it easier to swing short clubs?

Swinging shorter clubs is a lot easier because they’re a lot lighter to use.

Why use the right length golf club?

That happens because you’re not trying to compensate as much for condensing your body to get closer to the ball as you would do with a short golf club.

What happens if you hit a golf shot with the wrong size club?

One of the first things you’ll notice when you hit a golf shot with the wrong-sized club is how much bend you have at the waist. Immediately you should know then that these are the wrong clubs for you. If you’re bending your knees or waist too much, that’s a sign you’re going to top or slice the ball.

How to hit a golf shot?

When hitting a golf shot, you should be relaxed, with a bit of bend at your waist, softly bent knees, and your arms hanging loose around the club in front of you. That’s the type of posture you should be striving to achieve, and you can only get that by using a club that is the right size for you.

What is golf equipment?

Golf Equipment. Golf is a game for all shapes and sizes. Just about anyone can pick up a set of clubs, have a swing, and enjoy a leisurely round of golf. But how do you know what size golf club is best for you, and are shorter golf clubs better?

Why do you need to use short clubs?

Shorter clubs will force you to hunch over the shot, compress your body into the ball, and encourage you to try to swing harder through the golf ball, which is the exact opposite of what you should be doing. When developing a good technique, you need to let the club do the work and relax over the ball.

How to tell if a golf club is too long?

Below you’ll find common signs that indicate the clubs you’re using are too long: 1 You have to stand up almost completely straight. 2 You’re unable to move your lower body using proper swinging mechanics 3 The ball often flies off to the left and too high. 4 The club’s shaft feels very weak 5 You’re constantly hitting the ball with the toe of the golf club.

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.

What happens if you bend forward too much at address?

If a golfer bends forward too much at address then the club’s shaft will fall below their waistline. If they stand too straight at address then the shaft of the club will hit above their waistline. Ideally, the best way to go about sizing for length is to find a length that maximizes accuracy and distance.

How long is a standard iron club?

Standard Club Sizes. Iron: The one iron club is a little over forty inches in length. Each iron falls half an inch with each size until you reach the nine iron which measures in at a little over thirty-six inches. Differences in irons can also occur due to shaft material.

How long is a golf driver?

On average, most golfers use a driver that’s forty-four inches in length, however, a club shaft up to forty-eight inches in allowed for competitions.

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.

How long is a three wood putter?

Putter: The standard length of a putter is thirty-four inches, however, the length of a putter is measured much differently than irons. It often depends on the putter’s construction.

What happens when you shorten a golf club?

When you shorten your club, there are a few things that happen. First, the club becomes stiff and loses flexibility. It will require you to use more swing speed to hit like before. Short clubs have lower swing speeds, and this makes it hard to achieve long distances.

Why shorten a golf club?

A short golf club is expected to give you better accuracy and control of the ball, while the long club gives you more distance.

What percentage of golfers do not use standard length clubs?

What will surprise you is that about 90 percent of golfers do not use standard-length clubs. It is a marketing technique for them to sell you more expensive custom fit clubs. We hope that you now have a better understanding of the effects of shortening your golf clubs.

Why does my golf club become lighter?

The golf club becomes lighter due to the weight loss, and the remedy is adding more weight using lead tape so that you do not overpower the club.

Why are short golf clubs better than longer golf clubs?

When you use a shortened club, you will realize that you have more authority against the driver because of the reduced flexibility. The clubs are also lighter and stiffen up a little bit.

Why is it important to have a shorter golf club?

While a shorter club may reduce your distance or yardages, it comes with several advantages . To some golfers, these are their desired accomplishments, while to others, they are added benefits to what they expected. Most golfers are on a mission to better their performance and, while at it, enjoy the game as much as they can.

Why do manufacturers recommend long clubs?

Manufacturers advocate for long clubs because they offer better distances, but the sad reality is that their accuracy is usually off for most golfers. With short clubs, you are likely to improve your accuracy, which is the most important aspect when trying to improve your performance.

5 Signs Your Golf Clubs are Too Long

Additionally, if you experience any of the following while playing, chances are your golf clubs are made too long for you:

6 Signs Your Golf Clubs are Too Short

On the other hand, below are the common red flags that your clubs are too short for you:

4 Steps to Measure Your Golf Clubs

To learn how to tell if your golf clubs are too long or too short, you first need to know how to measure its length. Below are four steps to help you properly measure a golf club. Start with the set of clubs you already own. That way, you won’t have to replace all of them (provided some of them have the right length for you).

Recommended Length Adjustments for Golf Clubs

Aside from the club’s length, your height will also come into play when learning how to tell if your golf clubs are too long or too short. Below is a table of the recommended adjustments for golf clubs based on height:

Other Things to Know About Golf Club Lengths

Lastly, you should know that other factors can affect your golf clubs’ lengths, including:

Golf Club Length Matters

Like it or not, the length of your clubs will affect how you play golf. Too long, and your swings will lose their accuracy. But too short, and the ball might not fly at long distances. By learning how to tell if your golf clubs are too long or too short, you can improve your stay on top of your game at the golf course.

How Golf Club Length Can Affect You

When you first started playing golf, you probably loaned clubs off someone with a vast collection and simply got used to the game. But as any pro golfer will tell you; never use someone else’s clubs.

Get The Measurements Right

If you have been concerned that your golf clubs are too long then the most sensible thing to do is to measure them.

Conclusion

You have your best golfing outfit on, you’re sure you’ve got your swing down to a T but when you get on the course, it seems that something is not quite right.

Why don't my woods give me a problem?

The reason why your woods don't give you a problem is because the lofts are so low -- at lower lofts, lie angle is not a factor of ball flight so you can have a driver that is too upright and not be able to tell that the lie angle needs to be adjusted.

What happens if your 7 iron is longer than your 9 iron?

If your 7 iron is the length of your 9 iron you will address it the same as you would your 9 iron. Same swing and your 7 iron will go a little longer than your 9 iron's normal length. Same if your 9 iron is the length of your 7 iron.

Can you sit down too much in a golf set up?

Or you will end up sitting down too much in the set up and not get the full range of motion that you should in a golf swing leading to blocked shots and fat and thin shots. You will tire more easily from being less comfortable in the golf swing. As you stand up after you tire, you will notice toe shots.

What happens if your golf clubs are too short?

If your golf clubs are too short for you, it will have impacts on your golf game and how the golf ball travels. Here are a few standard things you will see when people play with clubs that are too short. The takeaway is quick and inside. The tempo of the golf swing gets too quick. Distance could be lacking on shots.

How to tell if your golf club is too long?

Here are a few of the most obvious ones that you may come across. Standing too far from the ball, looking as though you are reaching to the golf ball. Hitting the ball off the toe of the golf club.

What happens if you swing with a standard length golf club?

If you swing with a standard length golf club, but you are not “standard” height, you are going to struggle with everything from tempo to ball flight to control of the ball. Not having a club of the proper length in your hand is going to cause problems right from the start of your swing.

How to measure club speed?

To measure your club speed, you will have to use a launch monitor or fitting system. These machines can use things such as sound, video, and lasers to get lots of information about your ball speed, clubhead speed, spin rates, and more. Knowing what your club speed is can be important when choosing a shaft flex.

How are lofts and lies adjusted?

The lofts and lies are adjusted on each club to help them perform as the six iron, eight iron, etc. Even with the club is the same length, the distances will vary significantly between each of the clubs. If you are playing one length irons, you will still need to make sure that the one length fits you correctly.

Is custom fitting a golf club necessary?

Custom fitting is essential but it is not a necessity for every golfer. If you are a great player that can feel the difference between a few grams in a shaft, then you should spend the money to get fitted. If you fall way outside the average height range for a standard golf club, then you should get fitted. Golf club length is essential and it will have a tremendous impact on your golf game; however, not everybody that plays golf needs to worry about the length of their golf clubs.

Can you add length to a golf club?

You can add length to them, or you can replace the shaft with a longer one. This type of work on a golf club will take a certified club fitter to help you. When you adjust the length, you are going to change the weight, the feel, and the lie angle of the golf clubs.

BigBoy

I am 6'6" and have all of my irons lengthened by 1.5 inches. I went and got fitted, and they measure where your hands hang naturally by your sides to determine if you should have them lengthened and by how much -

topspin4hand

Ed, are you a 30+ handicap? I only ask because I'm 6'2" as well and I swore the same thing when I began about two yrs ago. I got my 1st set of clubs new last summer - with 1/2" extra height and still had occasional issues. This summer, I've practiced alot more and have had a few lessons and it's no issue at all.

flanagan

I'm 6'2" and my 5 iron is 38 1/4" long. That being said, the length of your arms will tell the tale. Get fit. If the rest of your set is consistent, you've got some short clubs and costing yourself distance and may be creating or grooving swing flaws due to the length of your clubs.

aschaefer

I wish I had the money to have my clubs re-shafted to my height...6'4" and play standard club length...I have to bend over quite a bit (my legs are pretty normal) and feel goofy. I think that's gonna be my next 'club upgrade'

aschaefer

Without knowing more, seeing you or watching you hit, sounds like the clubs are too short for you. A standard 5-iron is usually 38" and a 9-iron is usually 36". A fitting session with impact tape will help sort out the question. Don't be surprised if you need to add 1".

ControlJunkie

The more important aspect is lie angle. Longer shafts can certainly help, but lie angle is so much more important.

Slim 11

Any pro shop will get you fitted. Don't let them just say your "X" height and your arms are "X" length so your clubs should be "X" long. They should fit you to your swing. Make sure you stand so that you are comfortable. When I got my last set of clubs, the pro told me that I stand "tall" but that my swing was solid.

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