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what is the disadvantage of increasing the length of a golf club

by Prof. Augustine Lockman Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Lengthening a club softens the shaft a fraction while increasing the swing weight of the club. Each time you add length like half an inch will also add three swing weight points. The maximum length you can add is up to an inch and a half and not over cause there is a risk of compromising the integrity of the shaft, which can make it break easily.

For most golfers, having clubs that are too long will result in the most inconsistent shots. Clubs that are too long will make you stand too upright, which can cause both heel and toe shots as well as a tendency to pull the ball.

Full Answer

What are the advantages of using different lengths of golf clubs?

Advantages Because each iron is the same length (roughly equivalent to a 7 iron) your set up position will be the same with each club in the set. You will be standing the same distance from the ball with each club. The ball position (forward or back in relation to your feet) will be the same for each club.

How much should the average Golf Club length be reduced?

A reduction of 1 inch is suggested for women golfers. The club that most golfers aspire to hit far and straight, is also the most difficult. Modern technology has improved so much in recent years that the distances attained by professionals and good amateurs are scary!

Does lengthening the shaft of a golf club affect accuracy?

As a general rule, lengthening any club's shaft will reduce your accuracy with that club. The longer the club, the more difficult it becomes to hit the ball solidly.

How does the weight of a golf club affect your game?

The weight helps balance the club, and it impacts when you hit the ball at the right spot. It is quite a challenge playing with an underweight club, and the only solution is to add some weight by using a heavier shaft or lead tape. While a shorter club may reduce your distance or yardages, it comes with several advantages.

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What happens when you lengthen a golf club?

Lengthening the shaft increases the swing weight, which makes the club head feel heavier. It may even make the club too heavy for you, which will slow down your swing speed and actually reduce your distance.

How does length of golf club affect distance?

Our testing has shown conclusively that there is absolutely no measurable difference in distance due to the standard 1/2″ incremental shaft length increases between clubs. The only affect of the standard length increases between clubs is to make each successively longer club harder to hit.

Should I add length to my 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 I add length to my irons?

Sometimes a golfer's height and arm length will negate each other and a standard length is the best option. As length is increased, so is the weight. Increasing the length also changes shaft flex. For every 1" added, the shaft becomes one flex softer; likewise, a shorter shaft plays stiffer.

Does club length make a difference?

Additionally, shorter length golf clubs can provide more control to the golfer, essentially making the golf club more forgiving. 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.

Do pro golfers use shorter clubs?

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.

What happens if your clubs are too short?

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.

Does lengthening a golf club change the lie angle?

The lie angle will automatically change if clubs are lengthened. Only slightly but it will change. There is no such thing as standard lie as all the manufacturers generally are different. The lie angle that is correct for you can only be tested dynamically - i.e. via a pro or fitter on a lie board hitting golf balls.

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.

How should my golf clubs fit my height?

To find the right size clubs for your body, use recent height measurement to determine the proper angle for your clubs. It usually helps to have another person measure, so you get the most accurate measurements possible. Measure your basic height from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.

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

How long should your driver be based on height?

Driver Shaft Length Based Solely on HeightHeight (feet/inches)Driver Shaft Length5'4″-5'7″45.5″5'2″-5'4″45″5'0″-5'2″44.5″4'10”-5'0″44″6 more rows•May 9, 2021

Why do golfers lengthen their clubs?

Golfers who lengthen their clubs are generally looking for more distance. A longer club that is swung at the same speed as a shorter club will produce more distance. This can be very helpful to older golfers who have lost swing speed over the years because a lengthened shaft can help recover lost distance.

What is the most important thing for a golfer?

The most important thing for a golfer is overall accuracy and a longer club will demand excellent fundamentals in the swing. If a golfer has poor fundamentals with a longer club, keeping the ball in the fairway will become quite frustrating.

What is the key measurement for golf?

The key measurement involves the distance between the wrist and the ground. A golfer who has a pronounced bend as he addresses the ball may need to take a hard look at lengthening his clubs in order to play the game more comfortably and effectively.

Do golfers change their clubs?

Golfers are regularly making changes to their golf equipment. Sometimes it's a new golf ball and other times it's a new club. Sometimes golfers may be unhappy with the length of their golf clubs and they may decide to go with longer shafts.

Why is distance important in golf?

Distance may be important, but will not win you games unless you can control the direction and flight of the ball. Control and accuracy should and will be the factor that lowers the handicap and improves the all-around performance on the golf course.

How to lengthen a golf shaft?

The most common way of lengthening a shaft is by placing a “plug” in the top of the shaft which is covered by the grip. See the chart below that gives an idea of the actual length of shaft required for the average player. (men)

How does the lie angle change in golf?

The lie-angle will change by forcing the golfer to stand closer or further from the ball at the address. And finally the real “kicker”, control.

What is the function of the shaft in golf?

The shaft is the engine of the “car” and determines how far, straight and the trajectory of the ball flight. The dynamics of the shaft. The flex of the shaft changes if you lengthen or shorten the shaft. The swing-weight and balance will change effectively requiring the golfer to make adjustments to the swing.

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 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.

Does a longer club increase distance?

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.

Is a golf club too long?

There is a good chance that your golf clubs are too long. Over the past twenty years, golf club manufacturers have been making clubs stronger (meaning they have less loft on the face), and longer so that they can sell hopeful golfers the newest “hot” weapon that will knock the ball unimaginable distances. But when golfers arrive at the driving ...

What does it mean when a golf club is too upright?

A club that is too upright every time you swing means that the heel of the clubhead is lower than that of the toe. The tendency here is for the ball to hook, especially for those who are right-handed golfer where the curving of the shot, often takes place. An upright lie angle is more common because the golfers who are just beginning in ...

How does a half inch length change affect a golf swing?

Every half-inch length change alters the lie by a degree. There will be an alteration in the way you grip the club, change in your positioning or posture while taking a swing, you may need to bend it a little to drop your hands a bit, or you may stand more upright to make up for the change in distance. Since there will be changes in the length of ...

Why does my golf club slice?

There is a risk of slicing the ball when your angle is too flat. This means that the angle between the shaft and the ground is smaller. Once your club is too flat for your swing, the toe of your golf club will have a lower range than the heel when it should be leveled. Slicing happens because of such reasons.

How to increase swing weight?

Swingweight can easily be increased by using lead tape placed at the clubhead. Lengthening a club softens the shaft a fraction while increasing the swing weight of the club. Each time you add length like half an inch will also add three swing weight points.

What is the best way to get accurate golf clubs?

Club fitting is the best way to get accurate golf clubs, cause there is no standard lie angle that you can find in any golf store, and you need the fitting, so it will be according to your build, swing type, and preference.

How to get the right lie in golf?

To get the right lie, make sure that whenever you change the length of the golf club, you are also trying out the clubs to match your swing. Pro-golf shops can adjust some clubs to match it according to your need.

What does a club fitter do?

A club fitter can do this for you where they will place a piece of tape on the iron’s sole, and once this produces a mark on the ground, it will determine what adjustments need to be made to your golf club.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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Pros

Cons

  1. Loss of control.
  2. Changes stance distance from the ball.
  3. Lie angle changes.
  4. Shaft flexand swing weight change.
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Professional Club Fitment

  • This is the answer to all the technical questions about increasing shaft length. By going this route, it will improve every aspect of your swing and results on the course. Most golf outlets and teaching professionals make use of the latest technology available to sell clubs and game-improvement ideas. Listed below are the basic fundamentals that will remove the guesswork an…
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Understanding

  • All the factors mentioned above have an impact on your golf game andshaft length. Let us discuss shafts concerning theconsmentioned earlier: The shaft is the engine of the “car” and determines how far, straight and the trajectory of the ball flight. Increasing the length of a shaft has the following effect: 1. The dynamics of the shaft. The flex of the shaft changes if you lengt…
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Irons

  • Height Measurement of Wrist at Address to Floor Recommended Length 6ft-2 to 6ft-4 38 to 40 inches + 0,25 to 0,5 6ft-1 to 6ft-2 37 to 38 inches + 0,25 5ft-7 to 6ft-1 34 to 37 inches Standard 5ft-4 to 5ft-7 32 to 34 inches – 0,25 For shorter or taller players use the above chart to pro-rata the requirement. A reduction of 1 inch is suggested for women golfers.
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Drivers

  • The club that most golfers aspire to hit far and straight, is also the most difficult. Modern technology has improved so much in recent years that the distances attained by professionals and good amateurs are scary! To increase the swing arc, and thus the distance off the tee, longer shafts became fashionable. But an interesting fact is that the average driver shaftlength on the …
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Fairway Metals and Hybrids

  • Use the Iron chart for suggested lengths. Final Thoughts All the factors mentioned in this article will help the player to determine whether lengthening the shaft, is the right way to go. Irrespective of the decision take the time to test the new shaft on the range. It is a fact that most amateurs hit and swing harder when testing indoors with a monitor showing distance and speed. We just can’…
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