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.
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 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:
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.
Why are golf clubs not fitting?
Having golf clubs that are not properly fitted for length can be a major contributor to inconsistent performance. For the same reasons that someone who is 6’ 5” wouldn’t walk into a men’s clothing store and buy a suit off the rack, golfers need to make sure that the golf clubs that they buy are suited to their body type and size.
Does a longer shaft mean faster club head speed?
A simple analysis of the physics of the golf swing makes it clear that, all things being equal, the longer the shaft, the faster the club head speed. Put another way, a longer shaft will generate more distance than a shorter shaft.
Does trimming the tip of a golf shaft increase flex?
Trimming from the tip end of the shaft, on the other hand, will have much more of an effect on flex and would therefore only be recommended if the goal is to also stiffen the shaft. As an example, tip trimming could potentially result in increasing the flex from Regular to Stiff, or from Stiff to Extra Stiff.
What does it mean to use the correct size golf club?
When you use the correct golf club sizes you will be hitting your shots with the ideal length club which will help you to get a solid contact on your shots. This accurate measurement can help you to achieve consistent contact by ensuring the club face is squared properly at impact.
Why is it important to choose the right golf club size?
These range from having a better connection with your shots and hitting them from the correct lie angle. Both of these benefits will contribute to your achieving a better golf handicap score.
Why is it important to know the size of your golf clubs?
This is because if you use golf clubs that are either too tall or too short for you there is a chance that you won’t hit shots consistently and more distance.
Why are golf clubs so complex?
The reason that golf club sizes can be a complex topic is because it isn’t as easy as just saying that height is the only factor in which size to choose. In our complete guide we will explore what other factors are at play and what some of the main benefits are from taking the time to choose golf club sizes bespoke to yourself.
How to make your golf swing more efficient?
To make your golf swing feel more efficient, you have to match your lie angle to your club length based on your position with regard to the club. This will help you to hit shots that feel more comfortable and it will help with more consistent swings.
Who invented single length irons?
Single-length irons were introduced by Bryson Dechambeau and that has changed the way that people think of golf club sizes. A recommendation made by Bryson is that your entire iron range should be the same length as your 7 iron.
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 happens if you play too long in a golf club?
If the club is too long for you, then you’re spending extra time during ramp up which is the amount of time spent during your initial downswing. You want a balance between your abilities, ramp up, and momentum while cutting through the wind with as little resistance as possible.
Why are golf clubs made the way they are?
The reason clubs are made the way they are is to gather momentum as you swing down. If your club is too short, you’re going to build momentum while having resistance, meaning you will push too hard against the wind and not just swing naturally. There’s not enough weight to the club.
What happens if your woods aren't longer?
If your woods didn’t have the length that they do, and they were shorter, you’d be sending your ball almost straight up and they wouldn’t close much of a distance. It’s not always about the angling of the golf club head; sometimes it’s about the length and force to make it meet the ball.
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.
When shortening a golf club, do you have to remove the crown?
When you shorten a golf club, you have to remove the crown, and safely disconnect the shaft from the head.
Does golf club length matter?
Golf club length matters a ton. If you’re holding proper form, where your back and arms are straight and your core is engaged when you swing, then you’re doing all that you can on that front. When you swing the club, it’s supposed to effortlessly collide with the ball and send it flying.
How long should a golf club be?
The most common method used to recommend the length of a golf club is a "height-based" chart. Golf clubs are usually available in two primary lengths (excluding juniors) and somewhat based on statistics, like the average height of an average male and female. The average woman’s height in the U.S. is approximately 5’ 5” (165.1cm), with about 68% between 5' 2" and 5' 7". The average male is approximately 5' 10" (177.8cm) with nearly 68% between 5' 6" and 5' 11". The difference between the finished stock men’s and women’s clubs is usually 1" difference in the length.
How tall is a 5'10 golfer?
In the chart above, we can see that a 5' 10" male on average will have a WTF measurement just shy of 34 1/4", while the average female that stands 5' 4" would be just a hair over 31 ¼". The 6" difference in height equals approximately a 3" difference in the WTF measurement and to 1" length change. Well, at least in theory between men and women stock clubs. If you consider that a 48" junior golfer has a WTF measurement of nearly 12” less than the 70" golfer would suggest that the junior golfer get a 5-iron that is 4" shorter than a typical men’s club. However, the math does not add up as most junior charts will suggest a 48” junior to have a 5-iron in the neighborhood of 9" shorter.
What is WTF in golf?
Wrist-to-floor measurement or WTF for short is a common method in which the golfer stands with their feet together in street / tennis shoes with their arms hanging straight down and relaxed. Then someone measures from the floor to the crease just above the wrist.
What is the average lie angle for a 5 iron?
A common lie angle for a 5-iron is 61° , therefore the length of the 5-iron may be 37.25" to achieve the B length. This combo may be very well for a lady golfer that is 5' 8" with a 33.25" WTF measurement. A C6.5 swingweight would be perfectly normal in what you would see in a standard length woman stock set. However, let’s say this was a man we were talking about that might have the same proportions of the lady golfer, or perhaps taller but with long arms. Instead of the shorter club with the lighter swingweight, the clubfitter or manufacturer may suggest a 38” 5-iron that had a 2° flatter lie angle. This would make the swingweight in the normal range you would see for a male golfer.
Does a 1" increase in length make a golf club longer?
For taller individuals, it is logical to assume longer clubs are recommended. But it should be noted that a 1" increase in club length does not necessarily make the club 1" longer from the floor to the ground. It is the sin of the lie angle that is the length component in the vertical direction.
How tall is a golf club?
Manufacturers usually make clubs to account for golfers anywhere between 4’8” to 6’7” inches tall. The second measurement is wrist-to-floor distance. This is done by standing on a flat surface with your arms relaxed and pointing down. You then measure the distance between the ground and the line where your wrist meets your hand.
What factors affect the size of a golf club?
Here’s another factor that affects the appropriate golf club size. The angle and the grip size of the club are as important as the height and wrist-to-floor measurements . However, this means more to serious professional golfers than to someone just starting out.
Why do manufacturers make golf tables?
Manufacturers create such tables to help everyone from beginner golfers to pro golfers choose the right club size for their play. Here’s how your size affects the dimensions of your needed golf club size and why it matters. Last but not least, the grip size should also be determined for the club to fit perfectly in your hands.
What is the difference between men's and women's golf clubs?
The difference between men’s and women’s clubs is generally noticeable on the grip. Men’s golf clubs have larger grips and are also about 2.5 cm longer than women’s golf clubs. Kids’ clubs are even smaller than women’s for the most part. Knowing what type of golf club you need is the first step in determining the appropriate size.
What is plus and minus golf clubs?
The adjustments on a size chart are made with reference to the standard clubs. Therefore, the plus and minus values show how much shorter or longer your golf club should be compared to the standard, according to your measurements, ...
What is the second measurement of a grip?
The second measurement is the length of your middle finger from the tip to its base. When you have these two measurements, you can then find the appropriate grip size on a manufacturer’s size chart. Note that we only use the middle finger as an example as it applies to most people.
Can you play golf with an off size club?
Because there are plenty of variations, it’s unsurprising that a lot of people sometimes play with off-size clubs. Most pros recommend that even beginners should opt for a perfectly sized golf club in order to have the best learning experience.
Why Should I Care About Golf Club length?
- There are no specific industry standards for golf club length, but different manufacturers have differing lengths for clubs. A 5-iron from a particular brand is 37.75 inches, others 38 inches or even 38.5 inches long. That said: We cannot stress enough, the importance of a golf club’s lengt…
Determining The Ideal Length For Your Club
- Many players base the starting point of determining your golf club length by referring to the chart that matches your height and wrist-to-floor measurement from your club manufacturer. For a detailed and conclusive deduction, it is prudent to compare your H/WTF ratio as you take test shots with the particular clubs. This enables you to have a good understanding of your lie angle, …
How Do You Do this?
- Step by Step Tutorial First, measure your basic height, i.e., your height from your head to your feet while standing as upright as possible. Secondly, measure the distance between your wrists from where it bends to the ground while standing straight also. Ensure that your arms are hanging loosely at your sides. Having a partner do this, will enable you to get the most accurate results. T…
How Do I Determine The Ideal Length For My Golf Club
- Drivers
First of all, have a variety of Drivers, (between 3-5 clubs) that you intend to use. Ensure that they are 1-2” of the regular length. Remember that drivers are available with either graphite or metal shafts and the latter are generally heavier than the former. Swing all clubs with the help of an ins… - Irons
The process of taking measurements to determine the best ironsfor you is similar to those of drivers. Different irons are ranging from 1-9-iron clubs depending on the manufacturer. Identify three irons in the mid-range, i.e., 4-6-iron clubs and one from the extremes, i.e., 1-3-irons and 7-9 …
Bottom Line
- To achieve an accurate club fitting as a player, insist on having them fitted using both dynamic and static measurements. This is because there is a direct correlation of these factors to the direction, flight and speed of the golf ball and also enables you to swing your club consistently without the need for compensation swings. Seeking the services of a professional fitter and inst…