How to measure your ideal club length

If you’re playing with hand-me-down clubs, like most beginner golfers do, there’s a good chance that they’ll be too long or short for you.

Whilst it might not seem like a big deal, using the wrong size golf clubs can negatively impact your performance, affecting your ability to swing accurately and comfortably.

Knowing how to size golf clubs correctly can be tricky if you’ve never done it before. However, it will benefit your game in more ways than one. That’s why, in this blog, the team at Clarkes’ Golf Centre will be teaching you how to find the right club length.

So, let’s get started.

How is club length measured?

There are a number of methods that can determine club length, but most of the time it pertains to your overall height, the distance from your wrist to the ground and your swing.

Typically, the taller you are, the longer your club needs to be.

However, two people of exactly the same height can have different wrist-to-floor measurements. This is why it’s important not to base your ideal size on height alone.

When measuring your ideal club length, you need to take into account the length of your arms and legs too. To do so, stand on a hard floor (wearing flat footwear) with both arms hanging straight down at your sides. Then ask someone to measure from the floor up to the crease in your wrist using a tape measure. Make a note of this measurement as it’ll be your ideal club length.

In addition to static measurements, it’s also important to consider the dynamics (i.e. how you swing your club and hit the ball). Launch angle, swing speed, spin rate and ball speed can all help to determine the appropriate length as well. Such information can be established with the help of a launch monitor and dynamic fitting.

Are my clubs too long or too short?

Though shorter clubs will offer a degree of accuracy, they will hinder your distance. If your clubs are overly long, you’ll have reduced control and your swing will be less accurate. It’s all about finding the middle ground.

Knowing whether you need to buy longer or shorter clubs can be difficult – but, the good news is, there are a few signs you can look out for.

If any of the below ring true with you, you’re probably playing with clubs that are too short:

Your swing path is inconsistent
You’ve no option but to bend at the waist
You have too much bend at the knees
The tempo is too quick
The ball tends to go to the right
The ball hits on the club’s heel

Alternatively, these are the tell-tale signs your clubs are too long:

You have to stand up almost completely straight
You can’t move your lower body much when you swing
The ball tends to go to the left and too high
The club’s shaft feels weak in your hand
You hit the ball with the toe of the golf club more often than not

Want help finding the right club length for you?

Here at Clarkes’ Golf Centre, we are delighted to have a state-of-the-art custom fitting bay, where you can come and try out different clubs before you decide which ones to buy.

The great thing about our custom fitting service is that we use the latest technology to analyse the dynamics of your swing. And our specialists are always on hand to advise you.

By arranging a custom fitting with us, you can trust that your clubs won’t be too long or too short – they’ll be just right.

Get in touch

if you’d like more information about our custom fitting bay or the different golf clubs we stock both online and in-store, give us a call on 01744 885 294.

Our team is always on hand to help and will be more than happy to share their expertise when it comes to finding your ideal club length.

You can also get in touch via our online contact form or email us at admin@clarkesgolf.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

If you’d prefer to discuss your requirements face-to-face, why not come and visit us in-store? You’ll find us just off the Rainford Bypass – open from 10am weekdays and 9am on weekends and bank holidays.