Club Length
Average mens club length as of 2011. For ladies clubs subtract 1" from each club length.
Average mens club length as of 2011. For ladies clubs subtract 1" from each club length.
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Driver
3 Wood 4 Wood 5 Wood 7 Wood 9 Wood Hybrid 14°-18° Hybrid 17°-21° Hybrid 20°-24° Hybrid 23°-27° Hybrid 26°-30° |
45"
43" 42.5" 42" 41.5 41" 41" 40.5" 40" 39.5" 39" |
3 Iron
4 Iron 5 Iron 6 Iron 7 Iron 8 Iron 9 Iron PW GW SW LW |
38.5"
38" 37.5" 37" 36.5" 36" 35.5" 35" 34.25" 34.25" 34" |
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A golf clubs length is measured from the heel of the club to the butt end of the grip. When fitting clubs and cutting clubs to length, cut the shaft 1/4 of an inch shorter than the desired length to allow for the butt end of the grip which is, on average, a 1/4 of an inch thick. Although, try finding out the actual depth of the butt end stopper and cut the shaft accordingly. To measure a putter you take the Measurement from the point where the putter is soled on the ground, in line with the shaft and measure to the butt end of the grip.
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There are a number of ways to establish club length. Although club length is not an exact science there is no set standard depending on a golfer height. A number of factors need to be considered, height, leg length, arm length and posture. Below is a chart that you can use to help determine the correct club length although nothing compares to being properly fitted by a pro or club fitting specialist. Lie is another thing to consider and we will briefly touch on this subject below.
Wrist to Floor Measurement & Your Height
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Lie Angle
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Club
3 Iron
4 Iron 5 Iron 6 Iron 7 Iron 8 Iron 9 iron PW GW SW LW |
Club Length
38.5"
38" 37.5" 37" 36.5" 36" 35.5" 35" 34.25" 34.25" 34" |
Lie Angle
60°
60.5° 61° 61.5° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64.5° 64.5° |
too upright
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correct lie
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too flat
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One of the most important, misunderstood and overlooked aspects of your golf clubs is the lie angle. Lie angle is, for most people, more important than club length. If you are between 5'3" and 6'2" then lie angle will be more of a consideration than club length. There are many different degrees of lie angle but the aim is to have the sole of your club sitting flat to the ground at impact when hitting the ball. The three common expressions for club lie are upright, standard and flat.
If the heel of the club is touching the ground and the toe is pointing too much in the air, this would be expressed as too upright. If the toe of the club is touching the ground and the heel is too much in the air, this would be expressed as too flat. Having the sole of the club touching the ground evenly is the desired lie. This would be referred to as standard lie. If the toe of the club is pointing too much into the air then the tendency would to be to pull or even hook the ball. This is caused the by heel of the club digging into the ground at impact and closing the club face. The opposite occurs if the toe is pointing into the ground and the heel is too much in the air. The tendency then would be to push or even slice the ball. This is caused by the toe digging into the ground at impact and opening the club face.
Most clubs on the market can be adjusted. Visit your local professional or club fitter for this service and to obtain a true and accurate lie measurement.
To check how your lie angle is at the impact position yourself, put a piece of electrical tape on the sole of your irons and hit a few shots off a driving range mat. You will see after a couple of shots where the wear marks are on the tape, this will indicate to you how your clubs will require adjusting. If the wear marks on the electrical tape are on the toe end then the clubs require adjusting more upright. If the wear marks on the electrical tape are towards the heel, the clubs require adjusting to a flatter lie.
You can intentionally set up your clubs to have the toe or heel siting off the ground to create a draw if your tendency is to slice the ball or a fade if your tendency is to hook the ball.
If the heel of the club is touching the ground and the toe is pointing too much in the air, this would be expressed as too upright. If the toe of the club is touching the ground and the heel is too much in the air, this would be expressed as too flat. Having the sole of the club touching the ground evenly is the desired lie. This would be referred to as standard lie. If the toe of the club is pointing too much into the air then the tendency would to be to pull or even hook the ball. This is caused the by heel of the club digging into the ground at impact and closing the club face. The opposite occurs if the toe is pointing into the ground and the heel is too much in the air. The tendency then would be to push or even slice the ball. This is caused by the toe digging into the ground at impact and opening the club face.
Most clubs on the market can be adjusted. Visit your local professional or club fitter for this service and to obtain a true and accurate lie measurement.
To check how your lie angle is at the impact position yourself, put a piece of electrical tape on the sole of your irons and hit a few shots off a driving range mat. You will see after a couple of shots where the wear marks are on the tape, this will indicate to you how your clubs will require adjusting. If the wear marks on the electrical tape are on the toe end then the clubs require adjusting more upright. If the wear marks on the electrical tape are towards the heel, the clubs require adjusting to a flatter lie.
You can intentionally set up your clubs to have the toe or heel siting off the ground to create a draw if your tendency is to slice the ball or a fade if your tendency is to hook the ball.
Shortening and Extending
Shortening your clubs especially the woods can help accuracy if you are a little wayward of the tee. There are a couple of factors to consider when shortening shafts. By shortening, the shaft will become a little firmer and the swingweight of the club will decrease. Every half inch you shorten, you will lighten a club by approximately 3 swing weight points (2 grams = 1swingweight point). The swingweight can easily be increased by adding lead tape to the club head. 2 inches of standard lead tape is on average equal to 1 swingweight point. Although, a lot of the new modern woods have changeable weights in the heads which will alleviate the weight problem.
Lengthening a club will have the opposite effect on shaft flex compared to shortening. The shaft will become a fraction softer and will also increase the clubs swingweight. Again, every half inch added will equal around 3 swingweight points. An inch and a half is about as far as you want to extend. Extending a club more than two inches may compromise shaft integrity and increase the risk of breakage
Shaft extensions are small plugs that are fitted into the butt end of the shaft.
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The extension on the left can be used for either steel or graphite shafts. The ridged/thinner end is glued and fitted into the butt end of the shaft. Once dried, the club can be cut down to the desired length.
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Golf Club Loft Charts
Aside from the shaft, it is the clubs loft that will really alter the flight of a golf ball. Below are some carts that show the lofts of clubs and how they have changed over the years. Note that the wood lofts have not really altered that much compared with the irons. |
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Modern golf club lofts as of 2006
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Lofts as of late
1990's to 2005
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Lofts as of late
1980's to mid 1990's
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Lofts as of late
1970's to mid 1980's
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Lofts as of late
1950's to mid 1970's
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