Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Golf Clubs Explained

While it may seem obvious that there are some pretty significant differences between the golf clubs for each gender, you may be surprised at the subtle differences between the two styles of clubs.

When it comes to women’s clubs, companies are looking to boost clubhead speed, while men’s clubs are engineered to bomb shots down the fairway.

In this article, we’ll peel back the curtain on how golf club manufacturers make clubs for men and women and how each style can help all golfers looking to increase their distance and improve their overall accuracy.


Is there a difference between men’s and women’s golf clubs?

Yes, there are several big differences between men and women-specific golf clubs.

Off the top, the most noticeable difference is the length of the club. Women will find their clubs shorter than men’s clubs due to the average height of each gender.

That said, taller women golfers will find that the right clubs for their game may fall within the men’s category due to the longer shafts.

Men’s clubs are also heavier than the women’s version.

Due to male golfers being stronger than their female counterparts, manufacturers have increased the weight of the clubs to improve the power on the downswing to the golf ball.

There are also subtle differences between the two types of clubs, such as a more upright lie angle, stronger lofts, and larger sweet spots to improve forgiveness and boost launch angle.


Can a woman play with men’s golf clubs?

Yes, women can play with men’s clubs for various worthwhile reasons.

Remember, men’s and women’s clubs are made for the average height of each gender, but we know tall women and shorter men are playing this game, and they need accommodations with their clubs.

Women playing with men’s clubs may need the additional length found in men’s shafts or stiffer shafts because of their increased swing speed.

Professional female golfers will find women’s golf club length is far too short to accommodate their high swing speeds.

These women will also carry men’s irons due to the length and strength of the men’s club.

On the other hand, a casual older male golfer may need something softer than a regular flex shaft and find that the overall weight of women’s clubs helps him hit the ball higher and farther.


Can a man use a ladies golf club?

Yes, a man can use a ladies golf club, but there would probably be some extenuating circumstances for this to take place.

For example, a shorter, older male in their 70s taking up golf for the first time will find women’s clubs the right ones because they offer more forgiveness and flexible shafts that produce higher swing speed than wholesale, off-the-shelf men’s clubs.

Since women’s clubs are typically an inch shorter than men’s clubs, a man with a height under 5’4″ may actually benefit more from playing these clubs due to the more upright lie angle when playing a women’s club.


What height are women’s golf clubs made for?

Since the average woman reaches roughly 5’4″, golf club manufacturers have built their clubs with the average female golfer in mind.

These are lighter clubs than their male counterparts, offering shorter shafts and shorter overall club length to accommodate their height and the slower swing speed of female golfers.

The shorter golf clubs allow female golfers more control over their swing so they can reach the sweet spot at impact with more frequency.

The shorter club lengths create a more compact swing path to the golf ball to maximize club head speed for the female golfer.

Coupled with the higher lofts, women’s clubs tend to easily launch the ball higher to maximize carry distance and improve game satisfaction.


What specific design modifications are made to women’s golf clubs?

There are four main differences between women’s clubs and men’s clubs. Each difference helps women increase their clubhead speed and improve their overall enjoyment of this great game.

Shorter Shaft Length

With a shaft length that routinely is an inch shorter, women’s clubs accommodate the shorter height of women to help them make better swings to the golf ball.

Whether the club carries steel shafts or graphite ones, the shorter length makes a major difference for women’s clubs regarding accuracy, distance, and launch.

Smaller Club Heads

Women’s clubs also carry slightly smaller club heads with the driver, fairway wood, and hybrid.

A smaller club head feels lighter and more agile in the hand of the player, helping instill more control and confidence as they swing the club.

Although smaller, each club feels quicker, helping golfers with slower swing speeds achieve the length they need from anywhere on the course.

Higher Lofts

In women’s clubs, you’ll typically find higher lofts with their club design, as it helps promote higher ball flight to get the most out of each swing.

Most women play better with a driver at twelve degrees because it provides more loft when matched against a men’s driver with a lower loft around 9.5-10.5 degrees.

While men’s clubs have lower loft and stiff flex to increase distance at the sake of shot height, women’s sets need that additional loft to get the ball off the ground to prevent shots that total less distance than their maximums.

Softer Shaft Flex

The graphite shafts in women’s golf clubs are softer and more flexible shafts when compared to men’s golf club stiffness.

The softer shaft flex allows golfers with slower swing speeds to achieve distance and overall carry distance despite their physical limitations.

A ladies shaft works in women’s clubs for a driver swing speed that registers under 72mph.


How do shaft flex and length differ between men’s and women’s clubs?

When it comes to shaft flex, men’s clubs are stiffer and more rigid than the shaft in women’s clubs. The stiffer shaft helps maintain stability when dealing with increased swing speeds.

In comparison, women need softer shafts to create more whip in their approach to the ball, to get more distance and exit velocity off the face.

The length of the club’s shaft also differs between the two types of clubs, as men will find their shafts are longer than the clubs marked for women golfers.

The longer shaft helps men speed on the downswing due to their height. A shorter shaft helps a female stay more compact with their swing to maximize distance and carry.


Are there weight differences in men’s versus women’s golf clubs?

Yes, men’s clubs are heavier than women’s clubs. The additional weight comes via the club shaft, especially from steel shafts.

The steel is denser and more rigid, helping men hit the ball further than they could with golf clubs for ladies.

Ladies who hit the ball further than the average man will find they can boost distance by playing heavier golf clubs from the tee box and fairway.


What club head characteristics distinguish men’s from women’s golf clubs?

Men’s clubs have larger club heads than women’s clubs. This size difference between mens and womens golf clubs helps male players take advantage of their faster swing speed.

Ladies golf clubs utilize a more compact head to provide more accuracy and launch when compared to standard men’s clubs.

For advanced women golfers, the club heads are typically the same size as men’s golf clubs simply because their swing speed matches the average male golfer.


How do grip sizes vary between men’s and women’s golf clubs?

When looking at the differences between grip sizes, you’ll first notice that the women’s grips are thinner and less bulky when compared to men’s grips.

For a women’s driver, the typical women’s golf grips are far thinner, especially when compared to a man with larger hands who needs a thicker, rounder grip to maintain stability on the downswing.

Like a golf glove, golf grips depend solely on the size of the golfer’s hands, regardless of gender.