How to Measure Golf Club Length Accurately
Most golfers buy their golf clubs straight from the shelves and don’t take a second to consider how the length of the club may ultimately determine how they play.
Since we all have various heights and arm lengths, golf manufacturers have created a wide array of different-length golf clubs to cater to those differences.
By finding the right club length, we can fully take advantage of what the golf club can do on the course.
Maximizing ball speed and getting more distance is an important factor when looking to create consistent results, and playing golf clubs with the proper length allows us to achieve our best golf game.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to measure your golf club length correctly and why knowing other factors, such as lie angle, is extremely important for consistently hitting the golf ball.
How do I determine my golf club length?
There are several ways to determine golf club length, with the easiest being to lay the golf club down and measure it from the grip cap to the heel.
While that quick measurement might provide the standard length of shafts, it doesn’t fully show how shafts and their length affect the golf swing.
By playing the wrong length, you can create an uneven descent into the golf ball. You need the right length, correct lie angle, and right shaft flex to hit repeatably crisp golf shots.
For us, finding the correct length starts with ensuring the entire club head, including the heel of the club, is sitting even against the ground.
You want a measuring tape, preferably one used for cloth measuring because it’s easier to unroll and adhere to the shaft’s length.
You’ll take the tape and run it along the entire golf club.
Your measurement will run from the end of the grip cap along the shaft’s entire length and through the heel of the golf club until it reaches the point where the ground and club connect.
Whether measuring men’s or women’s golf clubs, you should use this method to measure golf club length.
How do you fit golf clubs to your height?
One of the most common ways of finding the right length of the club for your game is by using a golf club length chart. These charts take a golfer’s height and find the correct length for everything from the driver to the irons.
Before you consult the chart, however, you should find your current height. If you are a senior golfer, you should consider that you lose some of your height as you get older.
By finding a correct and current height, you can accurately find the right length for your golf clubs.
If you are struggling to find golf clubs off the shelf that work for your height, consider altering the shaft’s length with the help of a professional fitter.
One of the easiest ways to customize club length to your height is by adding or cutting the shaft.
Most golf club manufacturers also offer versions of their clubs that add or subtract one to two inches from the shaft’s length to suit the golfer’s height better.
How do you measure USGA golf club length?
The USGA (United States Golf Association) method of measuring golf clubs involves sitting the club against the ground as it would naturally sit at address.
This means the club’s sole sits against the ground, and the shaft carries the same angle as it would if it were sitting in your hands with your swing. The correct club length measurement will go from the end of the grip cap to the ground.
The USGA Method allows for a universal measuring method that governs all levels of golf in the United States.
Since there are parameters for how short or long a shaft can be when participating in a USGA event, this method offers a road map that all golfers can follow easily.
How is driver shaft length measured?
When measuring driver shaft length, you’ll want to take the club and place it in a natural address position. Then, you’ll take your measuring tape and go from the club’s sole to the grip end in a straight line.
When considering the standard club length, the driver typically comes with a 45.5″ shaft. Most drivers off the shelf will have a club length close to that standard measurement.
Some golfers like trimming their driver’s shaft to help them create more accuracy while sacrificing ball speed.
A shorter driver can be easier to swing, especially for golfers with shorter arm lengths, but a longer shaft can help generate additional distance via higher ball speed due to the longer swing length.
Why should I take a wrist-to-floor measurement for driver length?
One of the quickest ways to determine the shaft length of your driver is through wrist-to-floor measurements. When getting a custom club fitting of any type, the club fitter will first measure the distance between your wrist and the ground.
Here’s how to do this measurement at home.
First, you’ll need someone to help you, as you’ll need to be standing tall with your arms hanging straight down at your sides.
Next, your partner will measure from the wrist crease above your hand to the floor. You’ll want to wear your golf shoes to ensure a proper measuring method and get a more accurate measurement to help you find the right club length.
The wrist-to-floor measurement plays a role in finding the correct club length and also in locating the correct lie angle for your club.
By finding the right lie angle, you can accurately approach finding the right length for all your golf clubs.
How is a putter shaft measured?
We want to measure the putter’s shaft using the same approach we use to measure the length of woods and irons.
Since the standard length for a putter is roughly 34 inches, you’ll need to determine if you need a shorter or extended shaft based on your arm length.
First, take your putter and place the sole flat against the ground.
Take the tape and start measuring at the end of the grip cap, running it down the shaft through the hosel and over the face of the club head to the point where the sole touches the ground.
When examining your arm length and its relation to the putter, you want to feel comfortable moving the putter back and forth.
If the putter is too short and the golfer’s arms are not long enough, this can affect the golfer’s ability to find consistent results on the greens.
If you don’t know where to start, try a 34-inch putter and begin to make strokes with it. Note how it feels in your hand and whether your body is too upright or too hunched over.
You can find the best putter shaft length for your game by giving yourself your own club fitting.
Are there alternative ways to measure the golf club shaft?
There are typically three ways of measuring club length with regard to the golf club shaft.
In this article, we are talking about the “playing club length.”
The other methods include simply measuring the shaft without installing it in the club. This method only exists for modern drivers and woods that offer interchangeable options.
Some club fitting sessions might simply involve tape measuring only the shafts. This measuring method can be a bit tricky once you attempt to customize your clubs.
We believe the only factor that matters when measuring a club is its playing length.
This playing-specific measurement relates to how long the club is when playing the course. It’s similar to measuring your own height with shoes because you are always wearing shoes when playing sports.
Professional golfers love to tinker with the length of each club and the data produced with each version of the club.
Final Thoughts: How to Measure Golf Club Length
It doesn’t take much to find the golf club length of every club in your bag. All you need is a flat surface and a measuring tape to make sure your clubs are the right golf clubs for your game.
Regardless of whether you are playing with steel or graphite shafts, you can quickly determine if your clubs are affecting your ability to hit quality shots.
While measuring your golf club length might seem silly, it makes a difference in your shot quality.
Using the USGA Method for finding the measured length of your driver, for example, can help you increase your accuracy or make your swing longer to generate more swing speed, which translates into additional distance.
By knowing more about why the correct length of your golf clubs plays a factor in helping you find the sweet spot more often, you’ll be able to understand your golf swing better when things aren’t going your way on the course.