5 min read
Mike Tolkson | Jul 29, 2022
When shopping for a new set of golf clubs, you may have come across the option to select a specific shaft length. But why does golf club length even matter, and how can you tell which size is right for you? We’ve got good news for you: it’s not that complicated. We’ll break it down for you in this post and help you pick the perfect shaft length for your clubs without having to get fitted.
What is Club Length?
Golf club length, or shaft length, is literally the height of your golf club. The standard club length for most manufacturers is 45 inches for drivers and around 35 inches for irons, putters, and wedges. However, the standard length doesn’t work for every golfer. If you’re taller than average (over six feet) you’ll likely need half an inch to an inch added to your club length, and the opposite if you are under five foot seven inches. Golf club manufacturers usually denote these differences in shaft length with +0.5 inch, +1 inch, -0.5 inch, and -1 inch.
Why Golf Club Length Matters
Club or shaft length matters because it determines how comfortable and effective your game will be. Playing with the incorrect golf club length results in compensations in your play style that are often subconscious and create bad habits down the road. Playing with a club that’s too short for you means you’ll be hunched over for hours, making up for the lack of power by swinging harder than you usually do. Alternatively, playing with a club that’s too long means you’ll be standing up much straighter than necessary and struggling to hit the ball with any control. The right club length will let you assume the proper, most comfortable stance and swing with the correct power and control. Shaft flexibility also influences the power and accuracy of your swings, so getting that right along with your club length will definitely improve your golf game.
Learn more: Stiff vs. Regular Flex: Which Golf Shaft Is Right For You?
How to Measure Golf Club Length
Golf club length is mainly determined by a player’s height, but it can also be influenced by a few other factors, like wrist-to-floor measurement or even what club you’ll be using. Staying true to our belief that golf is a simple game that has become overly complicated, we offer five different shaft lengths at Stix.
Static Measurement
The first method for figuring out your ideal golf club length is to gauge your height. Chances are you already know how tall you are, but just in case you’ve embellished a little on your dating profile, you might want to take your measurements again to double-check. Height is by far the easiest way to gauge the ideal golf club length for you - especially as a beginner golfer.
If you’re content to choose your club length based on your height, jump down to our golf club length chart to find out which shaft length is right for you.
Wrist-to-Floor Measurement
Player height may be the easiest determinant of golf club length (and the one we use most frequently at Stix), but wrist-to-floor measurements are actually the most accurate for club fitting because it takes into account how far you will be holding your clubs from the ground so that those golfers with longer or shorter arms compared to their height are not mis-fit by choosing clubs on height alone. If you’ve got shorter arms compared to your height, you might need to use clubs that are longer than your height would indicate. Conversely, if you’ve got long arms compared to your height, a shorter club could be the way to go.
To determine your wrist-to-floor measurement, stand on a flat surface with your arms hanging naturally at your sides–and don’t forget to wear the shoes you golf in. Then, have a friend measure from your wrist crease to the floor.
Jump down to our golf club length chart to find out the best shaft length for you based on your wrist-to-floor measurement.
Driver Shaft Length
Drivers are all about generating power and distance. It’s a general rule that a longer shaft generates a more powerful swing and produces more distance. It makes sense; a longer shaft can build up a great deal of momentum during your swing. This is why many golf club manufacturers make drivers with 45-inch shafts as standard, a two-inch difference from the 43-inch standard length years ago.
However, shaft length is not the only factor that creates a great swing. Hitting the ball on the sweet spot of the club face is what truly gives you the greatest distance. In fact, many PGA pros use shorter drivers than the standard because they want to hit that sweet spot. That kind of control and intuition about your swing takes years and years to master, though. If you’re a beginner or intermediate golfer, it’s best to stick to standard length, or whichever length works best for your height.
Iron Shaft Length
Irons already include varying shaft lengths, starting with 35 inches to 35.5 inches for a 9-iron and increasing by half steps all the way up to the 2-iron. That half step can make quite the difference when you’ve got clubs that are too long (or too short) for you, so you’ll want to make sure you’re starting out with the right length. As we mentioned before, having the wrong golf club length can really screw up your game, so choosing the right iron length is important.
Shop Stix Iron Sets →
Which Golf Club Length is Right For You?
As long as you know your height, you should be able to pick the best shaft length for your new set of clubs. We’ve created a simple chart to help you pick the perfect club length based on your height.
Club Length | Your Height | Wrist-to-Floor Measurement |
+1” | 6’4” - 6’8” | 40” - 41” |
+0.5” | 6’1” - 6’4” | 37” - 40” |
Standard | 5’7” - 6’1” | 34” - 37” |
-0.5” | 5'4" - 5'7" | 29” - 34” |
-1” | 5'0" - 5'3" | 27” - 29” |
Use the Stix Find Your Fit Tool to get the perfect clubs for your game!
Keep it Simple
We believe finding the right golf clubs doesn’t have to be overcomplicated, which is why we’ve made it easy to pick the perfect golf club length.
With over thirty different sizing options, we’re certain to have the right fit for you among our selection of golf clubs. If you’re not totally satisfied with the length you choose, don’t worry! Returns and exchanges are extremely simple. And our team is always available to walk you through the process if you need it, by live chat, phone, or email. We’re here for you!
You might also like:
- Ultimate Guide To Golf Wedge Degrees
- You Don't Need To Get Fitted, You Need Clubs That Fit
- Golf Club Forgiveness: What Is It and Why It Matters
