Tired of searching for ways to measure your club? We have searched too. Although there are tons of information out there, it seems most of them are unorganized and not in-depth.
You can pick up a club off the shelf and play with it. But for accuracy and hitting the distance right, it’s essential to know the length of your club and how long it needs to be.
We did the hard part for you: researching. We have simplified the club length measurement techniques which you can easily use as a guide.
For golfers who need a simple process that they can use at home, they can try the ‘Method 1’. For professionals looking for more accurate measurements, ‘Method 2’ will be appropriate.
Table of Content
What Is The Standard Length Of A Golf Club?
There is no standard length of a club in golf. So, club makers are free to make clubs that they feel are appropriate for a golfer.
Here is what Tom Wishon, the founder of Tom Wishon Golf Technology, has to say- “There are no industry-wide standards for any golf club specification in the golf equipment industry.”
Yes, but there is a limitation.
According to USGA the length of a golf club should not exceed 48 inches.
So, the length can be either 48 inches or lower. Within this limitation, you can get club sizes of any length depending on your height or style of play.
Changes of Golf Club Length Over Time
When you look at golf equipment history, there has been a change in golf club lengths from time to time.
Manufacturers have invested in research and understanding user psychology to get the correct length of the club.
During 1970s-80s, the drivers had 43 inches of length. For 5-woods it was even lesser, just 41 inches.
The reason behind the shifts in club length is the mindset of the golfers. Most golfers believe that longer shafts can provide more distance. So, manufacturers have taken the best opportunity out of this. They believe it helps them to sell more.
What should be your ideal length of golf clubs?
We have irons, putters and drivers. And all of them are uniquely different from one another.
For irons
We will use height as the reference for iron club size. However, you can always change it as per your advantage. Here is chart you can use:
| Height | Length to be changed |
| 6ft 9” – 7ft 0” | Add 2 inch |
| 6ft 6” – 6ft 9” | Add 1 and a half inch |
| 6ft 3” – 6ft 6” | Add 1 inch |
| 6ft 0” – 6ft 3” | Add half inch |
| 5ft 9” – 6ft 0” | Standard Length |
| 5ft 6” – 5ft 9” | Subtract half inch |
| 5ft 3” – 5ft 6” | Subtract 1 inch |
| 5ft 0” – 5ft 3” | Subtract 1 and a half inch |
| 4ft 9” – 5ft 0” | Subtract 2 inches |
For drivers
We found that 44.5 is the average length of drivers used on tours. However, you can always shorten your shaft from your fitter if you feel you are short on accuracy.
For putters
Analyzing the posture and wrist-to-floor measurement, 32-35” can be a good length for putters that most golfers will be comfortable with.
Longer putters will cause several problems in your gameplay. It will restrict you from being close to the ball and miss targets in most cases. Long putters will also disable your natural motion of swing and arm movement.
And short putters won’t do any good even.
Again, it’s best to get your putter custom fitted from a professional fitter.
What are Custom Club Fitters and Where to Find Them?
Custom club fitters or custom clubmakers, they can help you find the right length of the club for you.
Usually, the process starts with measuring the distance from the wrist to the floor. Then they have a chart that they use to find the appropriate club length for a specific wrist to floor dimension.
Finally, you get a club that gives you more flexibility and easy to swing.
For finding custom club fitters, you can contact your club professionals who have ample experience in this matter.
There are golf retailers everywhere who can help you with the custom fitting through trial and error.
You have the option of independent fitters also. These are professionals who can offer a more personalized experience. Although hard to find. And finally, big golf brands have national fit centers. If there is one in your city, go and have a visit.
For those living in Canada, here is a list of custom club fitters that you can contact now! You can even find the nearest one by searching online.
- Callaway Golf Custom Fitting
- Canadian Golf Performance Fitting Centre
- Titleist Canada National Fitting Centre
- Modern Golf Premier Club Fitting
2 Proven Methods to Measure Golf Clubs
We have boiled down things to just two methods. One or the other will help you get accurate measurements of your clubs.
Method 1: Golf club measuring ruler technique
This is the simplest method that you can use at home to measure your golf clubs.
For this, you need a ruler of 48 inches or greater. You can use a measuring tape. However, the flexibility of the tape can hamper the entire procedure.
For best readings use a golf club measuring ruler.
Now, if you got the ruler in your hands, we can proceed. Follow these steps one after another:
Step 1. Place your club in the playing position. This should be your normal gripping position of the club.
Step 2. Make sure that the center of the clubs sole is touching the ground.
Step 3. Your ruler must be placed behind the club touching the ground.
Step 4. Align the part of the club that touches the ground with the back of your club’s heel.
Step 5. Take the final reading from the end of the ruler that is touching the edge of the grip cap.
Two things to keep in mind
Number 1: You can see from the figure that the club lie is positioned correctly. If the club lie positioning is incorrect, you will get errors in your reading.
Placing the club with its toe higher than the heel will lessen your club length measurement.
Number 2: If you do the opposite which means if the heel is higher above the ground than the toe then your club length will increase.
So, you will get either 1/8” more or 1/8” less, if any of the above two things happen.
Method 2: The USGA club measuring technique
This method outlined by USGA uses a measuring apparatus. These high-end devices can give you accurate measurements if you are still not sure about ruler readings.
If you got your hands on one of them, then we can proceed with the following steps. Alternatively, you can just follow the video at the end of the steps to see how it works.
Step 1 (optional). You can calibrate the measuring apparatus using a calibration device. This will ensure that the apparatus is placed in a perfect position to the most accurate reading.
If you avoid this step, then a flat surface would also be sufficient. Alternatively, you can use calibration apps in your smartphone. We should take the most out of the things we have around, right?
Step 2. There is clubhead support in the apparatus. The clubhead should be resting on it.
Step 3. Make your the sole plate has a 60-degree angle. If it does, then the clubhead must be placed against it.
Step 4. The grip should rest in the grip support
Step 5. Take your readings from the scale point touching the end of the grip.
See? Here is a difference between what we did in the ruler method and in the USGA method. Here, we take the end of the grip, rather than the edge of the grip as the final reading point.
Some club measuring devices can give you digital readings, others use a scale for measurement. In this method, you can get an additional 1/8” club length.
Both of these methods are correct and have their own significance to different users.
For more on the USGA golf club measuring technique, read here.
How to measure putters?
The USGA method we talked about doesn’t apply to putters. The ruler method can be used for putters.
Instead of the heel, the ruler is placed beside the center of the putter. This means your ruler must be placed along the shaft to the ground.
The ruler must be placed behind the club, and the final reading must be taken from the edge of the grip cap.
To Sum it up…
We have discussed in details two methods of measuring the golf club length. Although there are other methods, these two methods will be essential to get the job done.
Club lengths might vary person to person, so it’s better to take expert opinion and support. Custom fitters can get the job done faster and easier.
For those looking to take things on their own hand and know exactly what their clubs’ lengths are, this guide will be sufficient.
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