How Long Should Golf Clubs Be For My Height: Perfect Match

Shopping for golf clubs can be an exhausting experience. Not only are there countless different brands and new clubs to choose from, but you also need to know what your ideal club length is. It’s not just as simple as walking out of the store with a one-size-fits all option.

There are a few things you’ll need to consider before you leave with the right golf club length for you. Confused? Overwhelmed? Don’t worry – we’re here to help. On this page, we’ll help you find a golf club or golf clubs that fit your measurements perfectly.

We’ll cover why golf club length matters, how to measure yourself for golf clubs, and a few other things that are worth keeping in mind. Read on to clear up your confusion!

Golf Club Shaft Length and Why it Matters

The shaft length of your golf clubs is a big deal. If you’re not using a golf club that’s right for you, your swing speed, flight path, and myriad other parts of your game will suffer. Even accurately hitting the golf ball can be challenging if you’re using a club length that’s too short or too long.

Swing Speed

Your golf swing is one of the most important aspects of your technique, especially while you’re first getting to grips with the game. Practicing with a golf club that’s too long or too short can make it that much harder to entrench good technique early on.

Find golf clubs that are the right length, and your golf swing will thank you for it!

Launch Angle

The angle at which you strike and then launch the golf ball is another critical factor to consider when trying to improve as a golfer. The length of the club you’re using matters a great deal in this regard. Your lie angle and launch angle are both tied to your golf club length.

This is why it’s so important to get your measurements right!

Comfort

When using your golf clubs, you should be as comfortable as possible. This isn’t just so you have a good time while playing – although this is important too. It’s also about making sure every part of your technique is perfect.

You want to make solid contact with the ball every time you swing at it. You also want your lie angle and overall golf game to be as good as possible. You’ll need the proper length for your clubs to achieve these goals.

Correct Length for Golf Clubs – Factors That Change Things

Buying golf clubs can feel needlessly complicated to the uninitiated. There are countless terms, measurements, and other factors to keep in your head while shopping. In this section, we’ll run through a few basic things to keep in mind.

The more clued up you get now, the easier it will be to find the ideal length of club for you!

The Particular Clubs You’re Choosing

Do you need a longer club? A shorter club? Something pretty standard? Your height and other measurements aren’t the only thing to think about here. The type of club you’re choosing is another factor that can be just as important.

Your preferred brand also comes into play here – different companies stick do different standards and designs when developing their sets. Your final club size will be determined by a huge variety of different factors that you’ll have to weigh up as a consumer.

Swing Posture

While there’s a ‘correct’ way to swing a golf club, there’s a huge amount of variation when it comes to how people hold themselves when playing. Even among professional golfers, there can be a ton of difference from person to person.

If possible, it’s a good idea to talk to a coach or club fitter and get some pointers about your swing posture. Understanding how ‘standard’ or atypical your posture is can help you navigate the varying lengths you’re likely to encounter when shopping.

At the very least, you’ll get a good idea about which areas of your technique might need more attention.

Height and Wrist to Floor Measurement

Tall golfers need a different shaft length to shorter golfers – it’s as simple as that. The distance from your wrist to the floor will also determine the size of club that will work best for you.

We explore these measurements in more detail further down this page, but suffice it to say that your proportions as a player are perhaps the biggest factor in choosing which size golf clubs to buy.

Men’s or Women’s Clubs?

What’s the difference between men’s and women’s clubs? What if you’re a particularly tall woman or a short man? In our opinion, the classification of clubs into men’s and women’s categories is a bit reductive.

The main difference between men’s and women’s clubs is their length and weight. If you’re tall and quite strong, you’ll probably want longer, slightly heavier clubs. If you’re shorter and have less upper body strength, shorter and lighter graphite shafts might work best.

Being a man or a women isn’t really a factor here – it’s about your proportions.

Shaft Flex and its Relationship to Shaft Length

Shaft flex is another thing to keep in mind when deciding how long you want your golf clubs to be. A longer shaft usually has a higher level of shaft flex. Some manufacturer’s try to account for this with their longer clubs, but there’s only so much that can be done.

So, what impact does a shaft’s flex have? In short, everything. Your accuracy, ball speed, flight path, and many other factors are all changed by how flexible your club’s shaft is.

It’s not necessarily a question of more or less flex being a good or a bad thing – it’s about finding a flex that works for your swing style. This is why actually trying out some test clubs before buying is so important.

Standard Length Clubs – Average Shaft Length for Golf Clubs

So, how long should your golf clubs be? In this section, we’ll run through the standard lengths you’ll probably need to look out for when shopping. We’ll also cover how to scale things up and down depending on your height, wrist to floor measurements, and other factors.

Driver Shaft Length

Most golfers fall within the average height bracket for their sex. For this reason, it’s worth starting with the average driver length and then deviating as and when it’s necessary to do so. The average driver shaft length is 45 inches for men and 44 inches for women.

Keep in mind, however, that taller golfers or shorter players will of course need different lengths – being a man or a woman isn’t the whole picture here by any stretch of the imagination.

If the average driver length isn’t right for you we discuss how to scale things up or down a bit later in this article.

Putter Length of the Club

So, what’s the correct length of the club for putters in most cases? For most people, this falls somewhere between 32 and 35 inches. As stated above, your height and wrist to floor measurement are the biggest factors here.

Your overall posture and putting style matter too.

Iron Shaft Length

The length of the club on your iron(s) will depend on whether you’re using a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 iron. The brand in question also comes into play. In general, however, the average length for this kind of golf club is between 33 and 40 inches.

Use the manufacturer’s guidance and your own measurements to make the best decision for you. Talking to a sales associate that you trust can go a long way here too. Further down this page, we explore the benefits of a custom fitting.

Buying custom clubs (or at the very least, clubs that have been chosen to suit your measurements) is one of the best ways to ensure you’re using the right equipment for the job. While you don’t have to splash out serious cash when you’re a beginner, it is important to make sure that any golf club you use is the right length.

Measuring for Golf Clubs

But what if the ‘standard length’ isn’t right for you? How to you find a golf club that works for your height and wrist to floor measurement? In this section, we’ll explore how to scale up or down and find a golf club length that is perfect for you.

Keep in mind that in some cases, it may take some trial and error before you find the right length golf clubs. Everyone holds themselves a little differently. For this reason, it can take time before you’ve found something that’s perfect.

Height

A golfer’s height is probably the most important factor that can influence the correct golf club length for them. As a very general rule, you should add between 1/4 and 1/2 inch of length to your club for every inch taller you are than a club’s standard size.

For every inch shorter you are than a club’s standard size, you should instead subtract between 1/4 and 1/2 an inch from the shaft length that you buy. Keep in mind that this is far from a hard and fast rule.

It’s best to actually hold and practice with any clubs you’re thinking of buying.

The following is a broad list of steps to follow when choosing clubs based on your static measurements:

1. Find the ‘standard’ height and associated club length recommended by your manufacturer
2. Measure your height as accurately as possible
3. Compare your height to the ‘standard’ height given by your manufacturer
4. Add or subtract 1/4 or 1/2 an inch

Golfer’s Height and Suggested Shaft Length:

5’3 – 5’5 – plus 1 or 2 inches

5’4 – 5’5 – minus 3/4 or 1.5 inches

5’5 – 5’6 – minus 1/2 or 1 inch

5’6 – 5’7 – minus 1/4 or 1/2 an inch

5’8 – 6’1 – Standard length suggested by manufacturer (hypothetical figures)

6’1 – 6’2 – plus 1/4 or 1/2 an inch

6’2- 6’3 – plus 1/2 or 1 inch

6’3 – 6’4 – plus 3/4 or 1.5 inches

6’4 – 6’5 – plus 1 or 2 inches

Standard Length Confusions – Talk to the Manufacturer

Confused? Don’t worry, this stuff is far from straightforward if you’re new to the sport. As there’s a ton of variation when it comes to which standards and lengths you’re likely to be dealing with, our advice is to talk directly with the manufacturer or brand representative whenever possible.

Provide details about your height and other measurements and see what advice they have for you. Many brands provide their own sizing charts or fitting services that can help you find what you’re looking for.

Wrist to Floor Measurement

Your wrist to floor measurement is another important factor to keep in mind. Two golfers of identical heights might need a different shaft length based on the distance from their wrist to the floor. Follow the steps outlined below to get an accurate wrist to floor measurement:

1. Stand in an upright position with your arms hanging straight down
2. Have someone else measure from the crease of your wrist down to the floor
3. Wear your golfing trainers or shoes while taking these measurements

Unfortunately, the standard length to keep in mind can change depending on the brand you’re buying from. The more static measurements you take, however, the clearer your situation will become.

Fingertip to Floor measurement

Another one to add to your list of static measurements is your fingertip to floor measurement. This is similar to the wrist to floor measurements we discussed above – you’ll just be starting from your fingertip instead.

Follow these basic steps to take the right measurement:

1. Stand in a relaxed, upright position with your hands hanging loosely
2. Let someone else measure from your fingertips down to the floor
3. Don’t forget to wear normal/ your golf shoes during this

Add this measurement to your arsenal of data that you’ll use to find your desired length when shopping. Remember that the right shaft length will vary from club to club and brand to brand.

Arm Length

Your proportionate arm lengths are yet another thing to think about when finding the right golf shaft length for your requirements. While it can seem tedious to collect all this information, it will give you the best possible chance of finding options that work for you.

Follow these basic steps to measure your arm length before buying new clubs:

1. Let your arms hang naturally while standing upright in a relaxed position
2. Have a friend or colleague measure from your shoulders to your fingertips
3. Try not to tense or bend your arms during this process

Find the Right Clubs – Online Calculator

If only there was just one standard club length for every brand that scaled seamlessly to your height and measurements! Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Our advice is to use an online calculator like this one.

We love this option as it talks you through all the measurements you’ll have to take and also how to take them accurately. Once you know your static measurements like your arm length, wrist to floor, and fingertip to floor measurements, you’ll be able to enter them into the calculator and see recommendations for the right clubs for you.

Get a Custom Fitting if You Can

We of course appreciate that this option will be prohibitively expensive for some people, but we think a custom fitting can be a great way to find clubs that will be the appropriate length for you. If you trust your local club fitter or golf shops, see if they offer fitting services at a price that works for you.

Your height, wrist to floor measurements, swing style, experience level, and several other factors will all be taken into account. In some cases, state of the art technology will be used to accurately track your various characteristics as a player.

All of this information is combined with an expert’s opinion to make a series of recommendations about the kind of clubs that will work best for you – this includes the length of the club.

It’s also possible to have an existing set of clubs custom fitted to your requirements. If you’re worried that your current set is too long or too short, you might be able to have the shafts lengthened or shortened.

This will of course cost money but it can be well worth it if implemented correctly.

More: What if my golf clubs are too short?

Golf Simulator

Trying out some clubs in a simulator is another great way to determine the lengths, flex, lie angle, and designs that work best for you. If you can’t find any club fitters that you trust nearby, this can be a great alternative in our opinion.

In most cases, you’ll be taking a few test swings in a controlled environment and seeing read outs that detail your performance each time. With a little patience, this can really help you narrow down your search and identify the ideal length for you.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve found the information above helpful. The bottom line is that the taller you are, the longer your clubs need to be. The following factors are important when making a decision:

• Your preferences as a golfer
• Your height
• Your wrist-floor length
• Your fingertip to floor measurement
• Your posture
• The length of your arms
• The type and brand of clubs you’re considering