Club Length Not Based On Height

Finding the right clubs is an important part of advancing your game. Many people go into large, retail stores and expect to find the perfect club just by swinging it a few times. Unfortunately, getting fit for clubs isn't that easy, and it shouldn't be. Our bodies are all different from one another, so each club must be measured and custom fit for us. The same goes for taller golfers and shorter golfers. 

Robert Thistle and James McCormack both sent in questions about finding the right clubs based on their height. They are both 6'4". So, does this mean that they're going to have the same length club? 

Don,

Thanks for the driver length information. How about irons? I’m a new golfer 6’4” tall. I never played when I was younger because the longer clubs I presumed I needed were far too expensive. Now that I’m a little older (67) and clubs are less expensive, I’ve bought a set that is 2” longer.  Should I add the 2 inches to any other clubs I add to my set as I improve? Is there a length formula based on my height?
 
Secondly, are there any of your certified swing instructors in Denver Colorado?
 
Thanks for all the great info, it's helped me get going with the game.
Bob T.

James then followed with his question:

Dear Don,

Your instruction regarding "proper club length" was very helpful. I'm a big guy (6'-4" with 37 1/2" sleeve length). I've been using extra long clubs. When I attempted to swing vertically, I began hitting very THIN SHOTS. Your club length video prompted me to try shorter clubs. As a starting point, I decided to grip down on the shaft about 1 1/2"-2". All of a sudden I'm hitting the ball straight with good trajectory and not falling back on the shot.

Does this make sense to you???

Please respond,
Jim McCormack

So, I've got 2 guys who both list themselves at 6'4". The first thing we've got to do is look at the sleeve length. Since Robert didn't provide his, let's say he has a 33 inch sleeve. Jim said his sleeve length was 37 1/2". So, who needs longer clubs?

Robert, with the shorter arms, would need the longer clubs, even though he's the same height as Jim. The reason for this is because we don't use height as a determining factor for club length. We actually use a wrist to floor measurement. Arm length is a big factor, but some other factors can also come into play. One golfer could have shorter legs and a long torso or the other way around.

Robert also asked if there is a formula for length based on his height? The answer is no, the actual formula is to look at the length from your wrists to the ground. Fitters have charts that have been worked out over time which tells you what you need based on those measurements. 

Here's another example that I've used before. DJ is 6'3" and I'm 5'9". But, the interesting thing is that we have the same arm length (35 inches). 35 inches is a reasonable arm length for DJ, but it's really long for me. So, I play clubs that are anywhere from an inch to two inches short based on today's standards. I've had ladies come to golf schools, and even their clubs are longer than mine. This is just an example of how body parts determine club length, not your height. 

I think the fitters will back me up when I say there is no formula to build clubs based solely on your height. They get it by measuring your wrist to floor length.

A lot of times you can see golfers heels come up off the ground. This is typically because their brain is compensating for the length of the club. By lifting up, it allows for them to straighten the arms out at impact, which wouldn't be possible otherwise. 

The bottom line here is that you need to get to a good fitter, get measured, and get into a set of clubs built specifically for you. Your buddy may be the same height as you, but his clubs are most likely not going to work for you.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST OF PPGS CERTIFIED FITTERS AND INSTRUCTORS!

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.