Iron: The one iron club is a little over forty inches in length. Each iron falls half an inch with each size until you reach the nine iron which measures in at a little over thirty-six inches. Differences in irons can also occur due to shaft material. Typically, steel shafts are one inch shorter than graphite shafts.
Did you know that irons designed for men are also usually one inch longer compared to the standard size of irons designed for women? Three Wood: This club measures in at forty-two inches, which is two inches shorter than other types of woods. Putter: The standard length of a putter is thirty-four inches, however, the length of a putter is measured much differently than irons.
A center-shafted model is not measured to the bottom of the hosel like other clubs. Now that you know about the standard length of the basic clubs in a set, you will need to match the length and style to your golf swing in order to determine the proper bend and flex.
With a driver, the longer the club shaft, the further the distance. The putter you use should provide total control and accuracy. Putter length will, of course, affect both accuracy and control, which is why using the correct length is so important. Before you buy a new putter, you should also consider your playing style because your technique is a huge factor when it comes to picking out the perfect putter.
Keep in mind, if you order custom clubs, the shaft of the clubs will be designed so that the flex you were fitted for will match the length of the clubs. If you decide to just alter your current set of clubs, this will change the feel and flex of the clubs.
The weight of the clubs will increase with length. By the way, my driver is probably about inches without distance loss as well. After a fortyfive-year layoff from the game, I decided this past summer to give it another whirl at age Somehow I managed to hit a few decent scores with them. One of my first thoughts is that I should look for longer clubs than what I swung in My wrist-to-floor measurement is Any suggestions as the what my driver length and 5-iron length should be?
The old standard driver length of Darryl, welcome back to the game! I cannot give you a very precise answer about the length you ought to use without being familiar with your posture and swing, but if you are more comfortable and achieve better ball striking with longer clubs, then the proof is in the pudding!
I currently have a gentleman taking lessons who recently came back to the game like you, and he has been using his old Wilson blades. I appreciate the respect of the heritage of golf, and I hope both he and you really enjoy your return to the game but while I am suspicious of the lengths of modern clubs, the improvements in club-head designs and shafts in recent years are amazing and helpful. My guess is that you will struggle to achieve results with the older equipment that you could with newer equipment, regardless of the length.
Best wishes and good luck! I started out as a lefty and I was alright, I found out I could swing a golf club both ways. I was better at righty. So I switched. I was playing a round of golf when I decided to choke up a little bit on all my clubs… I was hitting the ball straighter farther with accuracy. I was amazed on something so small could do so much.
All I have to say is the club length matters the most when your not the tallest person. Great article, thanks for the information. I wonder if simply gripping down on my irons would be worth trying. My question is, should I grip down to the point where the lie of my irons is somewhat flush with the ground at address?
My advice until then is to choke down on ALL your clubs and see how it works for you. IF you get the results you want, then you KNOW cutting down your clubs will do the same thing, only a little better. Shorter clubs WILL help with the issue of the toe being off the ground at address too much, but your stance will also have an effect on this.
Standing a little taller with less knee bend might help as well. Hard to give more advice without seeing your setup position. I hope this helps a bit until John can post something.
Aww man Don, I wish you would have made that recommendation sooner. For good reason too, there have been lot of people who seem way to excited about chopping up their clubs. Thanks Don. I will continue to work on it because it feels like I have more control by gripping down. As you said, it makes the sole of the club lay flush on the ground. Thanks again. As for the club soling in a flush manner—that is definitely ideal, but the reality is that most people do not return the club to the same lie angle as they start the swing.
You might want to get some tape for the sole of the club and see which part of the club is contacting the ground during actual swings. This is one of the main things they do when you have a good iron fitting, they make sure the center of the sole touches the ground and not the toe or heel. Keep at it with gripping down on your clubs and you should see an improvement with a bit of practice. With the advancement of FALL and Winter not far behind, now would be a great time to do some testing with Shorter clubs.
Now is a great time to see if shorter clubs in your bag would be an improvement for your game. If you decide that Shorter clubs are what you need, you will have the off season to have your clubs shortened or have new clubs built to shorter lengths. Don and John, Thanks for the advice and information. Hi John, loverd your article. I just got an Ping i20 driver for Christmas based on my request and specs based on a fitting. I felt my hands were not getting through, so, in frustration, I choked up inches and swung away.
My hands got through easily and the ball had my normal slight draw. I cut back to What do you think? Hi, Steve. Thanks for reading and commenting. If you scrolled through the other comments on this article, you will see that a lot of people are having the same epiphanies when it comes to club lengths. Have the results you saw after Christmas held up in more practice sessions? But if you can get the same shaft in a shorter version at little cost, then more power to you! Good luck, and happy new year!
I hit 8 fairways nearly all my drives in were in playable positions. That is a big improvement for me. After a while it was mental hard to feel confident because I did not trust my driving. With the new approach, I found myself expecting to hit a good drive and was able to relax! Choking up works, but there is some uncertainty on how much to choke up. Of course, once my driving was under control, I noticed that I have been hitting my approaches pretty well, but missing most greens slightly left.
I like your idea of experimenting on the range and marking the grip where you choke down. Keep up the good work, and good luck on the approach shots! Really glad that I found this article about something that not many fitters actually want to touch.
I have always felt that standard clubs are too long for me. The articles on the internet ends up about the driver length, but yours is about the fact that the irons is too long as well. The most common thing I hear is that everything will be the same if I just play flatter clubs, well, thats ok with me, but my longest irons is like swinging a 1 or 2 iron for a person with the normal wrist to floor length. So my 7 iron is like hitting a 4 or 5 iron in feel of length, and as everyone know — thats a lot harder to hit well.
Im a 1 handicapper but without solid shots. I can play at my hcp and below that cause of im straight and chip and put ok. But I tend to hit the ball towards the toe on the club, not center and the most common fail is a fat shot — that I really hate!
Im 40 years old and not that loose longer, so I have to take it from there. But my guess is that I have this swing that everyone think is quite good, but not perfect cause playing with too long clubs all my life.
I play some Ping s59 with Shimada Pro shaft in stiff flex, maybe a little stiffer and the swingweight is D1,5 and D2 and D4 on W and The 58 is D8. This is made by Pings rep with the tuning ports. I do also play -2,25 degrees flat orange dot on 4-W and brown -3 on 52 and So move down on shaftlength make them a little flatter and I can hit them better from fairway.
But… After the change to shorter shafts I am now on the edge to cut them down further. I do feel that the clubs got a little weird balancepoint and feels headheavy. This cause of the standard swingweight for theese clubs is D0 but they are both shortened and heavier than standard -so the head in itself is a lot more heavy than it was from the beginning.
But what happens to the balancepoint? Will that be all messed up? Christian, hello to you in Sweden! Thanks for reading my article and responding. As a compensation, golfers then learn to chicken-wing or pull the left arm out of the shot, which can cause contact on the toe.
As for cutting your clubs down, I cannot predict the exact results. Yes, you can count on the swing-weight dropping, and there are likely to be modest effects on the flex and balance of the clubs.
This is the problem with the way clubs are manufactured. But I recommend you find a fitter to help you get your clubs balanced and weighted in ways you like, at whatever length you want—even if they do not understand or agree with the shorter clubs. Very interesting and informative topic. I was wondering if my irons were too long for me. Love how they feel, but I need to hover the club above the ball to make good contact and avoid fat shots.
Without seeing my swing I know it is tough to really say if I should cut them down or not but certainly some experimentation with choking up makes sense. One other thing, last year I went into to a golf fitter for an analysis of my set of clubs. He said I should use a I never changed anything then and now wonder after reading your article and all the posts that might be the way to go.
I do have a backup set of irons and another driver I that I just might cut down. Hi, Mike. Sorry for the slow response, but it sounds like you are on the right track.
I wonder if you have already experimented with your backup set? I would definitely encourage it. Your contact problems could be the result of swing-plane or balance issues, but sometimes the shorter clubs help straighten those things out. Good luck with the process, and if you get a chance, update us on what you figure out!
I just purchased a set of MP irons after getting fitted. With both sets, I found myself placing the ball far back into my stance, almost off by back foot, in order to make decent contact with a straight flight.
I have always had a natural draw but could not find it after becoming a new Dad and giving up golf for a couple of years. I found a set of the MPs that had only been used on the range in the specs I was fitted for but 1 degree flat.
I hit them on a makeshift range I have put together beside my house and thought the felt incredible, there was something off. They simply felt too long and clunky at times. It has made a world of difference and is much easier to hit down into the ball. I could possible have taken more off, but shafts were also pured and thought I can take more off later if necessary.
During each fitting, I did start out with a standard length club and found something I liked. The sales staff then discovered I was seriously interested and immediately swapped me out with a longer shaft and began their fitting process. Again, like everyone else I assumed I needed to work my swing into the clubs. I just simply discovered I was making better contact when moved my hands further down the grip but my hands were too big for the grips.
As another side note, I also turned in my 56 degree wedge to get reshafted with an S I attempted to make it work, but when I transition between clubs, I either hit fat or thin shots. Well, I thought I would share my experience and the discovery I made in regards to shortening my irons. Jason, thanks for the comments, and everything you said makes sense. The shape of shot you play and the ball position you mention all fit each other and suggest you play an inside-out path—which might fit better with a slightly flatter lie.
Shortening the club effectively makes it play flatter. I use larger grips for similar reasons even though I have a fairly small hand. So, keep up the good work and good luck as you move onto the driver! John, Wow! Thank you so much! I have learned more in this one article than I have in the past two months of researching about club length. I am a beginner and yet I have known my clubs are too long for me. In my opinion the no-named brand was too long for me, so now these new ones are extremely long to me.
I am physically fit with average strength and have no other details to give you because this is all so new to me. I absolutely love golf so far and want to learn the proper techniques, but with the proper equipment for my size. What would you recommend? Thank you again for such a great article and also for your time.
I truly appreciate it. Having said that, you might be able to find a local club-repair person who would be willing to help you by cutting them down and then adjusting the swing-weight so that they still have good feel. I wish you the best, and if you are ever passing through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia stop by for a lesson!
Ron, I am not surprised by what you have found. The main things that change when you shorten clubs are the swing-weight and shaft flex, though the flex is changed a lot more by trimming the tip end rather than the butt end of the shaft. I have cut off many clubs, and only one set seemed like it did not react well to the change. In the end, I think you will be ok shortening your clubs that much, but it might not be a bad idea to have a backup plan in case. I think yours is a wonderful and insightful article.
One question I have is should all my irons be the same length from the PW to the 3 iron? If not, then what increments should they be increased per club? Tim, thanks for commenting. Traditionally clubs get a half-inch shorter as you go up from each number to the next higher number although clubs often stop getting shorter after 9-iron. Having said that, I have found that the loft has a bigger impact on the distance the club provides than the length of the club—so if you struggle a bit with the long irons, feel free to try choking down a little extra.
Went to the range today and choked down about one and a half inches. I struck 40 of 45 balls very well, and hit about by normal length. I generally hit a very slight fade, yet most of my irons were straight to a slight draw.
One thing I never do is hit a draw with my driver, so I was pretty surprised at this result. I did hit five balls a bit fat, which perplexed me since I rarely do that. I attributed that to bending forward more along with lack of reps hitting this way. Will report later. Usually you want to be sure at that point to prevent the weight from moving toward the ball to prevent the fat shots.
This is a great article and really makes a lot of sense! I am a shorter golfer standing at 5foot4 with a WTF of I have gotten my clubs shortened 1. Even with these clubs shortened I still find myself choking down almost 2 inches!
So here are my questions for you John.. If I cut my irons down which were regular flex shaft down to my desired length will they actually play like an extra stiff shaft? Could or should I consider buying a more whippy shaft like a female set and cut them down so the flex then plays like a regular flex shaft?
Also I have a swingspeed of about mph with my driver and a handicap of Hi, Joe. Sorry for the late response. Golf season keeps me busy! About cutting down your irons and changing the flex: cutting from the butt end of the club does not change the flex nearly as much as trimming from the head-end.
Good luck, and if you have a chance, let me know how it goes! Was very skeptical about my Titleist fitting yesterday. However this time around, fitting instructor suggested Not anymore thanks to you! Ken, thanks for writing, and I hope the new sticks treat you well! One thing to make you feel better—while you cannot return your irons, it would not be hard or expensive to extend them a little if you feel lost with the shorter irons.
I find it interesting that somebody actually fitted you for under-length clubs—pretty rare! As for the over-swing, come on down to the Shenandoah Valley and we will take care of that! No more trying to adjust my swing for the clubs.
Directional control, distance and overall accuracy has never been better. Now, if I could only putt…. This is good advice, I visited my local Golf shop last week with my standard Taylor Made RKZ driver and asked if it was too long as I felt it was, every shot is sliced right, choke down 2 inches and I get a much better shot with no lost distance. I asked them why if that was the case did they cut down my irons? And also, how can the head of the driver sit true if I have the shaft at such a low angle, it makes me have to completely change my swing to drive from that of all my other clubs.
Recent update. On my annual trip to Florida I used a set of irons that have a 5 iron at I typically use either a 38 or What a difference it felt to me. It was easier to get through the ball and everything was more solid with more accuracy.
As I got used to it, distance was near or just a little as than home set. The So that may be the reason there. I am convinced that my coming out of posture, casting and inconsistency is related to clubs that are too long. I even choked up on the hybrids and hit them better. It was nice to feel more control of my game. I have not ever needed distance but always wanted more control. I followed this thread awhile back and revisited after my revelation of sorts.
Thanks again for your thoughts on this. Mike, thanks for rejoining the conversation! My reply is a few months past due, so I wonder if you shortened your sticks when you returned to CT? Hope you are well and able to enjoy some golf! Whats funny is that you do not see a lot of main stream articles on choking down or cutting down your IRONS. Hanani, thanks for your feedback. Hopefully you can achieve this with the arms hanging freely and fully extended below the shoulders.
Hi John, I know this article has been out a while but ai just recently found it. Your thoughts really rang true for me. I had my driver cit down to 43 and my 3W to 41 last week. It has made all the difference in the world. Last week I drove the green on a yard par four. Thanks John. Simple, common sense recommendations like this are the key to getting more people playing better which in the end can only,further the sport. Eddy, thanks for the nice comments. And unfortunately our industry needs all the help it can get right now, so make sure you get out there and keep playing golf!!
Thanks again, and good luck with your game! I have been able to play with them, but I have to make more adjustments then I see the other golfers I am with make. They feel way too long for me!!! I choke up quite a bit and my game has been pretty inconsistent. Hi, Jineen. Thanks for reading the article. Are you fairly strong, and do you have pretty good speed to your swing?
My concern for the junior clubs is not the length, which will likely be much better for you, but the flexibility of the shafts. Hello John, I happen to try choking up on the club during my last round of golf. I found that every shot WAS more accurate and consistent. I dropped 8 strokes on that day.. One from and the New one from Which one would be a better read? What books are they? In the meantime, congrats on a great round, and I hope you are continuing to find success!
John, I hesitate to give a specific number without knowing anything about your swing or your clubs, but all things being the same, you will probably feel better about your clubs if they are a full inch shorter. I still think of this a lot. I have changed clubs since last time — about a year ago. Well, it had worked so to speak that im not strike the ball worse, maybe a little better.
But not perfect! I still think that you are up to something and this is not a misjudging question at all. But there must be more pros out there that by wrist to floor measurement would benefit from shorter irons as well. Very few amateurs have this same appearance at address, and I think it shows up in their swing planes and quality of contact.
Picture Jim Furyk at address. After many hours on line searching for help, this may be the first information that I have found that may help me get my game on track.
So do I flex the knees or bend more from the hips? My club swing weight is up in the e6 range on irons and d2 on driver which is probably my biggest problem club. Is shorter even a possibility here? Any advise or pics you can send me to that would show me someone of my rough size in a good set up position?
Ready advice from Rickie Fowler who I have met and could fit in my back pocket and trying to apply it to my body does not correlate well.
I am stuck at shooting 90 and am willing to do the work to get to a Thanks for reading and commenting! I have been reading and listening to too many people and have myself all buggered. After a season of being all over the map with my driver, I recently cut it down from Seems like all the new drivers are so long and light that I find I cannot be consistent in direction.
Tired of the dispersion, I am finding better center contact thus distance is as good and I am hitting more fairways. Good discussion here that I learned from. Mike, thanks for checking in. Hope you continue to find improvements in your game!
This is a great article. I have been thinking my clubs are too long for some time. I hit a low right-to-left shot every time.
As with drivers, shaft length will determine how much control you have over your shot but you do not want to be hunched over or out of good hitting position. So stand with your feet again shoulder width apart and hold the club with your arms extended so your hands are again in front of your belt buckle. From here, check how the head of the club is resting on the ground. With longer hitting irons 2, 3, 4 the club head will rest completely on the ground, while with your others 8, 9, PW the toe will be more elevated.
Bryan Rose is an experienced journalist and web writer, spending nearly 12 years in the publishing industry. Rose works for a variety of Demand Studios websites, writing mostly for ehow. By Bryan Rose. Playing with clubs that are too long or too short can hurt your game.
However, the longevity of your golf clubs is entirely dependent on how frequently you play and how well you care for your clubs. Understandably, golf clubs do wear out over time and at different rates, because some clubs are used much more than others.
Generally speaking, wedges and your golf driver will be the first to go from a set of golf clubs. For instance, wedges need to be replaced because the grooves will wear out, and drivers can lose impact if you hit them frequently on the range and course.
On the other hand, long irons may last for many years as they are rarely used. In comparison, back in the day, golfers would expect a club to last a short period of time as the various materials used in golf clubs and golf balls were simply not hard-wearing enough. Shafts were often made out of hickory and balls were wooden too, meaning golf equipment was prone to breaking.
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