This element of your golf club is constantly being ignored

Let’s talk about club length. You may have heard of things like “measure your wrist to the floor and call it a day”. Maybe you even Googled a chart, measured yourself in the mirror, and thought, yes, I need to be half an inch above the standard. Quick and easy, right?

Not exactly.

First, let’s clear this problem: there is no real “standard” length. One company’s standard 7 iron may be half an inch longer than another. That’s why relying on your specs from the charts, or assuming that the club you’ve been playing in the right way can cause you trouble. The truth is, the fit club length is more subtle than that.

So if you dial in the gear carefully, you will need to dig deeper. Let’s unravel why proper fit and why “standard length” may not be your standard.

There is no general standard for club length

Before we understand how your body affects your ideal specifications, let’s address a problem that most golfers don’t realize: Club length is not standardized throughout the industry.

Seriously. What Titorist 6-Iron thinks is a “standard” that may be longer than Mizuno, shorter than PING, and completely different from what Cobra or Colaway calls the standard. Some brands build longer axes as a whole. Others vary by club line; the “game improvement” iron usually has a longer touch than the “player” iron to squeeze out some extra distance.

So if you fit one brand’s “standard length” and then order another brand from the rack thinking it will match…good luck. You may even be waving something completely different without even knowing it.

This is also why wrist-to-floor measurements (and those online calculators) can cause some misleading. They are citing a universal chart… usually based on a “standard” version of a brand…it may match what you actually swings.

The meaning of the story: Don’t chase numbers. Chase for fit.

This is not how tall you are – this is how tall you are

One of the biggest misunderstandings about golf is that tall people automatically need longer clubs, while shorter people need shorter clubs. However, just one height does not tell the whole story. What really matters is your body proportions and how to move the club.

You can be any of the following:

This is where the classic “wrist to floor” approach starts to collapse. It ignores your settings, posture, flexibility, swing planes and rhythm. It actually affects everything you pass the club to the ball. Yes, you can use this measurement as a baseline, but far from the exact science.

Important variables

When you pass the proper accessories, the fitter doesn’t just take out the size tape and call it a day. They are looking at several key elements, including:

Pose at address: Are you standing upright or bent from the depths of your hips?

Arm length:Lengthier arms mean you may be more comfortable with shorter clubs even if you are tall.

Swing style: Are you playing with a flat swing or more upright? Club length can affect your swing plane.

Attack angle and consistency: Are you finding the center of your face, or are you living on your toes or heels?

Lie Corner: Length and lies tied to hips. If you change one, the other usually needs to be adjusted as well.

Club speed and control: Sometimes short, which can give you more control. Longer time may increase the speed – but at how much?

A good fitter will test multiple lengths, check your influence location, view the dispersion, dial in the direction of your start and adjust from there. The goal is not to get you into the charts, but to use the club as a unique swing DNA for golfers.

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Don’t let your self choose your specifications

We understand. No one wants to hear that they may need a shorter club. But if that is what helps you rinse it regularly, what’s the problem? Length is not a badge of honor, but a tool. Like any tool, it works best when it works.

Tour players get it. A large number of professionals play shorter than standard irons because it helps them control flights and find the center of their face more consistently. If they don’t use longer axes to chase distances, why?

So, what should you do?

Become healthy. period.

No, I’m not talking about it once and once in the big box store. That’s not really suitable. Find a fitter who knows all the pieces; length, lies, weight, bending and dynamic balance interact with each other. Watch your swing, ask questions, make adjustments and help you find the best version of the device.

Because when the length is right, you will feel it. You will stand on the ball and everything will…be right. Suddenly, the swing became a little free and the golf became easier.

Ready to find the correct length? Book your fit at your local True Spec Golf, a sister company to Golf.com.