Playing with a golf club that is the proper length for you is very important.
Only when a golf club is the right length can you perfect your swing.
With the wrong length club in your hand, you will start to run into issues, and some swing flaws will be created.
These flaws will lead to long term issues.
Knowing the golf club length you need and how to adjust the length of your clubs is crucial.
In this guide, we will explain how to tell if your golf clubs are too short and what to do about it if they are.
How To Tell If Your Golf Clubs Are Too Short?
If your golf clubs are too short, there will be some telltale signs in your golf game.
Of course, there are always other issues that could cause you to miss the golf ball in specific ways, but traditionally speaking, these are sure-fire ways to tell that your clubs are too short.
1. Measurement
If you are not sure if your clubs are standard length, then it is a good idea to measure them.
Some people purchase used clubs from a friend or playing partner and have no idea what the history of the clubs is.
A set of clubs may have been ordered a half-inch short originally.
Through the years, people forget, and they sell them as standard length.
If you don’t know if your clubs are standard length, tall, or shorter than the standard you must measure and find out.
Once you have that measurement, you can compare it to the standard sizes for a golf club.
It is usually a good idea to measure the seven iron as that is a prevalent club to be able to find measurements for.
2. Swing Path
When a golf club is too short, it can create a lot of room between the player and the club.
This room allows a person to take the club back on a very inside path.
This inside path can cause you to get off track and will potentially cause a few different types of mis-hits.
People that start the club too far inside may end up hitting a hook, or they can also hit a block out to the right.
Where the ball goes will depend on whether or not a player releases the golf club.
Taking the club back slightly inside is not always considered to be a bad thing; however, if you get it too far inside, you will end up in trouble.
3. Posture
If your golf club is too short for you, then your stance will be too bent over.
Your stance will be this way because you are reaching down for the golf ball.
The problem with a poor posture like this is that it will ruin your spine angle.
Once your spine angle is off, you may have trouble rotating correctly.
Another problem with poor posture is that your weight will not be evenly distributed.
When you are reaching for the golf ball, the weight will go to your toes.
When weight is on your toes, you may feel as though you will be tilting or tipping forward while you are swinging.
This will be difficult if you are trying to keep your balance, and you may end up with some very poor shot results.
4. Tempo Too Fast
You may also notice that your golf swing tempo will get a bit too fast.
Since the club is too short for you, you may be able to swing it faster.
Although swinging a golf club fast can be a good thing for clubhead speed, if it is too fast, your tempo will get thrown off.
When your tempo is off, it is hard to be consistent and repeat the same swing over and over.
5. Losing Distance
Technically speaking, a longer golf club should be able to go further than a shorter golf club.
You will want to play with a golf club that is as long as you can handle.
If a golf club is too short for you, you may find that you lack in the distance.
If you are a taller player that gets plenty of clubhead speed, but you can’t keep up with your friends, the club may be too short.
How To Tell If Your Golf Clubs Are Too Long?
If it turns out that the issues we described are the opposite of the problems you are having, then your golf clubs may be too long.
If your golf clubs are too long, then you will notice trouble with some of the following things.
- Your posture will be too upright
- The takeaway will be too far outside on the backswing
- Ball flight could be high and also to the left
- The shaft may feel very heavy
- You may hit shots off the toe of the golf club
What Length Golf Club Do I Need?
If you are playing a standard length golf club and you feel it is too short, you are probably taller than 6’1”.
Golfers that are over 6’1” are going to need golf clubs that are extended.
The extensions usually start in ¼ inch increments.
As you go up an inch, you will want to add a ¼ to a ½ inch to the length of the club.
Golfers that are 6’1-6’4 will need a solid inch added to the length of their golf clubs.
If you are less than 6’1” but feel as though your golf clubs are too short, they may be shorter than standard.
Golfers who are less than 6’1” are not going to want to play with clubs that are extended by very much.
You may be able to make adjustments to your posture and swing to get something to feel better, but playing with an extended club is not always the best solution.
What Can I Do If Golf Clubs Are Too Short?
If your golf clubs are too short, you have two basic options, purchase a new set or have the clubs extended.
Purchase New Clubs
If you think that your golf clubs are too short, you may need to purchase new clubs that are extended.
Before you do this, then you may want to go and get fitted.
Getting fitted for a set of golf clubs will ensure that you have the proper equipment in your hands this time around.
Another critical reason to get fitted is to make sure that the fact that your golf clubs are too short is genuinely the reason your game is struggling.
You may think they are too short, and then when you go for the fitting, it turns out there are some other issues with your game.
Have Clubs Extended
If you don’t want to purchase an entire set of new golf clubs, you can also have your clubs extended.
When adding length to your golf clubs, you will end up changing the weight, the swing weight, the lie angle, and the feel.
If you do not know how to do this, you could make some significant mistakes in the process.
It is best to have a certified club fitter do your golf club fitting for you.
The fitter is capable of making sure you get clubs that are the perfect measurement for you and will help your golf game.
When golf club fitters extend golf clubs, they do not always need to put a brand new golf club in.
There are extensions they can do that will lengthen the club without having to replace the shaft.
You will have to replace the grips on your club when having clubs extended.
Are Longer Golf Clubs More Money?
Purchasing custom fit golf clubs can be more money.
However, some taller golfers are in luck.
There are golf club manufacturers that make complete sets of golf clubs one inch longer than standard.
This is a quick and easy way to get golf clubs fitted to your height without spending a fortune.
These complete sets are not going to be as high end as the latest releases from a manufacturer, but they are undoubtedly high functioning clubs.
If you want longer golf clubs and you don’t want to pay an upcharge, generally manufacturers will do this if it is the latest release of the club.
How Do I Know The Exact Length Golf Club That I Need?
A custom fitting is the only accurate way to know exactly how long you need a golf club to be.
When you go for a custom fitting, you will be put on a launch monitor, and they will determine all of your specifications.
At a fitting, they will see how your swing, your balance, speed, tempo, and spin are all affected by changing the length of the golf club.
For most taller golfer, they are going to need a more upright lie on a club once it is extended.
You may also need a different golf shaft to make sure that the weighting is correct as well.
Going to a custom fitting will allow you the opportunity to leave with a set of golf clubs that is without a doubt fitted to your game.
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