custom club length

I did a quick check on the internet with those custom club fitting calculator and it said that I need clubs that are half inch shorter in length (I am 5'11'' but I have longish arms). I have tried using shorter clubs before but I feel that it is too short and I actually have hit longer clubs and feel like I can hit them more consistently. The only thing that I prefer to be shorter is the driver as there is more control. I am deciding to go against the grain of the grass and get longer irons at the moment so any comments on that?

I wouldn't go by the chart. Go to your local pro and ask him to check this for you. He'l measure you and use a lie board and he'l be able to give you an accurate specification for your irons. He can also adjust your current irons accordingly if you want.

What website did you use? try www.golfsmith.com and tell me your results because I used the it the other day and didn't know how accurate it would be. So gonna get my irons spec checked by the club pro over winter.

I pretty much tried all the sites. How much by differs slightly but they all say that I should use shorter clubs. I do stand quite upright though and not so much knee bend so thats perhaps why I prefer the slightly longer length with the irons.

What is the ramification when your shaft length is too short. Does it normally mean that you close the club face too early & pull left?

If the club is too long or too upright then the heel of the club will stroke the groung first leading to the clubface closing and a pull.

if the club is too short or too flat then the toe will hit the ground first leading the clubface opening and a cut will result.

A way to ckeck is put masking ta[e or duck tape along the bottom of say your 6 iron and practice hitting off a bit of wood or something similar and check what area wears away first.

I have to say it could be a grave error to trust your fitting to a website that can't see you swing. I've done a lot of the fitting sites and they ALL point me to clubs I've proven I can't hit.

Getting a clubfitter to fit me dynamically has made a huge difference to my iron game. How well do you think I played with a club 3/4 inch too short and 1* too flat? Basically, for me it's the difference between shooting in the 70s most of the time, rather than the low 80s with only an occasional 78.

A clubfitter can bend the lie angle so that it is exactly right and you won't get the effect cct posted about.

Go with what you know to be true and get your irons longer. Proper length is what gives you center hits.

A lot of good players have ditched the 45inch driver for something that gives them more control. You won't lose much distance, if any - but once again get properly fitted.

i was about to make a topic on this


i recently bought some clubs from a website and it said i need an inch shorter, i cant hit them for ****, alot of pull, i can hit my walmart irons better than these expensive ones, im glad these clubs came with a 30 day garauntee cause they are being sent back, as for my driver 1 inch shorter...much better control

Well, I did get the clubs (2nd hand) that I felt was right for me: 1/2 inch longer than standard. I went out and hit with them at the driving range and it certainly did feel much better. My shots were much more consistent. If I went with the online site fitting, then I would have had to get 1/2 inch shorter (and some even recommended one degree flat as well). Although I am on the tall side (181cm or 5'11''), my arms are rather long compared to my height and I think that was the reason why these website recommended it(I think standard clubs are generally made for people who are 5'9'').
I still didnt get it dynamically fitted but I went with what I felt was right a I have tried other people's club that were longer and that standard clubs have alwas felt slightly short. The only thing that is actually shorter is the driver which is at 44.5 inch long and I certainly dont feel as if I have lost any distance with it (at the driving range I was carrying 270 consistently with my new driver).
So a message for those people who are thinking of getting club fitted through websites is, do try to get clubs fitted dynamically first. Just because your height and features are standard doesnt mean that your clubs will be standard.

i had to try out them clubs one more time before i sent them back, i experimented with them trying everything, i figured out my problem, i was too far away from the ball so now im crunched up to the ball i am ripping the ball long and straight....so i dont know...another round before my -1" clubs get sent back

PINY08;

The real objective in determining what your golf club Lie & Length should be is to get as many 'On-Center' hits as poosible. Whenever this is reached, you have the best Lie and Length combination for you.
Simply translated this means you should be hitting the golf ball with the center of the clubface, which by necessity means the center of the sole as well.
Do yourself a big favor, and do what a clubfitter will do for you, since apparently you don't think that visit well-advised, and buy some impact labels, both for the clubface and club sole. You can use the Face impact tape both at the range and on the golf course. Find out for sure what is actually happening rather that simply guessing!
You should also take the time and energy to find out what the 'True' Lofts and Lies are for your clubs by getting them measured on a Loft & Lie guage. Again this is a service the a good clubfitter would do for you.
At 5'11", you aren't very tall by today's 'standards'at all. The 'Big 5' are all from 2" - 6" taller than you. Further, keep in mind that a 1* change in Lie = 1/2" change in Length, based on the commonly used Swingweight equation.
The biggest purchase you should make is to invest in Tom Wishon's book 'The Search For The Perfect Golf Club' available online from his website or through Amazon. Read it!

Ed Goodwin