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How to Measure Golf Shaft Length: 48-Inch, USGA & LDA

Last Update: June 21, 2023

Using a golf club not correctly suited for length can become a key factor in poor performance. Trying to swing with a club that is too long or too short might cause a golfer’s posture or swing to alter in a manner that can have a significant impact on the outcome. This may lead to unintentional swing compensations, resulting in inconsistency in ball strike.

Players would be able to adopt a suitable stance that would allow them to perform the proper swing motion, which will offer them the best opportunity of having accuracy in their ball hitting after the club length is appropriate.

How to Measure Golf Shaft Length

Measure Golf Shaft Length

Preferred Lengths for Different Types of Golf Clubs

1. The Ideal Length for Irons

Irons are the most adaptable clubs in your backpack, with lengths changing based on the kind of iron, but typically ranging from 34 to 40 inches based on the brand. In irons, the ideal club length is generally determined by a series of measurements that consider the player’s height, swing posture, and arm length. An exceptionally tall player would not profit from golf clubs made for a smaller player, and opposite.

2. The Ideal Length for Drivers

Several years ago, the typical driver’s club length was 43 inches. Today, the standard is 45 inches, and some companies have even gone as far as 45 and a half inches. Nevertheless, analyses have found that the golfer’s skill to strike the ball at the sweet point of the clubface is more essential than the length of the shaft when it comes to making distance using the driver clubs.

The ideal advice for amateurs wanting to maximize the shaft length with their driver clubs is to acquire the maximum length they can achieve, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their ability to make good contact frequently.

3. The Ideal Length for Putters

Your stroke is greatly influenced by the length of the putter club and if you choose the wrong length your putting line will be thrown off. Most putters are 35 to 50 inches long and are intended to retain your focus on the ball. Once you’re in the contact position, the handle of your putter should be perfectly parallel to your forearm.

It is typical for golfers to select putters that are too lengthy for their style. If you’re holding your typical-size putter underneath the grip, a shorter-length shaft is a better choice. Similarly, if you’re having lower-back pain throughout your stroke, it might be time to consider a longer putter.

3 Different Techniques for Determining Club Length

1. Applying a 48-Inch Principle or Measuring Tape

It is the most common approach, which involves putting the club in the swinging position with the middle of the sole hitting the ground. A 48-inches club ruler is put along the club’s rear, with the point of the ruler contacting the surface near the club’s heel. The overall length is then calculated at the grip cap’s edge. Also, the body of the club must be appropriately positioned in this technique. This technique can be used in all situations, except for putters where the shaft is not positioned at the heel.

2. USGA Method

The USGA method uses an instrument that includes a portion of angle steel as a barrier that produces a 60-degree angle from the baseline. Additionally, this method measures the farthest end of the handle tip rather than the edge. This variation is around 1 / 8″ when the handle cap is added. Except for the putter club, which has no length restrictions, the USGA method imposes a 48” restriction for any other golf club. Nevertheless, putters are excluded when using this measurement method.

3. LDA Method

This technique estimates the club by laying the shaft level against the wall and the driver’s toe on the surface. Doing so will produce in a considerably greater length than the previous two techniques. The overall length could also be affected by the inclination of the driver. For official long drive events, the LDA method has a 50″ length restriction. The aim is consistency, independent of the approach used. That’s why assessing club length requires the use of instruments or fixtures.

How to Determine the Ideal Club Length for Yourself

1. Determine Your Height

The initial step in determining your ideal club length is to determine your total height. It is the most simple way for determining the appropriate club length that you will require. A golfer’s overall height is employed in the usual club fitting method, but merely as an element of the entire procedure of fitting a player for ideal club length. Overall height is an insufficient measurement for determining optimum club length. Overall height must be paired with another static measuring technique, the wrist-to-floor assessment, to make the procedure more detailed and precise.

2. Measure the Distance Between Your Wrist and the Floor

The wrist-to-floor estimation is a popular and widely used metric for assessing optimal club length. It is extremely common in club fitting since it adds an extra layer to the assessment, which enhances its accuracy. The wrist-to-floor assessment considers other elements that might impact a club’s length calculations, such as the length of the player’s legs or arms.

You must stand on a solid surface with both arms downwards at your sides while obtaining your wrist-to-floor measurement. Wear ordinary street sneakers or shoes so that having higher-than-normal heels does not influence your height assessment. Take the reading in inches from the ground to the crease in your arm from this posture.

3. In-Swing Relevant Factors

Because the measures are taken when the player is staying still, the two previous measurements are termed “static” techniques of club fitting. Experienced club fitters will frequently augment these static measures by introducing an extra aspect during their club fitting appointments, an approach known as “dynamic.”

A golfer will be examined during their genuine swing action in a dynamic club assessment, with measurements collected at impact and while the ball trajectory is observed. By evaluating your swinging speed, you may more precisely decide which shaft flexibility is best for your specific swing style. The outputs of a dynamic fitting procedure will always yield a more precise assessment than the findings of a static fitting method.

The Advantages of Having Your Golf Club Customized

How to Measure Golf Shaft Length

Having an ill-fitting golf club can lead to many issues, not just at the beginning but also later during your golfing career. If the golf club doesn’t fit you properly, the first concern is that your club will influence how you strike the ball.

This starting address posture will impact the dynamics of your swinging and may be accountable for you being unable to reach the appropriate positions throughout the swing phase without performing an unbelievable amount of manipulation, resulting in poor results and inconsistency.

The advantages of customized golf clubs apply to all skill levels, including novices. Even if you are a novice player, you will have consistency in your performance. Understanding how to determine golf club length enables you to achieve a better fitting for your golf clubs, which has many following advantages:

  • You have a higher chance of hitting the ball farther if you use a club shaft that matches your swing.
  • The ability to manage distance will increase.
  • You’ll start to hit irons more straightly.

FAQs

1. What Is the Typical Golf Club Length?

Ans. Although the regulations of golf permit for club shaft lengths of up to 48 inches, the usual driver length utilized on the tournament is 44,5 inches, while the typical driver length at golf stores is around 45,5 inches.

2. What Happens When Your Golf Club Is Too Short?

Ans. When the golf club is extremely short for you, your posture would be too leaned over. Because you’re stretching for the ball, your posture will be in this position. The issue with this type of bad stance is that it can damage your spine alignment.

3. Do My Golf Clubs Require Additional Length?

Ans. If you have a deeper stoop in your swinging, it doesn’t make any difference how tall you are since your arms would be close to the surface requiring somewhat shorter clubs. The length of your arms and the distance between your wrist and the ground are the factors that define how long your golf club must be.

4. What Is the Length of Junior Golf Clubs?

Ans. The usual principle is that they’ll be OK with a collection of junior golf clubs from a reputable manufacturer until they’re 60 inches tall. Talented junior players gain greatly from having every club suitable for their game once they reach the height of 5 feet. The thickness of golf clubs is also highly significant for young players.

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