Golf Club Length Calculator

4 min readOct 9, 2023

Selecting the proper golf club length is an important part of fitting your clubs to your swing. Having properly fitted clubs can help maximize distance and consistency. There are a few key measurements and calculations to determine the ideal club length for your height and swing characteristics.

Measuring Arm Length and Wrist-to-Floor Distance

Two important measurements for calculating ideal golf club length are arm length and wrist-to-floor distance.

To measure arm length, stand straight with your arms hanging loosely at your sides. Have another person measure from the point of your shoulder down to the tip of your middle finger. This is your arm length. Write this measurement down.

Next, you’ll need to measure your wrist-to-floor distance. Take off your shoes and stand straight against a wall. Place a golf club on the floor perpendicular to the wall and measure from the floor up to the crease of your wrist. This is your wrist-to-floor measurement. Record this number.

Having these two measurements will provide the baseline numbers needed for the golf club length calculations.

Factor in Your Height

Your height is another key component in determining ideal golf club length. Taller golfers generally need longer clubs, while shorter golfers need shorter club lengths.

Here is a general guide for club length based on height:

Under 5' 6" — Add 0.5 inches to standard length
5' 6" to 6' 0" — Standard length
Over 6' 0" — Add 0.5–1 inch per inch over 6 feet

So for example, if you are 6' 2", you may want to add 1–2 inches to the standard golf club length.

After factoring in your height, you can fine tune the club length calculation using your arm length and wrist-to-floor measurements.

Calculate Target Golf Club Length

Here are the steps to calculate target golf club length based on your measurements:

Multiply your arm length by 0.19. This estimates ideal golf club length based on arm length.

Add your wrist-to-floor measurement. This accounts for your posture and stance.

Add/subtract length adjustment for your height.

The total is your ideal target golf club length.

For example:

Arm length: 25 inches
Arm length x 0.19 = 25 x 0.19 = 4.75 inches
Wrist-to-floor: 37 inches
Height: 6' 1" (add 0.5–1 inch)
Target length = 4.75 + 37 + 1 = 42.75 inches

This would make an ideal driver length for this golfer 42.75 inches. You can follow the same calculation for irons, wedges, putter or any club you want to fit specifically to your measurements.

Extra Length Considerations

Some additional factors to consider when adding extra length include:

Swing speed — Faster swing speeds may benefit from slightly longer clubs for extra distance.
Slope and lie angle — Upright lies and steep angles of attack benefit from more length.
Fitness and strength — Stronger golfers can control longer clubs. Weaker golfers may prefer shorter clubs.
Skill level — Highly skilled players gain more from customized lengths. Beginners fit standard lengths.

It’s also important to get properly fit for flex and clubhead design for your swing when adjusting club length. Work with a knowledgeable golf professional when making significant changes to standard club length.

Custom Fitting vs Standard Lengths

Custom fitting your golf clubs to your measurements will provide ideal length, lie, flex, and other specifications tailored to your swing. This can offer clear performance benefits when fit properly.

However, it is also fine to play standard length clubs if you are an average height and have an average arm length compared to your height. Standard club lengths are designed to fit the broadest range of golfers. Here are the standard golf club lengths by club type:

Driver: 45–46 inches
Fairway woods: 42–43 inches
Hybrids: 40–41 inches
Irons: 38–39 inches
Wedges: 35–37 inches
Putter: 33–35 inches

These standard lengths are a good starting point or option for many casual and recreational golfers. But for golfers looking to extract every advantage from their equipment, getting fit for customized club lengths can be a worthwhile process.

Adjusting Existing Clubs to New Lengths

If you have an existing set of clubs at standard lengths, you have a few options to adjust them to fit your ideal calculated lengths.

Many golf shops and club fitters can cut down or extend your existing clubs. This is called reshafting. They remove the original grip and shaft and install a new shaft and grip at the desired length. This maintains the original clubhead.

Another option is to purchase adjustable length shafts or extensions. These allow you to experiment with different lengths using your existing clubs before committing to a permanent change.

You may also choose to keep your existing set at standard lengths but purchase new custom fit clubs going forward. This allows you to replace clubs incrementally when you are ready for new equipment.

No matter what option you choose for equipment, remember that proper technique, skill, and practice will make the biggest differences in your golf game. Perfectly fit clubs alone will not transform an imperfect swing. But combined with practice and coaching, customized fitted clubs can provide measurable advantages for many golfers.

Best Guide: average swing speed by age