Custom golf clubs, or customizing existing golf
clubs, involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment
of your game. You may see many different fitting methods
availiable, but most of them center around the same pieces
of information. This method is simple, accurate, and effective.
To custom fit your golf clubs, you will need to know the
following:
- Your gender (male or female)
- Your height in your stockings or socks
- The distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the
floor with your shoes off
- Your age
- Your handicap or skill level
- How fast you swing a golf club
- What club you use at the 150 yard marker
Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale.
The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard
length" for men and women.
Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist
to the floor are used together to determine the length of
golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point
for club length can vary up to 3 1/2" ranging from
ladies to mens plus 1 1/2". A tall person with long
arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average
height person with short arms.
Your age, handicap, self-assessed skill level, estimated
golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker
are all combined to determined the shaft flex that is appropriate
for you.
Club Length & Flex
Length is simply how long the golf club is as measured
from the butt end of the grip down the back side of the
club down to where the club meets the ground. A longer golf
club will hit further given the same swing speed, however
it will also introduce less control of your shot.
Standard Golf Club Lengths
|
CLUB |
Mens
Standard Length |
Womans
Standard Length |
|
Graphite |
Steel |
Graphite |
Steel |
| Ti Driver |
45" |
N/A |
44" |
N/A |
| 1 Wood |
44" |
43" |
43" |
42" |
| 3 Wood |
43" |
42" |
42" |
41" |
| 5 Wood |
42" |
41" |
41" |
40" |
| 7 Wood |
42" |
41" |
41" |
40" |
| 9 Wood |
42" |
41" |
41" |
40" |
| 11 Wood |
42" |
41" |
41" |
40" |
| 1 Iron |
40.25" |
39.75" |
39.25" |
38.75" |
| 2 Iron |
39.75" |
39.25" |
38.75" |
38.25" |
| 3 Iron |
39.25" |
38.75" |
38.25" |
37.75" |
| 4 Iron |
38.75" |
38.25" |
37.75" |
37.25" |
| 5 Iron |
38.25" |
37.75" |
37.25 |
36.75" |
| 6 Iron |
37.75" |
37.25" |
37.75" |
36.25" |
| 7 Iron |
37.25" |
36.75" |
36.25" |
35.75" |
| 8 Iron |
36.75" |
36.25" |
35.75" |
35.25" |
| 8 Iron |
36.25" |
35.75" |
35.25" |
34.75" |
| PW |
36.25" |
35.75" |
35.25" |
34.75" |
| SW |
36.25" |
35.75" |
35.25" |
34.75" |
| LW |
36.25" |
35.75" |
35.25" |
34.75" |
| Putter |
N/A |
34" |
N/A |
34" |
Flex is the stiffness of the golf club, which is
provided by the type of golf club shaft which is used. Generally,
stiffer shafts are better for stronger hitting golfers.
The common shaft flexes are Men's Regular, Stiff, Extra
Stiff, Senior, and Ladies.
The proper flex of a golf club is a function of your strength
and golfing skills. Determining the correct flex is most
important for your Woods and longer Irons. Short irons,
wedges and putters are not impacted very much by the different
flexes as the differences between flexes becomes very small
in the shorter clubs.
Loft & Lie Adjustments
Some people receive advice that they require a certain
loft or lie adjustment. We have never understood loft adjustments
since they merely change the loft of the club. However,
we do recommend buying golf clubs with the loft you seek
and avoid custom loft adjustments. Bending the loft of an
iron weakens the hardened metal and can lead to future metal
fatigue. If the loft of your 5 iron is too strong, use a
6 iron. If it is too weak, use a 4 iron.
Lie adjustment also requires bending the hardened metal
in which an iron is cast. We do not advise this is as good
practice and also advise against it. It is particularly
dangerous in 17-4ph metal irons.
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