Do you know how to measure a golf shaft? It isn’t quite as simple as it sounds.
If you’re buying a replacement shaft, building your own club or simply trying to establish the length of your existing golf clubs, it is important to know how to measure them correctly.
The measurement you are looking for is generally the finished club length, measured from the sole of the club to the end of the grip.
What Do You Need?
The most useful piece of equipment is a 48-inch golf club measuring stick.
A standard 36-inch ruler isn’t long enough for measuring drivers and some fairway woods.
How Do You Measure a Golf Club?
The biggest mistake golfers make is measuring the club vertically against a wall.
This can give you an inaccurate measurement.
Instead, place the club in its normal playing position, with the sole sitting correctly on the ground.
The club should be resting naturally, with neither the heel nor toe lifted.
Place your measuring stick underneath the club and measure from the bottom of the clubhead to the end of the grip.
This gives you the effective playing length of the golf club.
Measuring Different Golf Clubs
The basic technique is the same for most clubs, including:
- Drivers
- Fairway woods
- Hybrids
- Irons
- Wedges
However, the way the club sits on the ground can affect the measurement, so it is important that the sole is positioned correctly.
Remember that when golfers talk about the “length” of a golf club, they are normally referring to the finished club length, rather than simply the exposed length of the shaft.
How Do You Measure a Putter?
Putters can be slightly more complicated because of the different neck designs available.
Generally, you should use the same basic method as with your other clubs.
Place the putter in its natural playing position and run the measuring stick through the centre of the putter sole rather than measuring from the heel.
This gives you a more consistent measurement regardless of the putter’s neck design.
Why Does Golf Club Length Matter?
Golf club length can have a significant effect on how a club feels and performs.
A club that is too long can make it harder to consistently strike the centre of the clubface, while a club that is too short may affect your posture and swing.
This is particularly important if you are buying replacement shafts or building custom clubs.
Getting the correct measurement is therefore an important first step before ordering new equipment.
What About Driver Length?
Drivers are often longer than the other clubs in your bag, which is why a 48-inch measuring stick is particularly useful.
The original guide notes that drivers are commonly around 45.5 inches, although modern driver lengths vary considerably depending on the manufacturer and specification.
Rather than assuming a particular length is best, measure your existing driver accurately and consider how its length affects your strike and consistency.
Final Thoughts
Measuring a golf club correctly is relatively simple once you know what you’re measuring.
Place the club in its natural playing position, make sure the sole is sitting correctly and measure from the bottom of the clubhead to the end of the grip.
If you need to determine the correct shaft or club length before buying replacement equipment, this simple measurement gives you a useful starting point.