The Right Club Length for Tall Golfers
Fitting tall golfers can present specific challenges for a number of reasons, but the automatic assumption that tall golfers require longer clubs is not necessarily correct (the corollary to this is that short players do not automatically require short clubs either). . The length of the golf club should be determined by what the tall golfer feels comfortable and safe with.
Key factors in determining club length for the tall golfer include playing ability, athletic coordination, health and physical build. The golfer’s ability to return the clubhead directly and consistently to the ball is critical. A tall golfer who has difficulty hitting the ball solid may be better off with standard clubs if there are no physical limitations such as health. That said, there are several tuning variables to consider when fitting longer golf clubs for taller golfers.
- shaft deflection – A given shaft flex will tend to feel more flexible as the club is lengthened. The more the stick is lengthened, the ‘softer’ it will feel. If adjustments are not made for this, a tall golfer requiring a ‘Regular’ flex shaft may end up with a shaft that has an ‘A’ flex or even an ‘L’ flex totally inappropriate for their swing and wondering why they are spraying their drives all over the golf course. This would apply to both graphite and steel shafts, woods and irons. This particular issue can be further complicated by the fact that there are no real standards among manufacturers regarding shaft flex. One manufacturer could easily have a flexible ‘R’ shaft while the next manufacturer’s shaft is labeled Stiff but has essentially the same flex characteristics.
- Related – As a general rule, the longer the pole of the standard, the flatter the seat should be. The lie can affect the direction of the ball. To straighten a lie and the ball can fly to the left. To flatten a lie and the ball could be pushed to the right.
- Weight and Balance Club – The overall weight and weight distribution (swing weight) of the club are important to overall feel. As the length of the club increases, the clubhead will feel heavier if no compensating weight is added to balance the club.
- cuff size – Grip size is important for both feel and comfort, as well as potentially affecting ball direction. Too little of a grip can cause the golfer to hook or pull the ball.
All things considered, there are several equipment variables directly related to the equipment in a tall golfer’s golf bag that could have a significant impact on their game. While the length of the golf club should be determined by what the tall golfer feels comfortable and confident with, it goes without saying that the tall golfer should have their equipment checked for fit and makeup and all the variables of equipment they should be reviewed against what you may actually need. versus what he may have in his bag.