If you are new to the game of golf, there can be a lot of common questions due to all of the unwritten rules and the 14 different clubs that a golfer gets to carry.
For the newer golfer, there are often plenty of questions surrounding the equipment side of the game. Some of the common questions include:
- How many clubs can I carry?
- Do I really need a driver?
- Do I need a lob wedge?
- Are golf clubs different lengths?
Today, we dive into the length of the golf clubs.
Are golf clubs different lengths?
Yes, traditionally a set of clubs will be 14 different lengths with the driver being the longest at around 45-46 inches and the lob wedge being the shortest at around 35 inches. However, recently single length irons have become more common with Bryson DeChambeau rising to a top 5 player in the world.
Below is a chart with the typical length of the shafts in a standard golf club.
If you are fitted for a set of golf clubs, these lengths could vary based on your height and your arm length.
| Club | Typical Length |
| Driver | 46″ |
| 3 Wood | 43″ |
| 5 Wood | 42.5″ |
| 3 Hybrid | 40.5″ |
| 3 Iron | 39″ |
| 4 Iron | 38.5″ |
| 5 Iron | 38″ |
| 6 Iron | 37.5″ |
| 7 Iron | 37″ |
| 8 Iron | 36.5″ |
| 9 Iron | 36″ |
| PW | 35.5″ |
| SW | 35.25″ |
| LW | 35.25″ |
| Putter | 32-38″ |
There are several things that jump out looking at the chart above:
- The driver is 3 inches longer than the 3 wood.
- A 3 hybrid is 2.5” shorter than a 3 wood
- Each iron is shorter by a ½ inch compared as is progresses from 3 iron to the wedges
What Golf Clubs to use and When! (Complete Overview)
Why are golf clubs different lengths?
Playing your best golf requires you to be able to hit shots from various distances. The logic behind the different lengths is to help you control the distance, especially with the irons. The driver length is built to provide the maximum distance, while the irons are designed to give you options with shots as short as 60 yards all the way up to 230 for some golfers.
The different lengths when combined with different lofts help most golfers build a distance chart that provides a range of 10-15 yard between every club. Of course, when playing golf, the perfect distances rarely come up, so having the ability to hit a 90% club or even a 75% is something the more advanced golfers are able to do.
As they arrive at a shot, they might consider a 3 quarter 8 iron or a full 9 iron and pick the club based on the wind, the lie, the conditions and the location of the pin on the green.
Average swing speed in golf: Plus how to increase your swing speed!
Here is a general guide on the lofts of each set of golf clubs within a typical 14 club setup.
| Golf Club | Loft |
| Driver | 8-11 Degrees |
| Fairway Woods | 13-27 degrees |
| Hybrids | 13-30 degrees |
| Long Irons | 20-27 degrees |
| Short Irons | 28-44 degrees |
| Wedges | 48-64 degrees |
Are single length irons a quality option?
If you are someone that hits your 7 iron the best of any club in the bag, it might be worth exploring. There are definitely some pros and cons to the single length irons. One of the keys is getting a quality set that allows you to have a distance chart that covers the essential distances between that 60 and 230 yard range.
Bryson DeChambeua is the most famous golfer that uses single length golf swings. His also utilizes a more single plane golf swing with raised hands and the straight line that runs from his shoulders, through his arms and all the way down the club.
The single length is a quality option to help with low point control which is vital to overall success in golf. The best golfers are able to control their low point and make solid contact a high percentage of the tie.
Here is a pro and con list for single length irons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Longs Irons are easier to hit | Shorter Irons are more difficult to hit |
| Easier to control low point in swing | Chipping can become difficult |
| Same swing from iron to iron | Difficult to find quality equipment |
| Setup is same from iron to iron | Distance control can be difficult |
TIP: Create A Distance Chart
I would highly recommend each golfer create a distance chart like the sample below:
| Club | Carry Distance (100%) | 90% | 80% |
| 2 Utility Iron | 210 | ||
| 4 iron | 190 | ||
| 5 iron | 181 | ||
| 6 iron | 171 | ||
| 7 iron | 163 | ||
| 8 iron | 153 | ||
| 9 iron | 143 | ||
| P Club | 130 | 123 | 115 |
| Pitching Wedge | 118 | 110 | 102 |
| SW Club | 105 | 97 | 91 |
| LW Club | 90 | 82 | 74 |
How can I improve my distance control in golf?
This might be the most important information you can use to help you play quality golf. I have heard so many stories and have seen it first hand where golfers completely over estimate how far they hit each iron.
They hit one 7 iron 165 yards one time and think this is their carry distance. So they step up to a 165 yard shot, hit the 7 iron and end up in a bunker. They blade it out of the bunker and are looking at a double bogey as their reality. Instead, if they had the right club and hit the 6 iron, their chance of hitting the middle of the green would increase greatly!
How can you create your own chart?
Option 1: I would highly recommend a launch monitor!
These portable devices can be used at the driving range, golf course or set up in your home net or golf simulator. These devices are game changers not only on being able to map your bag and know your distances, but they also provide quality feedback after on every shot and provide the following information:
- Carry Distance
- Spin Rate
- Launch Angle
- Spin Axis
- Total Distance
- Ball Speed
This information will help you map your bag, decide on which clubs are best for your game, develop a stock shot and much more. I love using my SkyTrak 365 days a year in my golf simulator setup.
Carry distance in golf: Why it is important!
The process for mapping your bag can looking something like this:
- Hit 5 shots with each club in your bag.
- Log the carry distance and total distance for each shot.
- Eliminate any outlier numbers (poor hits or low spin rates).
- Take the average and create a map of your bag.
If you visit any PGA Tour event you will see plenty of golfers utilizing their launch monitors. While most can’t afford a Trackman, there are some very affordable options in the 500-2000 dollar range. I own a SkyTrak and think the world of it.
Here are the top 3 options to check out:
Option 2: Use a Driving Range or Open Field
If you can’t afford a launch monitor at this time, here is another option.
- Find an open driving range or open field
- Take 10 balls of the type of golf ball you play
- Pick a target and either walk it off or use a rangefinder.
- Hit 10 shots with each club in your bag and take an average.
- Your rangefinder can help you get a specific distance.
Go ahead and create a chart of each club and their carry distance like the one above.
Final Thoughts: 3 Key Fundamentals to Golf
The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf. They explained it somewhat similar to this:
- The first fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- The second fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over-curving past the target.
- The third fundamental is the golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
TWO BONUS DRILLS
Low Point Control Drill
- Take some yard paint and patina a 1-2 yard long line.
- Setup with 55% of your weight on your front side.
- Try to hit the target side of the line and see how many times out of 10 you can do this successfully!
- Repeat this drill every day for a month, tracking your progress and your ability to to this successfully in trials of ten.
- You may need to start with half swing and progress to full swings.
If you are struggling, put more weight forward and work on keep your head still to help control the low point in the swing.
Stock Shot Drill
- Set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 2-3 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
- Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target. Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
- The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
Here is the drill being explained by Kyle Morris:
The combination of solid contact (low point control drill) and the ability to hit a stock shot (consistent curve) is the first step in building consistency in your golf game.
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.