Is This Common Mistake The Reason You’re Not Getting Any Better At Golf?

Not all golfers are created equal. We can’t all be Rory McIlroy or Nelly Korda! But it’s not just our levels of talent that vary. We also all differ slightly, or significantly, in terms of our size and physique. For that reason, we all can or would benefit from using equipment that’s tailored to our physical requirements. To make the correct stance with the correct posture, we may need clubs that are not standard length or standard lie angle.

We spoke to Andrew Pillans, an expert club fitter at Banchory Golf Club in Aberdeenshire to find out why getting the correct shaft length in your golf clubs is so important.

“Shaft Length is a critical factor in golf and can significantly impact a player’s accuracy, distance, consistency and overall swing mechanics,” says Pillans.

“An essential key to playing good golf is, of course, finding the middle of the clubface. A longer shaft, while offering a higher clubhead speed resulting in more distance, is a great deal harder to control and can often lead to inconsistent strike patterns. A shaft that is shorter may lose some distance but it can lead to a much more reliable strike pattern which overall could actually increase distance.”

So finding the right shaft length could help you gain distance and consistency of strike. It could also help you improve your posture and stance.

“Having the correct shaft length can improve setup and posture,” says Pillans. It can allow golfers to maintain a natural and comfortable posture during the golf swing. With the wrong length of shaft and incorrect posture position all swing mechanics can be impacted.”

And getting the wrong shaft length can impact the lie angle at address. If the club is too long, it could lead to a “toe-up” lie angle. If it’s too short, it could be “toe-down.”

“Having the wrong shaft length can have an effect on lie angle; this can also lead to inconsistencies at address,” says Pillans. “Toe up/Toe Down situations can alter swing dynamics and effect strike and ball flight.”

Telltale Signs You Are Using The Wrong Shaft Length

There are some telltale signs you are perhaps not using the correct length of shaft in your clubs.

Strike (both vertical and horizontal) is the main indicator. If you are persistently hitting the ball out of the toe, that can sometimes be an indication of a club that is too short, similarly if there is a persistent low or thin strike that could indicate the same. Conversely, a consistent heel strike and/or regular fat shots could point towards a club that is too long.

Static posture is alway something to look out for too. Someone very crouched over is likely compensating for clubs that are too short, whereas someone stood bolt upright may well have clubs too long for them.

It’s crucial then to make sure you get the right shaft length, not only to help you get the right setup and posture through the swing but also to help you find more consistency through the strike. The best thing to do is to visit a qualified PGA professional like Andrew Pillans to be measured and assessed. You might find your current equipment is incorrect for you and a change of shaft length could be of significant benefit and help you get better at golf!