Can Short People Play Golf?

Wondering if your height is holding you back from playing great golf? Let's clear this up right now: not only can short people play golf, but many have reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport. This article will show you how to turn your stature into a significant advantage by focusing on the right fundamentals and making specific adjustments to your swing and equipment.

Dispelling the Myth: Why Height Doesn't Define a Golfer

There's a common misconception in golf that you need to be tall and lanky to generate power and shoot low scores. Big names with classic, powerful swings like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, or Dustin Johnson often dominate the highlight reels, reinforcing this idea. But this viewpoint overlooks a long and proud history of shorter golfers who have competed and won at the highest levels.

Think about Ian Woosnam. At just 5'4", the Welshman was known as one of the longest pound-for-pound hitters of his generation. He won the 1991 Masters Tournament and reached number one in the world rankings. Or consider Gene Sarazen, a 5'5" giant of the game who was one of only five players to win the career Grand Slam. These players didn't succeed *in spite* of their height, they succeeded because they learned to leverage the unique physical advantages it gave them.

The truth is, golf doesn't care how tall you are. It rewards a swing that is efficient, repeatable, and powerful - three things that are absolutely achievable, and in some cases, even easier for a shorter player.

The Built-In Advantages of Being a Shorter Golfer

Instead of viewing your height as a limitation, it's time to reframe it as a set of built-in advantages. Shorter players have a physical structure that is naturally more suited to some of the most important aspects of the golf swing.

• Lower Center of Gravity: This is your biggest superpower. A lower center of gravity automatically makes you more stable and balanced. Balance is the foundation of a consistent golf swing. While taller players can struggle with their moving parts and staying in posture, you can maintain your spine angle and stay grounded far more easily.
• More Compact Swing Arc: A shorter frame creates a shorter, more compact swing. A shorter arc means there is a shorter distance for the club to travel, which translates to less room for error. This makes repeating your swing motion and finding the center of the clubface much simpler. This built-in consistency is something taller players spend years trying to develop.
• Enhanced Rotational Speed: Think of an ice skater pulling their arms in to spin faster. The same principle applies here. With a more compact frame, a shorter player can often generate impressive rotational speed through the core and hips. Because your arms and torso are more closely connected, it's easier to create that snappy, powerful unwinding motion that is the true source of power in any golf swing.

Key Swing Adjustments to Maximize Your Advantage

To take full advantage of your natural gifts, you need to focus on a few key areas in your setup and swing. These aren't about reinventing the wheel, they're about optimizing your mechanics to fit your body.

1. Nail Your Setup and Posture

For a shorter player, a solid, athletic setup is non-negotiable. This is where your consistency begins. Because you're closer to the ground, there can be a tendency to either stand too upright or crouch down too much. We need to find the athletic middle ground.

• Focus on the Hip Hinge: The most important move in your setup is bending from your hips, not your waist. Feel like you are pushing your bottom backwards, which will naturally tilt your upper body forward. Your back should remain relatively straight, not hunched over.
• Let Your Arms Hang: From this hinged position, let your arms hang down naturally from your shoulders. This is where your hands should hold the club. If you have to reach for the ball or pull your arms in tight, your posture or ball position is off. Hanging your arms straight down prevents tension and lets you swing freely. Using clubs that are too long for you will make this impossible, which we'll cover next.
• Athletic Knee Flex: Don't lock your knees, but don't get into a deep squat either. You want a soft, athletic flex that makes you feel balanced and ready to move. You should feel the weight balanced in the middle of your feet.

2. Embrace a More Rounded Swing Plane

Just like we teach in our fundamentals, the golf swing is a rotational action that moves around the body in a circle-like manner. For shorter players, this rotary motion is even more pronounced.

Taller players often have a more vertical, upright swing plane. Shorter players, by contrast, naturally create a flatter, more rounded swing plane. Do not fight this! A flatter plane is a powerful and very repeatable motion. It encourages your body to be the engine of the swing.

Instead of thinking about lifting the club "up," think about turning your shoulders and hips to bring the club "back and around." As you take the club back, focus on your chest and shoulders rotating away from the target. As you start the downswing, you simply unwind that rotation. This rotary motion will keep the club on the perfect path for your body, allowing you to use your natural stability to deliver the clubface squarely to the ball every time.

3. Generate Power Through Rotation, Not Effort

Shorter players sometimes fall into the trap of feeling like they need to "muscle" the ball to get distance. This leads to swinging with the arms, which kills both power and consistency.

Remember your superpower: rotation. Your power comes from winding your body up like a spring in the backswing and then unwinding forcefully through the ball.Your focus should be on the speed of your trunk rotation. Start the downswing by shifting a little weight to your lead foot and then immediately begin turning your hips and torso towards the target. The arms and club are just along for the ride. They will naturally be pulled through the impact zone with incredible speed if your body leads the way.

Getting the Right Equipment: Your Secret Weapon

Here is one area where shorter golfers absolutely cannot afford to make a mistake. Playing with clubs that are the wrong length or lie angle will force you into bad habits just to make contact with the ball. Using standard, off-the-rack clubs is like wearing shoes that are three sizes too big - you might be able to walk, but you're not going to be able to run efficiently.

Why Off-the-Rack Clubs Don't Work

• Shaft Length: Clubs that are too long will force you to stand too tall and too far from the ball, destroying the athletic posture we talked about. You will struggle to make solid, center-face contact.
• Lie Angle: This is the angle between the shaft and the sole of the club. Because a shorter player stands closer to the ball and has a more rounded swing, you need a flatter lie angle. A standard lie angle will cause the toe of the club to stick up at impact, causing your shots to hook to the left (for a right-handed golfer).
• Shaft Flex: Many standard clubs come with shafts that are too stiff for average swing speeds. A shaft that is too stiff is hard to load properly, robbing you of distance and feel.

The Non-Negotiable Custom Fitting

Getting a custom club fitting is one of the best investments you can make in your game. A good fitter will put you on a launch monitor and find the right specifications for your unique swing. They will measure your swing speed to find the right shaft flex, and they will adjust the length and lie angle based on your height, arm length, and swing plane. With properly fitted clubs, you are finally free to make your best, most natural swing without fighting your equipment.

Final Thoughts

Not only can you play golf as a shorter person, but you possess natural advantages in balance, consistency, and rotation that taller players envy. By embracing these strengths, owning an athletic setup, and using clubs that actually fit you, you can unlock your full potential on the course and play fantastic golf for a lifetime.

Building a swing that fits your body is all about understanding what works for you. With so much advice out there, it can be tough to know what applies to your game. When you're standing over a tricky lie or just trying to understand a concept like rotating through the ball, having clear, personalized guidance is a game-changer. That's why we created our app, with Caddie AI, you can get instant, expert advice that's tailored to your unique questions and situations, right from your pocket, so you can play with more confidence and enjoy the game more.