Thinking about lengthening your golf shaft is a solid step toward fitting your clubs to your body and your swing. It's a common adjustment, especially for taller players, and can make a real difference in your posture and consistency. This guide will walk you through why you might consider it, what you need to know before you start, and a step-by-step process for getting the job done right.
The most common reason for adding length to a golf club is pretty straightforward: you're taller than the average player for whom standard-length clubs are built. If you find yourself slouching excessively or bending your knees too much at address just to reach the ball, your clubs are likely too short. A proper club length allows you to stand with a more athletic and balanced posture, which is the foundation of a good golf swing.
Standing more upright can reduce strain on your back and help you rotate your body more freely. This freedom of movement often translates into a more natural and powerful swing. Essentially, by fitting the club to your height, you're removing a major limitation that forces you into an uncomfortable and inefficient setup. Instead of you adapting to the club, you're making the club adapt to you.
While adding an inch might seem simple, it’s not just about making the club longer. Extending a shaft changes a few other important characteristics of the club. Understanding these changes ahead of time will help you know what to expect and how to counteract any negative effects.
Swing weight is often described as the "feel" of the club head's weight during the swing. It's measured on a letter-and-number scale (e.g., D2, D3). Adding length to a shaft will increase its swing weight because the balance point of the club moves further away from your hands. Typically, adding half an inch of length increases the swing weight by about three points.
An increase in swing weight can make the club head feel heavier and sometimes harder to control. While some players like a heavier feel, others might find it makes the club feel sluggish. If the swing weight becomes too heavy, you can counteract it by adding weight to the grip end of the club using special tungsten powders or weighted butt caps, but this adds another layer to the process.
Adding length to a shaft also makes it play softer. Imagine holding a ruler at its halfway point and flexing it, then holding it at the very end and flexing it. When held at the end, it bends much more easily. The same principle applies to a golf shaft. Lengthening a shaft increases the leverage on it during the swing, causing it to bend more.
A good rule of thumb is that adding an inch of length will soften the flex by roughly half a step (e.g., a "Stiff" flex shaft might start to feel and play more like something between a "Stiff" and a "Regular"). If you already play a flex that's on the edge of being too soft for your swing speed, extending it might lead to less control and a more scattered shot pattern.
The lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the sole of the club when it's resting on the ground at address. A longer club naturally sits with the toe higher in the air. This more "upright" lie angle can affect ball flight. For a right-handed golfer, a lie angle that is too upright will tend to make the ball go left. Since lengthening a club makes the lie angle more upright at impact, you might need to have your lie angles adjusted (bent flatter) by a club builder to compensate and keep your shots flying straight.
If you're ready to take on the project, you’ll need a few specific items. Having everything handy before you start makes the process a lot smoother.
Alright, you’ve got your tools and you understand the effects. Let's walk through the process. We'll focus on a steel shaft, as it's the most common DIY extension project.
First, secure the club shaft in a vise using your rubber shaft clamp. The clamp should be tight enough to hold the club firmly but not so tight that it damages the shaft. Using your utility knife with a hooked blade, carefully hook the bottom edge of the grip and pull the knife up toward the butt end, slicing through the grip and tape underneath. Be sure to cut away from your body for safety. Peel off the old grip and all of the old grip tape underneath. A little heat from a heat gun can help remove stubborn old tape or you can use a solvent like mineral spirits to dissolve the adhesive.
Once the old tape is gone, clean the butt end of the shaft thoroughly. Use a bit of solvent on a rag to wipe away any remaining residue. You want a clean, smooth surface for the extension and epoxy to adhere to properly.
This is where "measure twice, cut once" is incredibly important. First, determine how much length you want to add. Let's say you want to add 1 inch to your club. Most shaft extensions are designed to be inserted about 1 inch into the shaft. So, to add 1 inch of playing length, you need to cut your extension to be 2 inches long (1 inch goes inside for bonding, 1 inch stays out to add length).
Always double-check the instructions on your specific extension plug, as the required insertion depth can vary. Mark the extension clearly with your desired cut line. If using a pipe cutter, slowly tighten it and rotate it around the extension until it cuts through cleanly. If using a hacksaw, place the extension in your vise and cut slowly and straight.
For the epoxy to form the strongest possible bond, it needs a rough surface to grip. Lightly sand or abrade the outside of the extension part that will be inserted into the shaft. Do the same to the inside of the club shaft's butt end as much as you can. A small piece of sandpaper rolled up or attached to a drill bit works well for this.
Next, mix your two-part epoxy according to the manufacturer's instructions on a disposable surface (a piece of cardboard works well). Apply a generous, even coat of epoxy to the part of the extension that will go inside the shaft. You want enough epoxy to fill any gaps but not so much that it all squeezes out and makes a huge mess. Insert the extension into the butt end of the shaft with a slight twisting motion to spread the epoxy evenly. Push it in until it's fully seated. Wipe away any excess epoxy that squeezes out with a cloth.
Patience is everything. Different epoxies have different curing times, ranging from quick-set (30 minutes) to standard (24 hours). Read the instructions and let the epoxy fully cure before proceeding. Setting the club upright in a corner is a good way to let it dry undisturbed.
Once the epoxy is 100% cured, you're ready for the final step: installing your new grip. Apply your a new layer of grip tape, coat it generously with grip solvent, pour a bit of solvent into the new grip and slush it around, then quickly and smoothly slide the new grip onto the shaft until it's all the way on. Align the grip's logo or pattern to be square with the clubface before the solvent evaporates. Let it sit for a few hours before swinging.
Lengthening graphite shafts follows a similar process, but it requires more care. Graphite is more fragile than steel and can be easily cracked or splintered, especially aroudn the butt end. Special extenders designed specifically for graphite are necessary, and cutting the shaft or extension must be done very carefully, preferably with a high-speed cutoff wheel and a dust mask. Because of the delicate nature of graphite, many golfers choose to have a professional club builder handle extensions for these shafts.
Lengthening a golf shaft is a completely manageable project that can significantly improve your comfort and posture over the ball. By following these steps and being mindful of the effects on swing weight and flex, you can successfully customize your clubs to better fit your game.
As you fine-tune your equipment, you may have more questions about how these changes will truly impact your performance on the course. You might wonder, "How will this added inch to my 7-iron affect my ball flight in the wind?" or "Now that my swing weight is heavier, what's a good drill to get my timing back?" For real-time answers to these very specific questions, our app Caddie AI is designed to be your on-demand golf coach. We give you instant, personalized advice based on your game and equipment, helping you make sense of the new feel and play with confidence.
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