How to Lengthen Golf Clubs

Thinking that longer golf clubs might be the ticket to better ball-striking and more distance isn't an uncommon thought, especially for taller players who feel hunched over the ball. Lengthening your clubs can definitely be a game-changer, helping you stand taller and make a more powerful, natural swing. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from figuring out if you actually need longer clubs to the step-by-step process for doing it yourself, and what to expect when you take them to the course.

Signs You Might Need Longer Golf Clubs

Before you run to the garage and start tinkering, it's a good idea to confirm that club length is the real issue. Sometimes, what feels like a length problem is actually a posture or setup issue. But if you're experiencing the following, longer clubs might be the answer.

Your Height and Wrist-to-Floor Measurement

The most common reason for needing longer clubs is simply being tall. A standard-length club might force a 6'4" golfer to bend over excessively, ruining their posture and balance from the start. The go-to measurement in club fitting is the "wrist-to-floor" measurement. Here's how to do it:

1. Stand on a hard surface with your golf shoes on.
2. Let your arms hang naturally at your sides. Don't slouch or reach.
3. Have someone else measure from the crease of your wrist straight down to the floor.

This measurement gives a fitter a baseline for your ideal club length. While charts vary, a wrist-to-floor measurement over 37 inches often suggests you could benefit from longer-than-standard clubs. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but it’s a strong indicator.

On-Course Symptoms and Feelings

Your body and ball flight will also give you clues. Pay attention to these common symptoms:

• You Choke Down Constantly: Not for a feel shot, but on almost every standard swing. If your hands are habitually an inch or two down the grip, it's a subconscious way of making the club feel more controllable, but it could mean your clubs are too long. Conversely, if you feel like you have to grip at the very top of the handle just to reach the ball, they're likely too short.
• Poor, Unathletic Posture: Do you feel extremely bent over at the waist with your spine rounded like a question mark? Proper golf posture involves bending from the hips and keeping a relatively straight back. If clubs are too short, they force you into a hunched position, which restricts your ability to turn and creates inconsistency.
• Inconsistent Contact: A common result of playing with clubs an improper length is inconsistent ball striking. Shots hit thin (low on the face) are a classic symptom, as your body may lift up during the swing to make room for an athletic motion from a poor setup position. Fat shots can also occur as a compensation.

Before You Start: Critical Considerations

Lengthening a golf club isn't quite as simple as just adding a piece to the end. It changes the club's specifications in a few ways. Understanding this is vital for getting a good result.

Swing Weight: The Unseen Factor

Swing weight is a measurement of how heavy the club head feels when you swing it. It's measured on a letter-and-number scale (e.g., D2, D3). When you add length to the butt end of the club, you're moving your hands further from the head. This dramatically increases the club's leverage and makes the club head feel significantly heavier.

As a rule of thumb, adding half an inch of length increases the swing weight by about three points (e.g., from D2 to D5). This can make a once-perfectly-balanced club feel clunky and uncontrollable, throwing off your tempo and timing. For most amateurs, adding more than an inch of length can have a very negative impact on the club's feel if not counter-balanced.

Shaft Flex: A Small But Real Change

Adding a plug or extension into the butt end of the shaft can subtly alter its flex characteristics. While the effect isn't massive (nowhere near as dramatic as the swing weight change), adding a heavy steel extension can make the butt of the shaft a little stiffer and might cause the shaft to kick slightly differently. For sensitive players, this can be noticeable. It's another reason not to go overboard with added length - try to stick to 1.5 inches or less.

The Alternative: Professional Fitting

Honestly? The best way to get clubs that are the proper length is to go see a professional club fitter. This DIY guide is for those who like to tinker and understand the process. A fitter, however, can use a launch monitor to analyze your strike patterns and will adjust not just length, but also get your lie angle dialed in at the same time - a step that is often necessary after changing the length.

The DIY Guide: How to Lengthen Your Golf Clubs Step-by-Step

Alright, you've considered the factors and are ready to do it yourself. Here’s a detailed walkthrough for lengthening a steel-shafted iron. The process is similar for graphite, but you must use a plastic extension designed for graphite shafts to avoid damaging the fibers.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools and Materials

• Shaft Extension: Make sure you buy the right kind - a 0.600" for most standard steel iron shafts. Get a steel extension for a steel shaft.
• Quick-Set Shafting Epoxy: Use golf-specific epoxy, not generic glue from a hardware store.
• Grip Solvent & Double-Sided Grip Tape: The essentials for re-gripping.
• Hook Blade Utility Knife: The safest tool for cutting off old grips.
• Bench Vise & Rubber Shaft Clamp: You need this to hold the club securely without damaging the shaft.
• Heat Gun or Propane Torch: For graphite shafts, ONLY use a heat gun on low to loosen old epoxy if present inside. For steel, a torch is faster.
• Measuring Tape/Ruler: For accuracy.
• Hacksaw or Pipe Cutter: If your extension is longer than the length you want to add.

Step 2: Remove the Old Grip

Secure the club in the vise using the rubber clamp. Using the hook blade, point the blade away from your body and carefully cut a straight line down the length of the grip. Peel the grip off. Next, use a little heat and some grip solvent to peel away all the old tape. The goal is to get the butt end of the shaft perfectly clean.

Step 3: Prepare and Install the Extension

Your goal is to add your desired length. For example, if you want to add 1 inch of length, and the extension itself is 3 inches long, you'll need the extension to be inserted 2 inches into the shaft, leaving 1 inch sticking out. Dry fit it first to make sure it will go in far enough.

1. Lightly scuff the portion of the extension that will be inside the shaft with sandpaper to create a better surface for the epoxy to adhere to.
2. Mix your two-part epoxy according to the package directions. Don't eyeball it, be precise.
3. Apply a generous layer of epoxy to the part of the extension being inserted into the shaft.
4. Apply a little epoxy just inside the butt end of the shaft itself.
5. Firmly push the extension into the shaft. Give it a little twist as you insert it to ensure full epoxy coverage. Push it down until it sits at your desired additional length.
6. Use a rag with a bit of solvent to wipe away any excess epoxy that has squeezed out.

Step 4: Let it Cure

This is not the time to be impatient. Stand the club upright with the head on the ground so the extension sits vertically. Let it cure for the time recommended by the epoxy manufacturer, which is typically at least a few hours to be handleable and up to 24 hours for a full cure before use.

Step 5: Install the New Grip

Once the epoxy is fully cured, installing the new grip is the final step. Put the club back in the vise.

1. Apply your double-sided tape, making sure to run it over the top of the extension to cover the end.
2. Liberally douse the tape with grip solvent.
3. Pour a small amount of solvent into the new grip, cover the end with your finger, and shake it vigorously to coat the inside.
4. Pour the excess solvent out over the taped shaft, and quickly and confidently push the new grip on.
5. Align the visual markings on the grip before the solvent dries. Let the grip dry for a few hours before swinging.

Post-Op: What to Expect on the Course

Your newly lengthened club will feel different. Be ready for an adjustment period.

• Better Posture: The first thing you'll notice is that you can stand taller and more comfortably. This is the main benefit you were looking for!
• Heavier Feel: As mentioned, the swing weight is now higher. The club head will feel heavier. Your first few swings might feel slow or out of sync. Give it time and focus on a smooth tempo.
• Your Lie Angle May Be Off: This is a big one. Making a club longer makes its effective lie angle more upright. If your club was perfect before, it might now sit with the heel slightly up at address. This can cause you to hit shots to the left of your target (for a right-handed golfer). If you start seeing a consistent pull or hook that wasn't there before, you may need a pro-shop to bend your irons a degree or two flatter to compensate.

Final Thoughts

Extending your golf clubs is a fantastic DIY project that can pay real dividends, especially for taller golfers seeking more comfort and a better setup. By understanding the process and the important effects it has on specifications like swing weight and lie angle, you can make an informed change to your equipment.

As you get your modified clubs out on the range or the course, figuring out how the changes impact your ball flight is the next step. If you're noticing a different shot shape and aren't quite sure why, you can ask for a quick analysis. We train Caddie AI to understand exactly these kinds of equipment scenarios, helping you connect the dots between an equipment change and your on-course results. It’s like having a club-fitting expert in your pocket, ready to take the guesswork out of your game and help you tune your swing to your new setup.