What Size Golf Clubs Do I Need for 6'4"?

Standing at 6'4" on the first tee can make you feel like you have a built-in advantage, but it often comes with a gear-related headache: your golf clubs. If you're using a standard, off-the-rack set, you're likely forcing your body into an uncomfortable, hunched-over posture that's costing you power, consistency, and a lot of enjoyment. This guide will walk you through exactly how to determine the right club size for your taller frame, moving from simple home measurements to understanding the details of a full custom fitting.

Why Standard Clubs Are a Problem for a 6'4" Golfer

Golf clubs sold in most big-box stores are designed for the "average" male golfer, who is typically between 5'9" and 5'11". When a 6'4" player tries to use these clubs, a few issues pop up immediately. To reach the ball, you have to compensate, and that compensation is usually bad for your golf swing.

You'll likely find yourself doing one of two things:

• Excessive Hunching: You have to bend over excessively from your upper back and waist, rounding your shoulders and compromising your athletic posture. Good golf swings are built on maintaining posture and rotating around the spine. When you're hunched over, that clean rotation breaks down, leading to an inconsistent swing path and weak, erratic shots. It's also a recipe for lower back pain.
• Too Much Knee Flex: To get lower to the ground, you might sit down into a deep squat. While a little knee flex is good, too much restricts your ability to turn your hips. Your hips are a major power source in the golf swing, and restricting their movement means you're relying entirely on your arms, which kills your distance and consistency.

The result is a collection of frustrating misses. Shots struck thin because you can't stay down through the swing, or hit fat as you lose your balance trying to reach the ball. Standard-length clubs force a taller player to make uncomfortable, unnatural movements, and you can't build a repeatable golf swing on that foundation.

The Starting Point: Your Wrist-to-Floor Measurement

Before you run out and buy a set of clubs labeled "+1 inch," you need a crucial piece of data: your wrist-to-floor measurement. This, combined with your height, is the primary factor used in "static fittings" to determine your ideal club length. It's simple to do at home and provides a fantastic starting point.

Here’s how to get an accurate measurement:

1. Get into Position: Stand on a hard, level surface. Wear your golf shoes (or a similar athletic shoe) to get the most accurate height from the ground. Stand up straight with your shoulders relaxed and your arms hanging naturally at your sides.
2. Don't Cheat: This is a two-person job. Resist the urge to slump your shoulders or reach for the floor. Just stand tall and relaxed.
3. Take the Measurement: Have a friend use a tape measure to measure the distance from the floor up to the major crease in your wrist (the one where your palm meets your forearm). For a right-handed golfer, measure your left wrist, for a left-handed golfer, measure your right. Take the measurement a couple of times to be sure.

This number is vital because it accounts for arm length relative to your height. Two people who are 6'4" might have different wrist-to-floor measurements. A player with longer arms might not need as much extra length in their clubs as a player of the same height with shorter arms.

Using a Sizing Chart to Find Your Length

Once you have your height and your wrist-to-floor measurement, you can consult a static fit chart. Nearly every major club manufacturer has one available online. These charts cross-reference your two measurements to give you a recommended club length adjustment.

• A 6'4" golfer with a "standard" wrist-to-floor measurement (around 37-38 inches) will often land in the +1 inch category.
• If that same golfer has a shorter wrist-to-floor measurement (say, 39 inches or more), indicating proportionally shorter arms, the recommendation might be +1.5 inches.
• Conversely, a 6'4" player with very long arms and a wrist-to-floor measurement of 36 inches might only need +0.5 inches.

This "+1 inch" recommendation is a baseline, typically referencing a standard 5-iron or 7-iron length. As an important note, not every club in your bag gets a full inch added. Club lengths progress in half-inch increments throughout the set. So, if your 7-iron is +1 inch, your 8-iron will also be +1 inch longer than a standard 8-iron, maintaining that half-inch gap. Your driver and woods may only need a half-inch or so added, as they are already much longer.

Beyond Length: The Critical Role of Lie Angle

Getting the length right is step one, but it's only half the story. As soon as you add length to a golf club, you change its lie angle, and for a tall golfer, this is just as important as the length itself.

What is Lie Angle?

Lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the sole of the club when the clubhead is resting on the ground in its proper position. Imagine a line running up the center of the shaft and another along the middle of the grooved clubface. The angle they form is the lie angle.

Why It Matters for You

When a 6'4" golfer uses a longer shaft, the handle of the club is naturally higher at address. This can cause the heel of the clubhead to lift off the ground, leading the toe to dig into the turf at impact, a situation known as a "toe-down" impact.

When the toe digs in, it causes the clubface to open, sending the golf ball right (for a right-handed player).

Many tall golfers buy longer clubs without adjusting the lie angle and struggle with slices they think are swing flaws. Instead, it's often an equipment issue. Taller golfers typically need a more "upright" lie angle adjusted by a clubfitter to ensure the club's sole sits flat at impact, even with their taller, more upright swing plane.

A Quick At-Home Lie Angle Test

Here’s a simple way to check if your lie angle is correct:

1. Draw a straight, thick line on the back of your golf ball using a dry-erase marker.
2. Place the ball on a practice mat with the line facing your clubhead, perpendicular to the target line.
3. Hit the shot as you normally would.
4. Examine the clubface. The marker line will have transferred onto it.
   • If the line is perfectly vertical, your lie angle is correct.
   • If the line is angled toward the heel, your club is too upright.
   • If the line is angled toward the toe, your club is too flat (most common for tall players).

Adjusting the lie angle requires a specialized machine and should be done by a professional clubfitter. Most recommendations for taller players include a length increase combined with a lie angle adjustment (e.g., +1 inch in length and 2 degrees upright).

What About Grip and Shaft Flex?

While length and lie angle are the most important specs, a comprehensive fitting considers additional factors relevant for taller players.

Grip Size

Taller players often have larger hands. Using a standard-sized grip size with large hands can lead to a tight grip in the palms, promoting excessive wrist action and hooks. Opting for a midsize or jumbo grip allows the club to rest comfortably in the fingers, encouraging a lighter grip pressure and fluid swing.

Shaft Flex

Taller players often generate higher swing speeds due to longer levers. Your shaft flex needs to match your swing speed. A shaft that's too flexible leads to inconsistent strikes and shots that balloon and drift left. Conversely, a shaft that's too stiff will feel lifeless and result in low, right misses. A launch monitor is the best way to determine the correct flex for your swing speed.

Putting It All Together: The Value of a Professional Fitting

The wrist-to-floor measurement and sizing charts are excellent for getting you roughly in the right ballpark. If you're new to the game or play casually, a set that is +1 inch in length and 2 degrees upright is a significant improvement over a standard set.

However, if you are serious about improving, a dynamic custom fitting with a qualified professional is invaluable. A fitter will analyze real data like swing speed, ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate using a launch monitor. They consider not just your body measurements but your unique swing dynamics to tailor every club aspect, from length and lie angle to shaft profile and grip, optimizing them perfectly for you.

Final Thoughts

For a 6'4" golfer, buying clubs off the rack leads to bad habits and frustration. Understanding how your wrist-to-floor measurement relates to club length and lie angle allows you to make informed equipment choices, helping you stand taller, swing more freely, and frequently find the center of the clubface.

Once your clubs are fitted to your taller frame, the next step is to build confidence on the course with smart strategy. That’s where Caddie AI comes in as your personal golf expert. You can get instant advice on club selection, request strategies for tricky shots, or receive recommendations by snapping a photo of a difficult lie. Having the correct information in your gear and decisions enables you to swing with confidence every time.