Question

5.97K viewsAugust 30, 2022

Pingman 24 July 1, 2021 0 Comments

I want to build my new set of clubs, which will be the first time I’ve done this before. I am confused about the size of the shaft to use. I’m building a complete set of hybrids to replace all my irons, from 3 to pitching wedge, and I’m using graphite shafts instead of steel. My current set has steel shafts 1.5″ longer than standard, which I’ve come to prefer. I might actually like even longer, to be honest.

Anyway, using the Golfworks ruler, it says standard length per iron is about .5″ longer than the standard steel club length. So should I go 2″ over standard (steel standard) with my new set of full hybrids? The Gofworks ruler suggests an even longer club for hybrids, which these technically are, though they are a full set from 3 to pitching wedge. Should I use that standard and add 1.5″ to it? Thoughts?

Britt Lindsey Answered question July 6, 2021

4 Answers

Answer 1 · 2021-07-06T18:32:12+00:00

First, wrist to floor measurements do not help in any way determine the proper length of a golf club. It was a method developed to give club fitters a base to start with, but truly has nothing to do with finding the right playing length of clubs. Basically all it’s good for is determining what the persons wrist to floor measurement is. Experience of the fitter, visuals (meaning how the club looks at address), impact labels, impact data and feedback from the player are the way length should be fit. As far as graphite being longer than steel, the comments are correct in that it was done that way for swing weight purposes. Length should fit you no matter what the material of the shaft is. The swing weight will drop a bit going from steel to graphite if there is a difference in the shaft weight. If the drop in swing weight effects the feel negatively, then you can add some weight back to the head. My suggestion is to not worry about swing weight and fit the length properly. Tweak the swing weight as needed, but at 1.5″ over standard, it should be in a decent range with the graphite shaft. If you use heavier Jumbo grips, that will also contribute to a lower swing weight and it makes it more likely you would need to add a few grams of head weight. But, maybe not. Remember, even though the swing weight number may drop due to the lighter shaft, the head weight will constitute a greater percentage of the total weight of the club once the lighter shaft is installed, even with jumbo grips at 60-65 grams. This sometimes makes up for the drop in swing weight number with regards to the head feel. I have fit a lot of players with longer clubs going from steel to graphite and they did not loose head feel, even though the swing weight number was lower due to the lighter weight of the graphite shaft. so, it’s not a given that you will have to add head weight back to get to a certain swing weight number.

Britt Lindsey

Answer 2 · 2021-07-03T15:34:17+00:00

Daniel has the correct answer above. The only reason graphite shafts are longer is to provide a swingweight which is higher. IMO if you hit a steel shafted 7 iron well, use the same length in a graphite shaft, and adjust the SW in the club head.

Answer 3 · 2021-07-02T19:56:36+00:00

Shaft length should be a function of your wrist to floor measurement. If your current shafts are 1.5 inches longer than standard (there is not really a true standard), then you must be rather tall or have an unusually long wrist to floor measurement.

For the sake of setting the bar, many will consider a standard length 7-iron to be 37″. The shafts of iron clubs above and below that 7 iron can be changed in 1/2″ increments. Most often graphite shafts are cut 1/2″ longer than steel in order to maintain the club’s swing-weight, as graphite shafts are normally much lighter than steel shafts. You could cut the graphite shafts to the same length as steel, but you would need to add weight to the club head to normalize the swing-weight.

While it depends on one’s ball striking ability, generally the longer a shaft the less the average golfer will hit the ball in the center of the clubface, especially on long irons or woods/drivers. Conversely, a longer shaft, on an on center hit, will produce more distance, as the increased shaft length will produce greater club head speed (basic physics).

What set of hybrid club heads are you looking to make into a set? The weight of the individual club heads, as well as the weight of your shafts, will have a significant role in how long the shaft should be. If you do not have that data, an accurate scale, or a swing-weight scale, then you can build a set quite easily, but your clubheads could turn out very inconsistent in their measurements, and that could affect your game.

I would ask you what is your current index (handicap)? If you do not have one, what do you shoot for 18 holes on average? How many yards do you hit your 7-iron and your driver?

Answer 4 · 2021-07-04T02:32:55+00:00

Put the ruler away. start with a cseven iron that is 2.5 in longer. I have never fit anyone longer than this. start working downward till you can get a tight pattern. then start weighting till you get the pattern near the center of the clubface. Then build making the clubs in .4 in incrrements. That is all you can basically do unless you have some expensive equipment. I suggest you have an air compressor to blow on and off the grips. Good luck.

Should I worry about swing weight? I want to use jumbo grips, but they make the swing weight in the E’s. Should I even worry about that? I don’t want to have to add a lot of weight to the head to lower the weight if it’s not necessary.