The USGA doesn't set many regulations regarding the length of men's and women's golf clubs. You'll find nearly a full page outlining correct procedure if a bird's nest interferes with your stroke or your ball lands next to a rattlesnake, but club length is relegated to Appendix II of the USGA's 2009 Revised Rules. As long as your club is at least 18 inches long and no more than 48, it's legal as far as length. When it comes to playing your best game, however, outfitting yourself with clubs that are the right length for you is key.
USGA Rules
The USGA writes, interprets and maintains the rules of golf in conjunction with the R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland. The most recent version became effective on Jan. 1, 2008. Section 1C of Appendix II outlines legal club lengths. For practical purposes, the length of your club is defined as the distance between the top of the grip to the sole of the club head. The USGA Research and Test Center evaluates manufacturers' clubs to determine conformance to all specifications, and your clubs should come with a seal of approval from the USGA.
Beginners
Custom fitting golf clubs for beginners is easy. Whether you're male or female is important simply because club manufacturers use a different standard length for men and women. About 80 percent of golfers use standard-length clubs, according to Pine Meadow Golf. Otherwise, you need to know your height without shoes on, and the number of inches from the bend in your wrist to the floor, also without shoes on. If you have long arms, even if you're tall, the ideal club length for you might be less than someone much shorter -- if their arms are average length. Seek advice from a professional outfitter if you think you fall out of the standard range.
Men's Standard
The standard length of a man's steel-shaft driver is 43 inches, according to Pine Meadow Golf. Drivers with graphite shafts are an inch longer since they weigh less and allow for the same swing weight as heavier steal-shafted drivers. Men's standard lengths for graphite shafts include titanium driver of 45 inches, 1-wood or drivers of 44 inches, 3-wood of 43 inches, 5-wood of 42 inches, 7-, 9- and 11-woods of 42 inches, 1-iron of 40.25 inches, 2-iron of 39.75 inches, 3-iron of 39.25 inches, 4-iron of 38.75 inches, 5-iron of 38.25 inches, 6-iron of 37.75 inches, 7-iron of 37.75 inches, 8-iron of 36.75 inches, 9-iron of 36.25 inches and a putter with a steel shaft of 34 inches.
Women's Standard
Around 22 percent of the 26 million adult golfers in the United States are women, according to the Ladies Golf Equipment website. Because women have wider hips, more mass and weight in the chest and tend to be less strong, there are necessary differences between men's and women's golf clubs. Generally, women's clubs are about an inch shorter than men's. According to Pine Meadow Golf, the standard lengths for women's graphite clubs are titanium drivers of 45 inches, 1-wood or driver of 43 inches, 3-wood of 42 inches, 5-, 7-, 9 and 11-woods of 41 inches, 1-iron of 39.25 inches, 2-iron of 38.75 inches, 3-iron of 38.25 inches, 4-iron of 37.75 inches, 5-iron of 37.25 inches, 6-iron of 36.75 inches, 7-iron of 36.75 inches, 8-iron of 35.75 inches, 9-iron of 35.25 inches and steel-shafted putter of 33 inches.
Advanced
Longer golf clubs give you a wider swing arc and will hit the ball farther with the same swing speed -- provided you can control your swing, reports Pine Meadow Golf. Longer drives can be a good thing, but since your swing arc is longer, your club will be harder to control and might lead to some misfires unless you have pretty good control of your swing. However, with today's lighter-weight titanium and oversize clubhead technology, most golfers opt for a longer length club and hope that modern technology will overcome errors, according to Pine Meadow Golf.
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