Short People, Long Clubs

[MikeLowry5]

So for all of the short guys out there who hit the driver well, did it take awhile or did it come easily?

I'm 5-8 and swinging the driver has been a chore for me in my short time playing golf. I feel that the club has to get so flat that I'm almost swinging across my body.

Not much content here, just looking for thoughts.

Those guys who are 6-3 have it so much easier...

[Vance87]

I agree haha...and yes it takes some practice...I had a real upright swing and at 5'8 that let to terrible results with the driver, 3-wood, and the long irons. I just sliced it all over the place. I use the Stack and Tilt philosophy so I emply a flatter, in-to-out swing. Has helped me a whole bunch.

Also check out Ben Hogan, he was 5'7 and see how flat his swing was. Shorter guys have flatter swings for a reason.

[flopdarock]

im thinking 5'8 - 5'10 is the range most stock shafts are made for... i might be wrong tho... cuz most taller guys i know have to lengthen their clubs...

maybe try choking up or reshafting with a shorter shaft?

[Bubba_13]

So for all of the short guys out there who hit the driver well, did it take awhile or did it come easily?

I am only 5'6 and 150 lbs. I can consistently hit my driver 240-260. The driver has always been my most consistent club even when I was using a stock set of Golden Rams. IMO it is all about you swing mechanics. I was fortunate that I was able to hit my driver from the beginning.

Keep working at it and perhaps try some lessons. I don't think it has anything to do with your height. I hit the ball better than two of my friends who are 6' and 6'2.

[Nickynoodles]

Have the shaft cut 2 inches and a little weight added and wallah. You have the perfect club for you. You know you can have a club custom made for you right? Clubs off the shelf are not one size fits all. Go get fitted for a driver and you will be comfortable.

[MikeLowry5]

Have the shaft cut 2 inches and a little weight added and wallah. You have the perfect club for you. You know you can have a club custom made for you right? Clubs off the shelf are not one size fits all. Go get fitted for a driver and you will be comfortable.

Yea but I'm so in my head with the driver at a shop that I stay away from those similators like the plague. I don't even know if I swing a club fast enough to warrant stiff shafts or not.

In two horror sessions I hit it close to the hosel on a demo driver every swing and then blocked the a few others something terrible and with the 07 Burner I topped the ball 3 times and was done, walked out of GG with my head down not looking at anyone! Just NEVER practice with the driver at the range, always working on my irons up through my 3 wood. The three wood off the deck has a decent flight but I tend to go through stretches when I get tired and start hitting low pull hooks with it. I'd love to get a complete fitting with all of my clubs however when I got my irons checked at GG for the lie they would not even look at the length because I told them I just started playing and had been making some big changes in the swing.

[Vance87]

I am only 5'6 and 150 lbs. I can consistently hit my driver 240-260. The driver has always been my most consistent club even when I was using a stock set of Golden Rams. IMO it is all about you swing mechanics. I was fortunate that I was able to hit my driver from the beginning.

I think it does matter actually, if you play with a vertical swing and you are male of 5'8 or below, you are bound to play a fade if you hit it consistent. It just makes sense and that's with experience too. I don't hit slices or fades anymore because I switched to a flatter swing.

Clubs aren't one size fits all, and in fact the regular club length is made for a guy who's about 5'10. 2 inches makes a difference.

[Nickynoodles]

I think it does matter actually, if you play with a vertical swing and you are male of 5'8 or below, you are bound to play a fade if you hit it consistent. It just makes sense and that's with experience too. I don't hit slices or fades anymore because I switched to a flatter swing.

Yea thats basically what i said.

[OnTheMoney]

So for all of the short guys out there who hit the driver well, did it take awhile or did it come easily?

I definelty feel your pain... I'm 5'8 and have been struggling with the Drver. I'm constantly tweaking my swing for a good drive. I just bought a used Titleist 905R 8.5 Stiff and had the length cut to 44 inches. I'm hitting the club well but one key to my improvement is gettng a proffesional instructor to video tape my swing and show me my problem. I also asked for drills to help correct the issue. Please note: cutting the shaft was for control and a quck fit, it is not the solution. Good luck.

[DaSportsGuy]

I got fitted. Had them take 1/4 in. off the shaft and it really helped. Didn't seem like a whole lot to me but I'm swinging the driver with much more confidence and results now.

[MikeLowry5]

Did you choke up before?

I have tried that and it does not help me.

[shaank0]

i am 5'6 and have a Nike sumo 5900 factory spec'd and i to feel that i swing across my body. I have tuned my swing to hit a fade and land in or in the close vicinity of the fairway. My average drives are 265-275 I have gotten lucky and surprised my self with 290.

So their is hope just keep practicing.

personally i choke down on the club 2inches. i align my self with the right side of the tee box and aim to the 10 yards outside of the left side of the fairway.

make sure you swing through the ball just not at it.

[luckyluke699]

I may be wrong here but I believe that a standard length club is stil built traditionally around a player of aound 5'9"-5'10" in height. I don't use Ping clubs (not tried them so far as been out of my price range!) but their colour code (dot system) chart below shows a little bit of proof of this. 5'10" (with no lie angle adjustment) is slap bang in the middle...

http://www.ping.com/uploadedFiles/Cu...Code_Chart.pdf

[grandaddy510]

i'm 5'8 and it seems the only way i can hit my driver is if i flatten my swing way out. what i've noticed though is that i have lost distance and the swing might be too flat and cutting across the ball on the downswing. i play a big fade slice with it i can't for the life of me draw it..actually i can only draw my 7 iron and up..if clubs are too long, is it harder to come from in to out?

[MikeLowry5]

Well I hit alot of pushes and low pull hooks with the longer clubs. The pull hooks come off of the toe and the pushes come from the center to heel portion.

[localhawaii]

This is an interesting thread. I am 5'5" and about 138lbs and I average about 260 on my drives. Not once have I ever thought about getting my driver shortened. I even remember watching some tournament with Tadd Fujikawa (I think he is like 5'2") and the announcer saying it was easier for shorter players to hit drivers because we are naturally swinging the club around our body flatter than being more at an angle. Not sure if I totally buy into it, but I did find it interesting...

[Vance87]

For me...I take the hands in...and think of putting my hands behind my right bicep at the top of my backswing. You could try that or a variation to see if it works