Can I use clubs that "may" be a little long?

[looseleftie]

Hello,

I am looking at buying some news clubs, I had a hit with them during the week but are a little longer than my usual clubs.. Eg, 5iron 39.5, instead of 38inc for 5'9 and 1/2 male golfer.. Looked at a golf club length chart for the info!..I'm hitting about an inch and a half over the suggested length.

Confused, I liked them, shot ok (for a newbie), just wanted to know whether I can use these regularly without having to get them cut down an inch or more????

As a newbie, can I simply get use to these clubs and adjust swing plane? More of a rounded swing, like a driver or longer club.

Thoughts always appreciated here.

Cheers guys.

[Mattplusness]

Can you use them? Absolutely.

But speaking as someone who started this game without getting clubs fit, don't do it. You're just going to hit duffs, skulls, fats, and everything in the book but a solid contact shot.

You'll thank yourself for getting clubs lengthened/shortened at the beginning.

[looseleftie]

Cheers Matt, yeah it makes sense, but there is a stubborn part of that really wants to keep these clubs and improve with them..

Love to read others thoughts also

..

[Mattplusness]

Originally Posted by looseleftie

Cheers Matt, yeah it makes sense, but there is a stubborn part of that really wants to keep these clubs and improve with them..

Love to read others thoughts also

..

I was also thinking more, and having to adjust your swing for longer clubs is going to create more problems later when you decide to get a set made for you.

[WUTiger]

What is the source of the clubs? Are you buying them from another person?

Two things go consider: Can you get the shafts trimmed? If they are trimmed, will the lie angle fit you? If they were "custom fit" for a  taller player, they might be more upright in lie than you need. Note that some clubs can have the lie angle adjusted only at the factory due to danger of damaging the club hosels (sleeve in clubhead where shaft fits).

Are used iron sets unusually scarce in your area? Any chance you could find a golf course pro shop or an off-course golf shop where you might find more "normal" length clubs? Height of 5-foot-9 is in the middle of the "average" size for male golfers.

Once you find such a shop, at the very least get a basic static fitting for the clubs: have the clubsmith check for...

• shaft length and lie angle relative to your height, arm length and stance.
• shaft flex and bend point appropriate for how much clubhead speed you generate, and...
• grip thickness according to hand size.

If a set is close to what you need, a good golf shop can tweak it to match you. Keep us posted, let us know what happens!

[looseleftie]

WUTiger, yes I can get them cut down, they are definately too long for me, although I played with them today and choked down the 2 inches, however some clubs felt poor upon impact (lie angle possibly), most felt fine... It's hard as a newbie, so many questions lol!!! You simply do not know what it should feel like, but did hit some good shots.. It's all positive.. Just have to get them fitted for me, and away I go..