Do Golf Club Extensions Work? (Explained)
To be honest, getting fitted golf clubs made a tremendous difference in my game. But if you cannot get fitted, lengthening a golf club with a shaft extension can be an effective way to get your preferred fit even with a shorter club.
Do golf club extensions work, or are these claims nothing but hype?
In general, a shaft extender increases distance and club head speed. Lengthening a club’s shaft can help with ball contact, thus improving your golf game. It also increases comfortability depending on your height.
However, there are a few things to consider before throwing a shaft extension on your driver. Here’s what you should know and maybe save some money.
How to know if I need extended golf clubs?
Shaft extensions can be an excellent option if your current clubs don’t have the right fit.
If you purchased off-the-shelf clubs without considering the fit, or if your swing speed has changed since you purchased your clubs, extending the shaft of the clubs is a more cost-effective option than purchasing new clubs so you can always hit the club’s sweet spot.
Get a better sense of what it would cost to have your clubs extended and compare that against the cost of a new set of clubs.
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How Much Does It Cost to Get a Golf Club Extended?
The cost of lengthening a golf club can vary based on many factors, including the type of club you’re adding length to, the number of clubs you’re extending, and the material of the shaft.
For steel shafts, costs can range from $5 to $50. Personally, I prefer steel extensions. For graphite shafts, expect costs between $10 and $75.
Plastic extensions are an option as well, but I have never found great success with them.
In addition to paying to lengthen the clubs, you’ll have to cover the cost of custom grips. This usually costs somewhere between $4 and $10 per club.
You can check on some of the prices here on Amazon.
While it’s possible to lengthen your clubs yourself with the right materials, you could potentially damage your clubs in the process.
If you’re interested in golf club extensions, getting quotes from club customization and repair companies near you is best.
Does Lengthening a Golf Club Change the Lie Angle?
The lie angle of a golf club directly impacts the direction the clubface points toward and hits it on the sweet spot.
If your lie angle is below standard, your clubface will point right. If it’s above standard, it will point left.
Ideally, your lie angle should be somewhere between 55 to 65 degrees for a driver shaft and 59 to 65 degrees for irons.
The lie angle of a club is directly impacted by its length, which is why lengthening a club can be an effective way to change that angle.
Generally speaking, adding 1/2 inch of length will adjust the angle by 1 degree. The difference won’t be dramatic, but it should be noticeable.
Check out my other article: Are All Golf Driver Tools The Same?
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How Do You Measure for Golf Club Extensions?
When clubs are fitted professionally, experts look at several factors when determining the right length, including:
- The overall height of the golfer
- The golfer’s wrist-to-floor measurements
- The golfer’s swing
Similar practices can be followed when lengthening the shorter shaft of a golf club.
Most clubs are designed for golfers between 5’7″ and 6’1″. Golfers that are taller than 6’1″ — or shorter than 5’7″ — may have to adjust their clubs to get the right fit.
With that said, even a golfer who’s within the standard height range could have issues with the fit of their club.
Read more information here: How Long Do Golf Club Shafts Last?
Even if two people are exactly the same height, they may not have the same wrist-to-floor measurements, making getting them the proper club a chore and best left to a professional.
The standard wrist-to-floor measurements for golf clubs should fall between 34″ and 37″. Golfers with a measurement of 37″ or more may need extensions.
Take the time to calculate your exact height and your wrist-to-floor measurements. Use that information to decide if your clubs should be extended.
While it’s typical to extend a club’s length by 1/4 inch for every 1 inch of excess height, it’s best to get fitted before adjusting your clubs.
| Size of usual golf clubs | Between 5’7″ and 6’1 |
| The standard wrist-to-floor measurements for golf clubs | 34″ and 37″ |
| Typical to extend a club’s length | 1/4 inch for every 1 inch of excess height |
What Happens When You Extend Your Club Shaft?
The effects of golf club extensions can vary based on the type of club you’re lengthening. Extending short irons and wedges should help you get more distance, but you may not see the same kinds of results from longer clubs.
You don’t necessarily have to lengthen all your clubs, even if you’re taller. Think carefully about which clubs could use the extra length.
Adding more length will impact the swing weight of the club as well.
In the short term, extending your clubs could reduce your distance and swing weight, but with practice, you should be able to adjust to these changes.
Plan ahead and ensure you’ll have time to practice with your clubs after they’ve been extended.
While golf club extensions can change the flex of a club, you should be able to avoid this problem if you choose an extender with a flex that’s similar to your clubs.
Don’t just opt for the cheapest extensions available. Instead, think about the best way to achieve your desired results.
How Can You Tell If Your Golf Clubs Are Too Short?
Not sure you need to have your clubs extended? Even if you’re taller, you shouldn’t assume that your clubs must be lengthened. Instead, you should assess the fit of your clubs.
Have you noticed that your ball tends to veer off to the right?
These are common signs that your clubs are too short.
Try adjusting your swing to see if it makes a difference. If you still have issues, take measurements and consider extending your current clubs.
How to Tell if my Clubs are Too Short?
Conclusion
If you are serious about improving your game, getting clubs that are fitted to you is highly recommended.
Having that done, I cut down my “fat” shots and topped off the ball immensely.
So, if you are not in the market for new clubs and want to stick with the ones you already have, go with some extensions.
