As the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, and in this article, I will explain the differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs.

Many of our readers have asked us about the differences, both from curiosity and from them considering using the opposite gender’s clubs.

After reading this article, you’ll know the most important differences, as well as what clubs you can use. 

Difference Between Men’s Vs Women’s Golf Clubs

Here we’ve covered the most significant differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs. There are many areas where they differ, but mainly length, weight, flex, and design. 

Difference in Length

Men’s and women’s golf clubs differ in length to accommodate the average height and physical proportions of each gender. When it comes to standard gear, men’s clubs are longer than women’s clubs. 

This allows male players to maximize their swing speed and distance, at the same time as they can remain comfortable. Women’s clubs, on the other hand, are shorter, which makes them more natural to use and provides better control and consistency. 

Usually, women’s clubs are about 1 to 2 inches shorter than men’s clubs. 

Difference in Weight

The weight of golf clubs also varies between men’s and women’s models. Men’s clubs are generally heavier, enabling male golfers to generate more power in their swings. 

Women’s clubs are lighter, as women typically have less upper body strength than men.

The lighter weight facilitates higher clubhead speed for female players, promoting higher ball trajectory and greater distance.

Difference in Flex 

The flex affects the golf ball’s trajectory and spin rates, and the shaft needs to suit the golfer. Men’s clubs usually have stiffer shafts to accommodate their faster swing speeds, which provides them with more control. Women’s clubs have more flexible shafts to suit their slower swings, allowing them to get the proper launch with less effort.

To exemplify, a women’s flex is less stiff than a male senior shaft.

This shows how large the distance is between a lady flex and a men’s regular flex.  

Difference in Design

The design of men’s and women’s golf clubs also differ. Firstly, the grips on women’s clubs are much smaller, which suits many women as their hands tend to be smaller. 

Secondly, the golf clubs for females usually have higher lofts to help with launching the golf ball. This is especially apparent in fairway woods and the driver. Men’s drivers have a standard loft of 10.5 degrees, while women’s drivers are usually found in 12 degrees. 

Thirdly, men’s irons usually have steel shafts, while women’s irons almost always have graphite shafts. 

Lastly, the clubheads can be different, but how they’re different depends on the manufacturer and the model. For example, some clubs for women will have larger sweet spots to improve accuracy, and the center of gravity is often moved to further help with the launch. 

Can a Woman Use Men’s Golf Clubs?

Women can definitely use and benefit from men’s golf clubs if they meet certain criteria that align with the characteristics of these clubs. Specifically, if a woman is relatively tall at over 5 feet 9 inches, and has an adequate swing speed, men’s clubs may be a viable option. 

The extra length in men’s clubs can suit some women, allowing for a more comfortable and balanced setup.

Additionally, if a woman has a swing speed comparable to that of male golfers, the stiffer shafts in men’s clubs can perform much better. 

But with that said, individual preferences and professional club fitting advice should always be taken into account, as you otherwise risk purchasing something that doesn’t suit your unique body and skills.

Should a Tall Woman Use Men’s Golf Clubs?

A tall woman should consider using men’s golf clubs if she is relatively tall, with an example being over 5 feet 9 inches.

Men’s clubs are typically 1 to 2 inches longer, which suits taller women.

However, it’s crucial to factor in swing speed.

Some women will be quite tall, but they might still not swing the golf club as fast as men. An exact swing speed is difficult to determine, but we’d say it’s somewhere over 70 mph. 

The grip size found in men’s golf clubs might not be suitable if her hands are relatively small, but grips can always be changed, of course. 

Can a Man Use Women’s Golf Clubs?

Just like with female golfers using men’s clubs, some men can absolutely use women’s golf clubs. Ladies’ golf clubs are shorter and have less stiff shafts, which can suit shorter male golfers who are on the shorter side and don’t have a lot of swing speed. 

One thing to watch out for is the grips. Women typically have smaller hands than men, which is why their golf grips are smaller. This is something that won’t suit most men. 

Should a Short Man Use Women’s Golf Clubs?

Normally, a short man shouldn’t use women’s golf clubs.

Despite the length of women’s golf clubs perhaps being better than the standard length of men’s, shorter men usually have more clubhead speed than women of the same height.

That’s why a shorter man often needs male clubs with a shortened club length. With a shaft that’s not stiff enough, which lady flexes rarely are for men, you will have a really hard time controlling the golf ball, which often results in misses to the left. 

How to Find the Appropriate Golf Clubs for You

Here, we’ve made a short but concise guide on how you can find the appropriate golf clubs for you, no matter your gender. Generally, men should use male clubs, and vice versa, but there are exceptions. 

Based on Swing Speed

One of the key differences between male and female golf clubs is the shaft flex.

To play your best golf, you need the suitable flex in all of your clubs.

For men, if you have a really slow swing speed of less than 70 mph, you should consider clubs with a lady flex. 

Based on Height 

The other main difference between men’s and women’s clubs is the length of the club shafts. If you’re a man under 5 foot 9 inches, women’s clubs can suit your height. However, that’s not always the case, and you should do a club fitting before buying clubs for the opposite gender. 

Summary

If you’re a man who doesn’t have a lot of swing speed and is under 5 foot 9 inches, you should consider women’s clubs with perhaps larger grips.

If you’re a woman who’s over 5 foot 9 and has a relatively high swing speed of over 70 mph, you should consider men’s clubs. 

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between men’s and women’s golf clubs?

There are many significant differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs. Men’s clubs are generally longer, heavier, and have stiffer shafts. This is because men are normally taller and have higher swing speeds. 

Women’s clubs are usually shorter, lighter, and have more flexible shafts. The design of women’s clubheads can also be different than men’s, with special weighting to optimize performance as an example.

Can a man use a women’s golf clubs?

Male golfers can definitely use women’s golf clubs; it all comes down to your unique body and swing. If you’re a man on the shorter side, the shorter shafts found in women’s clubs can be great. Also, if you have a slower-than-average swing speed, the less stiff shafts can help your game.

However, we wouldn’t recommend most men to go for women’s clubs without doing a professional fitting. Generally, most men that consider women’s clubs are actually better helped with male clubs that have shorter and senior-flex shafts. 

How much longer are men’s golf clubs than women’s?

Men’s golf clubs are almost always noticeably longer than women’s. The exact difference depends on the manufacturer and model, but generally speaking, men’s golf clubs are about 1 to 2 inches longer than women’s. 

Are mens and womens golf club heads the same?

Sometimes, men’s and women’s golf clubheads are the same, but sometimes they’re not. This depends on the manufacturer and model.

It’s common for golf equipment companies, such as TaylorMade, Titleist, and Callaway, to tweak the clubhead’s technology for their lady golf clubs. 

Examples of this are different weightings and a changed center of gravity, as well as a larger sweet spot. 

Conclusion:

There are many significant differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs. Women golfers are usually shorter and have slower swing speeds than men, making it necessary for them to have suitable equipment. 

Club manufacturers enable females to play great golf by shortening the shafts, loosening the flex, and making alterations to the clubheads. 

Very tall women with relatively high swing speed can benefit from using men’s clubs, and men on the shorter side who don’t swing the club very fast can play better with women’s clubs. 

It all comes down to your body and swing. But generally speaking, most women should play clubs for females, and vice versa.