United States Golf Association
andR&A Rules Limited
PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING
THE LENGTH OF
GOLF CLUBS(Excluding Putters)

USGA-TPX3002
Revision 1.0.0
January 2, 2007

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Change RecordPage Section
45.0

DateDetails

1/2/07

Corrected angle label in Figure 5.1(c) – Clubhead Support Assembly2United States Golf Association
andR&A Rules Limited

PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING
THE LENGTH OF
GOLF CLUBS(Excluding Putters)

1. Scope
1.1 This method covers the procedure for measuring the length of golf clubs (excluding putters) asadministered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and R&A Rules Limited (R&A).
1.2 The results of the conformance tests are used in determining conformity of the club to the Rules ofGolf, Appendix II, Rule 1c.
1.3 The values stated in imperial units are to be regarded as standard. The values stated in SI units are for
information only.
2. Applicable Documents
2.1 USGA and R&A documents:·Rules of Golf
3. Summary of Method
3.1 With the club situated in a specified lie orientation, the length of a golf club from the end of the grip
to the sole of the clubhead is determined.
NOTE: This procedure may change and the test tolerances may be reduced as the test methods arerefined.
4. Significance
4.1 This method measures the length of golf clubs, other than putters, to determine the conformity toAppendix II, Rule 1c of the Rules of Golf.
The length of the club shall not be greater than 48.0 in. (121.9 cm).

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5.0 Procedure for Measurement of Club Length
5.0.1 The measurement of length is made with the club set on a horizontal plane while the sole is set
against a 60 degree plane, Figure 5.0.1. The length is defined as the distance from the point of
the intersection between the two planes to the end of the grip.

60°

Club Length
Figure 5.0.1– Convention for Club Length Measurement
5.1 Place the club length measuring apparatus, Figures 5.1(a), (b) and (c), on a flat, stable surface.

Grip Support
Assembly

Digital Scale

Clubhead
SupportAssembly

Figure 5.1(a) – Club Length Measurement Apparatus
Clubhead
Support SolePlate

Clubhead
SupportFace Plate

Grip Support
Butt Plate

120°

Figure 5.1(b) – Grip Support Assembly

Figure 5.1(c) – Clubhead Support Assembly45.2 Depress the “ON” button to activate the digital scale.
5.3 Prior to measurement the apparatus must be calibrated.
5.3.1 Slide the grip support assembly to the left until it reaches the end of the apparatus.
5.3.2 Place the calibration rod into the apparatus making sure that the right end of the rod rests against the60° sole plate of the clubhead support.
(Note: If a right handed club is to be measured then the calibration and measurement must be
performed using the supports for right-handed clubs which are closest to the operator. Calibrationand measurement for left-handed clubs must use the supports furthest from the operator.)
5.3.3 Gently slide the grip support assembly back to the right until the butt plate just touches the end ofthe calibration rod and then zero the digital scale, Figure 5.3.3.
Calibration Rod
against the Grip
Support Butt Plate

Calibration Rod

Calibration Rod
against theClubhead Support
Sole Plate

Figure 5.3.3–Calibration of the Length Measurement
5.4 With the apparatus now calibrated, remove the calibration rod and place the club in the measurement
device with the clubhead resting in the clubhead support and the grip resting in the grip support,
Figure 5.4.

Figure 5.4–Club in Measurement Apparatus

55.4.1 Once the club is in place gently rock it back and forth and side to side to make sure that it is not
being constrained in any way and that the clubhead is resting naturally in the measurement
apparatus. When the club is resting naturally, the sole of the club should be touching the clubhead
support sole plate and the face or leading edge of the clubhead should be touching the faceplate,Figure 5.4.1.
Clubface againstthe Clubhead
Support Face Plate

Club sole againstthe Clubhead
Support Sole Plate

Figure 5.4.1 – Clubhead Resting Naturally in the Clubhead Support
5.5 Gently slide the grip support assembly back to the right until the butt plate just touches the end of thegrip and then read the value on the digital scale, Figure 5.3.3(a) and 5.5(b).

Figure 5.5(a) – Slide Grip Support Assembly to the End of the Grip

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End of Grip against
the Grip Support
Butt Plate

Figure 5.5(b) –End of the Grip against Grip Support Butt Plate
5.5.1 If the reading is less than or equal to 0.0 then the club length is less than 48.0-in. and the clubconforms to the club length standard.
5.5.2 If the reading is greater than 0.0 then the club length is greater than 48.0-in. and the club does notconform to the club length standard.

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