Do Short Guys/Gals Have a Golf Advantage?

[warbirdlover]

You ever notice the majority of golf pros are short. I think it's alot like gymnasts and some sports where a smaller person can control his/her body better? I know Tiger is not short and Furyk, Ernie and Phail are tall but after a few of those guys the majority seem shorter. Look on the Champion Tour especially. How tall are you and what's your handicap? I'm about 6'0-6'1" and around a 10 handicap.

[Bama Duffer]

I've never computed a handicap, but I'm short (5'6") and I play like crap, usually in the low to mid 90's. I'm capable of playing in the 80's (like last week), but I always follow it up with a 90's next time (like last week).

[ezra76]

I don't know about this one WBL. Taller players have a definite distance advantage. Most of the pro's I like are right around or over 6ft. tall. Tiger, Vijay, Furyk, Ogilvy, Mickelson, Sergio, Scott, LoveIII, all right at or over 6ft. I am 6'1" and this is my 3rd year playing. I am down to a 10cap and hit a decent driver and iron distance equal to the pro average. I see a distance on TV and they almost always use the same club I would.

Just checked, of the top 10 in the world rankings, 2 guys are under 6ft. Sergio at 5'10" and Luke Donald at 5'9". I didn't know Furyk was so tall, 6'2".

[JEFF4i]

WBL is just trying to grab onto something here, but taller helps bud.

[warbirdlover]

I was bored so threw this out for fun. Remember Woosnam? He's a little guy and could hit right along with the tall guys.

[Dave Ireland]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

I was bored so threw this out for fun. Remember Woosnam? He's a little guy and could hit right along with the tall guys.

Yup WBL ... he also added 2 inches to his shafts to compensate his stature

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

WBL is just trying to grab onto something here, but taller helps bud.

Yeah, I can think of very few, if any cases where being relatively tall would be a disadvantage. I can think of many where it may help.

[atlgolfer]

I"m one of those short guys, around 5'6"~5'7" and because my swing arc is limited by my height, I would love to be around 6ft. I can't hit anything longer than 45" driver so no, having a longer driver does not help. I do ok as I shoot in the 80s on regular basis but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a bigger swing and just rip one...

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by atlgolfer

sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a bigger swing and just rip one...

Sometimes I just rip one. Seems to throw the other guys swing off for some reason.

[Bama Duffer]

Siber, that's one area where timing and wind direction are everything.

[goatster]

i dont know but ive stood next to Daly and he definately is not tall (what maybe 5`8")and he is one of the longest on tour.also he is not among the top ranked so i guess he would be a mixture of your theory.

[JEFF4i]

Daly isn't nearly as big as they portray him to be, yet Els is a big guy, his hands look like a bears.

On another note, I can just sere WBL sitting down in front of the computer trying to figure out an advantage, "think...think...think..." On a good note you're swing is smaller so trees aren't as big of concern.

[ezra76]

Interesting. I always thought Daly was fairly tall, like at least 5'10.

Hey Jeff, is that you in your avatar?

[JEFF4i]

Sure is, drop dead sexy I know.

[ezra76]

Dang, you may be skinnier than me. I thought I was Mr. lanky longballer, a swingspeed pushing 115 at a solid 6'1" 155. I'm all fast-twitch muscle though.