I'm not the tallest golfer on the planet, so when I first started playing golf I used a set of hand-me-down women’s irons. I believed that because they had a lightweight women's shaft that they were perfectly suitable for me, no consideration was given to whether they were right for my height.
For petite women golfers, using clubs that are too long will affect your posture because you will end up standing too far away from the ball with little or no spine tilt and this will also lead to a distinct lack of control.
The longer your golf clubs, the more they will weigh. This might only be a slight difference, but every gram counts when it comes to control. Do you get to the end of a game of golf feeling exhausted? Does swinging your clubs sometimes feel a bit laborious? The chances are the clubs you are using are not only too long but also too heavy and added weight can lead to an inconsistent swing.
Standard women's clubs are designed for a 5'7" golfer. The shorter you are, the more you will benefit from a set that is custom-fit for your petite height. A standard women's driver shaft, for instance, is 44 inches long. Mine, which has been custom-fit, is two inches shorter than standard.
Finding a set of women’s golf clubs that are specifically made for petite women is not easy because the main manufacturers want to encourage custom fitting, but there are some great women's package sets available, especially for beginner or game improver golfers.
We have tested some of the best clubs for shorter women and our guide will provide you with all the information you need from off-the-shelf sets to custom fit options from the leading brands producing the best women’s golf clubs. You might also want to check out our guides on best golf drivers for women, best golf irons for women, and best women's putters.
Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media and events, predominantly dedicated to golf, in particular the women’s game. Until 2020, for over a decade Alison edited Women & Golf magazine and website, and in addition to writing, overseeing all content and developing industry relationships, she was the go-to voice for TV and radio to comment on breaking women’s golf stories.
Quick List
The Reva set is an premium it gets when we think of package sets, providing luxurious looks, top quality performance and high level components.
If you're looking for a slightly more budget-friendly option, the Magnolia set from Wilson can provide that. They look the part, provide loads of forgiveness and are the perfect starting point for ladies who are only beginning to play the sport.
Who doesn't want a set of user-friendly golf clubs? Especially when starting out, a set of very forgiving clubs can help you fall in love with the game and that is exactly what the Fly XL set from Cobra can provide.
The Power V3 set from Confidence Golf will hopefully provide you with just that - confidence on the golf course. It's also available at a really purse-friendly price.
Like all clubs in the Ping G Le3 range, this driver provides ultimate forgiveness for consistently long and straight shots.
Kalea premier irons are well-designed, high-performing clubs that have wide appeal to female golfers.
Best Ladies Petite Golf Clubs
Best premium set
Callaway offers a custom fitting service, but petite beginner golfers might also want to consider the Reva 11-piece golf because in addition to the standard size, there’s a shorter option for women who are 5’ 1” and under, and it's one of the most popular women's golf sets on the market. Callaway's Reva set includes eleven clubs from driver all the way to putter, engineered with the female player in mind and delivering premium performance.
I'll start by complimenting the looks of this set, which are fantastic. I particularly liked the look of both the driver and fairway woods - big circular target-style sweet spot on the face looked impossible to miss and it also acted as a great focus point when behind the golf ball, while the fairway woods were sleek and encouraging to hit.
In terms of performance, the driver was again a stand out performer thanks to the easily achievable high launch and the pleasing high-pitched 'ping' sound upon impact. The irons are super lightweight which will suit petite players wonderfully, whilst they're also incredibly easy to hit. At the other end of the bag, the Odyssey Stroke Lab putter really is the cherry on top of the cake. One of the few critiques I would have is lack of specialist wedges for more creative shot-making around the greens, but despite this small point this remains an excellent package set for petite players and those less experienced in the sport.
- Read our full Callaway Reva Ladies Package Set Review
Best looking set
Wilson Magnolia Package Set
The Wilson Magnolia set impresses with its design, performance, and value. The set includes a high-lofted driver, 3-wood, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids, 7 iron through sand wedge, putter, and a lightweight trolley bag, making it one of the best beginner sets available for petite women.
It may be lower on the price scale but there is no lack in quality in this set. The lightweight graphite shafts on the woods and irons are particular strong points, proving excellent for petite players due to how easy they are to swing. The hybrids, designed with strong lofts, a large sweet spot, and low head weighting, are versatile and effective from various lies, particularly the rough whilst the driver features an oversized head which helps achieve easy, high loft and plenty of forgiveness.
Like the driver, the oversized irons are forgiving with perimeter weighting for better balance. Also included in the set is a bespoke sand wedge for better spin control around the greens and a balanced mallet-shaped putter with a clear alignment line for accurate aiming, so everything you need in a women's golf set.
- Read our full Wilson Magnolia Ladies Set Review
Most user-friendly
Cobra Fly XL Women's Package Set
The women’s Cobra Fly-XL package includes a driver, fairway woods (3, 5, 7), hybrid, 6-SW irons, a mallet putter, and women have a choice of either a stand or cart bag. It’s designed for beginners or aspiring golfers and is available in two sizes - standard (height 5'3" - 5'8") and petite (height 5'2" and under)
I enjoyed the performance of the confidence-boosting driver which came packed full of forgiveness. The weight at the back of the head pulls the CG backwards, promoting higher launch and ball flight which will help those in need of a boost in power off the tee. The same can be said for the women's fairway wood and hybrid that produce a high ball flight.
The thick topline of the irons, like the driver, will help inspire confidence for those more inexperienced within the game. Thanks to the fabulous levels of forgiveness on offer here, these are clubs the beginner can learn to trust and later fall in love with, hopefully leading to better play and a falling handicap as a result. The user-friendliness also extends to the wedges, the the thicker, wider sole on the sand wedge designed to aid players hitting basic chip shots. Overall, the Cobra Fly XL package set offers high-quality, user-friendly clubs at an affordable price.
Best budget set
Confidence Golf Lady Power V3 Petite Club Set
This particular set from Confidence golf is designed for women 5'3" and under, making it perfect for the petite player. It's not just the smaller sizing that make it useful either, with lightweight steel shafts and all-weather grips sporting each club that will help women as they begin their love affair with the game.
The set comes in a striking lilac/black/white bag including an oversized 12° driver with a large sweet spot, a versatile hybrid rescue club, cavity back irons and completing the set is a 33” blade putter. All clubs are fitted with steel shafts and all-weather grips for year-round golf and with the design features that will help women at the start of their golf journey.
However, my favorite was the 24° hybrid rescue wood - it was a breeze to hit and provided the accuracy and control of an iron which proved really helpful and reliable on tricky shots. The 6-7-8-9 irons, along with pitching and sand wedges feature a cavity back design, making them easier to hit and with forgiveness on mishits. Confidence Golf may not be the most well-known brand but they create some of the best beginner clubs for ladies and improving golfers that offer a range of features designed to enhance playability and enjoyment on the course.
Top driver pick
Ping G Le3 Driver
Ping make some of the most forgiving golf clubs on the market for both mens and women, and the G Le3 driver is proof is such achievements on the ladies side of things. It's part of the wider G Le3 clubs family which provide excellent options for more experienced lady players.
This driver is built with the smaller player in mind - those females whose swing maxes out at less than 80mph. To comment on the looks firstly, I think this is a very pretty golf club, particularly thanks to the colorway - navy with gold and silver accents. During testing we found it effortless to swing, generating noticeable power for consistent long and straight drives. The loft is set as standard at 11.5 degrees, but it's possible to adjust the hosel to a loft of +/- 1.5°.
The standard length of this driver is 44 3/4", but Ping has a highly regarded club fitting program, so petite female golfers are well catered for should this driver or any other clubs in the G Le3 range be their choice of clubs. You might also want to check out the G Le3 irons and G Le3 hybrid.
- Read our full Ping G Le3 Driver Review
Best premium irons
TaylorMade offers custom fitting at a number of worldwide locations and the brand’s Kalea Premier range sends a clear message that female golfers deserve high-performance, well-designed clubs, and these are considered as some of the best golf irons for women. These are clubs that find that sweet spot between the forgiveness of game improvement clubs and the refined aesthetic of more 'players' like options, making them appealing to a wider range of players.
The Kalea irons are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional thanks to the Cap Back design and impressive Speed Pocket which enhances distance and launch angle. While they may not offer a soft feel, their ability to generate longer shots is notable, with the 8-iron performing as well as a typical 7-iron. The irons excel in dampening vibrations from mishits and offer a sleek, elegant shape.
The luxurious rich blue color adds to their appeal in the looks department as well. You might also want to check out the Kalea Premier driver, Kalea Premier fairway wood and Kalea Premier Rescue.
- Read our full TaylorMade Kalea Premier Irons Review
How we test ladies petite golf clubs
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Alison Root and Carly Cummins take control of the female club testing, making them the perfect judges for this guide given their smaller stature compared to the rest of the gear team!
Getting into specifics for testing the best petite clubs for ladies, we first attend product launches and speak to manufacturer's to understand the technology. Then we hit golf clubs indoors in a controlled environment to get baseline data on simulators and launch monitors.
Outdoor testing is next so we can see how the clubs perform on the golf course. We think doing both is imperative because this allows us to gauge total performance, and we can then be as honest and insightful as possible to you, the audience. We want to try and find the best golf club sets on the market for women under 5’ 3” and give you some insight on them, which requires being thorough and transparent.
We take pride in our review format because it's been tried and tested over years of reviewing the best (and worst!) golf equipment. We like to reiterate that no manufacturer will ever get preferential treatment from us, nor can a brand 'buy' a good review - instead, we simply call it how we see it based on our experience and knowledge of the game and its equipment.
How to choose ladies petite golf clubs
If you are 5' 3" and under, just starting out on your golfing journey, or about to take your game to the next level, there are several things that you need to consider to ensure you play with the right clubs for your height.
Clubs Are Too Long
There are tell-tale signs that your golf clubs are too long. You have poor posture. It's common for women using clubs that are too long to have a completely upright posture with little or no spine tilt. You shouldn't be stood up straight, or hunched over either, at address or when you swing. An improper posture can put serious strain on your body as you swing.
Wayward shots. One of the big challenges of playing with a set of clubs that are too long for you is control. You'll be more wayward off the tee and struggle to find fairways, miss more greens and have an inconsistent ball flight trajectory. Overall, a distinct lack of control. If you find that your ball isn't going in the right direction or it is flying too high or too low then it could be due to your clubs being too long for you.
Clubs Feel Too Heavy
The longer your golf clubs the more they will weight. This might only be a slight difference, but every gram counts when it comes to control. Do you get to the end of a game of golf feeling exhausted? Does swinging your clubs sometimes feel a bit laborious? The chances are the clubs you are using are too long and too heavy for you.
Added weight can lead to an inconsistent swing move. The tell-tale sign is a shallow angle of attack into impact as your body can't maintain the strength that is required to swing the heavier club on the correct path.
Standing Too Far From The Ball
We all know that player who stands with her arms outstretched way in front of her reaching for the ball, which is clearly too far away from her body at address. Every club has someone with an odd-looking address. The chances are they are short and this set-up posture is a consequence of their clubs being too long.
The best players in the world all look completely comfortable in their posture at address, standing to the ball with arms hanging down naturally. Standing too far from the ball effects your body's ability to rotate, limiting the power that you will transfer to the shot. Doing so robs you of distance.
For more golf gear buying advice, check out our guides on the best women's hybrids, best women's golf bags and best women's golf shoes.
FAQs
What happens if short women use standard length golf clubs?
It depends on athleticism and swing technique, but the likelihood is that using a club that's too long for you will lead to poor ball striking and inconsistency off the tee. A driver that's too long is harder to control, so you'll miss more fairways.
Can junior clubs work for short women?
Junior golf clubs can be a really great (and potentially much cheaper) option for petite women, especially if you are just learning to play and are not yet ready to splash out on a custom-fit set. They are built
Children's package sets, like the Ping Prodi G are excellent. Ping offer an outstanding service that allows you to send the clubs away to get the shafts changed as and when need.
Is it just height that matters?
Actually no. The most important measurement is the distance from your wrist to the floor, known as your 'arm hang'. This determines the length of the shaft that is needed to encourage the perfect lie angle of your club.
Lie Angle: Is a measurement of the angle formed by the hosel/shaft and the ground when the head is at rest or when the grooves are parallel to the ground. The greater the lie angle, the more 'upright' the club is. The less the lie angle, the more 'flat' the club is.
Your shots don't lie! If the lie angle of your irons is too upright you'll make heel contact with the ball and your divots will point left of the target, leading to pulls and hooked shots. If your irons are too flat for your swing you'll make contact out of the toe and hit push shots out to the right.
If the club is too long, the lie angle will be too flat. Interestingly, there are no standard lies for manufacturers. They may even use different lie angles for different models. Certainly if you examine clubs closely, American manufacturers tend to make them more upright than Japanese manufacturers, because Americans tend to be taller than Japanese golfers, so they are primarily built for their home market.
How do you check your lie angle?
The club's lie angle can only be tested dynamically by a custom fit technician by getting you to hit balls off a lie board. The other thing you can do yourself is to read your divots. If they are deeper at the toe and pointing right then your clubs are probably too flat. Heel deep divots pointing left indicates that your clubs are too upright and need flattening.
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