True Length Technology

True Length Technology®

True Length Technology as presented at the

True Length Technology is a registered trademark of

Fitting outside the traditional box – the concept of True Length Technology® from clubmaker Dan Connelly

TWGT Note: One of the most difficult things for all of us to do is to consider deviating from various accepted and “traditional” norms that have been a part of clubmaking for a very long time. For example, when TWGT introduced Clubmakers to the concept of MOI Matching golf clubs as a replacement for swingweight matching, the new concept was bucking over 80 years of the golf industry relying only on swingweight as the method of trying to make all clubs in a set offer the same swing feel. While many Clubmakers learned and now embrace MOI Matching as the best way to truly create the same swing feel for each club in the set, tons more are hesitant to even afraid to try MOI matching for fear of deviating from 80+ years of club making tradition.

I first became aware of clubmaker Dan Connelly and his TLT system for length fitting through TWGT’s Rob Sines. At the 2007 PCS Show, I had the opportunity to sit down and listen to Dan’s concept which flies in the face of literally decades of the golf industry’s traditional practice of changing the length of clubs by full inch or half-inch increments. After hearing Dan’s explanations for his True Length Technology™ length fitting methodology, I had to admit his work definitely has merit and should be considered by all Clubmakers. As a result, I asked Dan to write an article about his TLT system so we could expose Clubmakers to a brand new length fitting methodology that is most definitely worth all club makers’ consideration.

I have a strong mathematical background with precision accuracy (micro measurements) being my primary function for the last 18 years.

Currently a Precision Inspector (Metrologist) for the General Motors Canadian Regional Engineering Centre as a CAD programmer for the Coordinate Metrology Lab
Past Chairman (2 years) of the Association for Coordinate Metrology Canada – devoted to educating and understanding micro measurement technology
Durham College Graduate – Mechanical Technology Program
Certified by the Ralph Maltby’s Clubmaking Academy in:
- Assembly and repair
- Professional clubfitting
- Master’s program (only 3 in Canada)
Certified rifle center
Certified by the Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA) with Professional/Advanced Status
Owner and developer of the Proprietary Length/Lie/Fitting System – True Length Technology®
Currently pursuing certification with the Professional Clubmakers Society

During any lesson, I was always taught to “get into my athletic address position”:

Feet shoulder width apart
Knees slightly bent
Spine tilted forward near 30 degrees
Arms hanging down and slightly out from your body

When I did this my 7 iron fit and played like it was built for me:

Slight amount of grip cap above my hand
Lie angle looking correct at address
Hit the ball straight

However, my 3 iron would have nearly 1 inch of butt cap above my wrist at address, and my pitching wedge would be down into the palm of my hand. It seemed that there was roughly an extra 1 ½ inches between my longest and shortest clubs that just did not seem to fit my position.

Some players will adjust their spine tilt, knee bend, distance between their feet, etc. for every club in their bag. This will result in the golfer having to recall and execute 13 slightly different setup positions to maintain one common hand position. No matter how good of an athlete you are, this is still a very difficult task.

I felt that if I was a visually handicapped golfer, I would setup in my athletic position consistently – waiting for my club. Would I know the position I was supposed to be in if I was holding my 3 iron verses my pitching wedge? Would there be a difference? My thoughts were no, I am ready to hit, give me my club please.

In trying to understand how these theories worked with my existing clubs, I began to think, that just maybe, there was a more scientific approach to length verses lie relative to my athletic address position.

My first attempts at alternative lengths were building in 0.4 inch, 0.33 inch, and 0.25 inch increments, which did help, but this too did not fit perfectly. After many different attempts, I decided to try “Math Modeling” a set based on my athletic address position. As I began plotting lie angles on my CAD system, it became apparent rather quickly that any uniform increment length cut (not just ½ inch) was not mathematically correct. True Length Technology® proves that the length cut has to be progressively less per club, as your clubs get shorter and more upright.

If you picture a set of triangles and compare:

One at 56 and one at 57 degrees
One at 64 and one at 65 degrees

The length differential between the 56 and 57 degree angles are greater than the length differential between the 64 and 65 degree angles. Herein lays the proof that any static number like ½ inch or ¼ inch variation per club is not mathematically sound. Each increment has to be progressively less than the last increment as the clubs get shorter.

True Length Technology® clubs do vary in length. Just in less than the traditional ½ inch increment. In fact the length variance is perfect from club to club, giving one very athletic and repeatable setup position and posture for your personal setup.

As all custom club fitters know, one size does not fit all. Matter of fact, only one size fits you and you alone. As all custom club builders know, length and lie are imperative, but builders only have access to a few charts that are “recommended build sizes”, 2 charts for men, 1 chart for women.

If you look at some of the old Club fitters Rulers, a single “recommended length of golf club” fit over 3 ½ inches of wrist to floor (WTF) variations, except if you were a women, then your clubs would simply be 1 inch shorter. How much sense does that make? Someone with a 34 WTF is playing the same lengths as someone with a 37 WTF. This again is not mathematically sound.

The True Length Technology® system has charts that vary from a Series 0 to a Series 15, also now available 10 additional children’s charts. Every chart is a Math Model of perfect proportions for each individual series. The math behind the True Length Technology® build charts is the result your athletic address position. Not everyone addresses the ball in the same manner and therefore the target build chart is still susceptible to variation. You, as a fitter, need to find the correct series target length and build to the appropriate Series chart.

Note: WTF measurements are used, but only as a starting point within the fitting process. A full dynamic fitting is still recommended using the True Length Technology® Fitting System.

Hitting balls allows the fitter to be aware of swing tendencies and club head paths that do influence ball flight.
Individual swings certainly do play an active role in determining the correct final lengths and lies.
The golfer who sets up with the traditional stance will often find that the WTF measurement will often correlate to the Initial Target Series Chart and will indeed be very close to the final build specification.
Single axis golfers and some women who carry their arms out and away from their body will in all likelihood need a set of greater length and possibly an alternative lie, deviating from what their WTF target indicated. Again, True Length Technology® is not a WTF system and traditional fitting procedures will insure a sound fitting to the individual.
People with disabilities that cannot get into that traditional position may need a variation in length and lie, but will end up in their best athletic position – common to every club.
All of the above scenarios need to be addressed by the fitter in determining what the proper “actual” build size will be. Once the Target Series Build Chart has been determined, the builder needs to build to the specifics of that Target Series chart keeping the math model intact.
Now available 10 additional children’s charts.

Each True Length Technology® fitting set has its lengths correlated with its lies – set to a perfect math model for all Series Build Charts. The golfer gets to actually swing a 4, 7, and PW that fits their math profile. When the correct Series is in your hands you will instantly know you have found your specifications for length, and a great indication of lie.

Traditional fitting methodology still does apply, where the customer needs to go through wrist to floor measurements:

Statically fitting with a variety of clubs
Hitting balls with a variety of lengths
Hitting balls with impact stickers
Watching ball flight

The most satisfying feeling is, when the correct length and lie are determined, you are confident that the entire set will fit the golfer like never before.

Here is an excerpt from Ms. Nadine Foreman, a Teaching Professional from the Durham College Golf Administration Program in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada:

“True Length Technology has helped my game because of the confidence which I now have stepping up to every single iron in my bag. As a golf professional, I have taught the fundamentals of the game to players and taught them that they should be swinging with the same swing each and every time. However, I now realize that’s not possible, without the help of True Length Technology.

Even though I might teach the “perfect posture” as I see it, while my student is holding their 7 iron, they cannot possibly duplicate that stance and posture with their 3 iron. I found in my own game that I was so comfortable standing over my 6 – 8 irons, however when I would get to the longer irons, I had to put so much more power into my swing, to make the result happen that I wanted to.

With True Length Technology , when I step up to a wedge, 8 iron, 5 iron, or 3 iron, I get myself into my perfect posture first, and my hands are in just the right spot now without having to manipulate that club in my hands or alter my posture for the iron I’m holding.

I have control and spin with my wedges, I have the ability to work the ball as I like with my long irons. I no longer have to factor in that 15 yard draw that I know my 3 iron used to produce. I can fade or draw the ball as I need to, with the rest of my shots going straight, using my comfortable swing.

To me, True Length Technology has not only improved my game, it has improved my teaching ability and the learning curve of my students. They can perfect that 7 iron posture and fundamentals and easily transfer it to any club in their bag.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Next thing we’re working on is the putter!”

Kind Regards,

Nadine Forman

CPGA class “A” Professional”

Ms. Foreman is not paid to use my system, and in fact bought her set because of True Length Technology®. Her statement reflects that of pretty much my entire customer base. Once you have tried True Length Technology®, I’m confident you will become a believer as well.

Does the shorter length separation affect the distance separation between clubs?

No, in fact many report back that they have actually increased distance due to more on center hits.

How is the swing-weight affected?

A long set of clubs (Series 10) often will be built with the lightest head weights possible to help maintain a manageable feel and swing-weight to the set.
A short set of clubs (Series 2) often will be built with heavier head weights to help maintain playable characteristics, feel, and swing-weight.
A mid length set (Series 6) can be built to a single swing-weight or on a progressive slope (very similar to a Moment of Inertia set).
Sometimes swing-weight is simply a resultant that cannot be controlled due to length and actual head weights, but as a custom builder you can minimize the variation.

What happens if I need a very upright (or flat) set due to my swing (and I don’t want to change it)?

The entire set will need to be upright (or flattened) from the TLT standard, but in a uniform progression. If 1 club needs to be upright 2 degrees, then they all need to be upright 2 degrees. Remember, you still want to keep your math model intact.

Do wedges follow the same length/lie technique?

This depends on your type of wedge play. I keep the length of my gap, sand, and lob at the same length, but this means that their lies will also be identical. If you are only using half shots with some wedges than special attention may need to be taken to tune the lie as head flattening can be to a lesser degree.

Why are drivers and fairway woods built to a much flatter degree than what the actual head specification is?

Wood shafts are thinner in the tip area and are prone to different bend properties. As the club is swung the center of gravity of the larger head is trying to get in line with the shaft axis at the hands. The size of the head and the location of the COG cause a higher degree of head flattening during the swing. Research has shown that woods built to their corresponding WTF charts have proven to be the most effective.

True Length Technology®

One common hand position, relative to a perfectly math modeled length and lie will result in:

A very repeatable athletic address position
A very repeatable swing pattern
More on center hits
Less fat shots
Less thin shots
Improved feel and play ability
Less physical stress on the body

If you are interested in becoming a ‘Registered True Length Technology® clubmaker and clubfitter’ – the charts are available in EXCEL format on my ‘Clubmaker’s Registry’ page.

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