If you are tired of stepping on your cuffs or paying $15 to hem every pair of pants, this is for you. I have been exactly where you are, standing in front of a mirror, rolling up the cuffs on yet another pair of “regular” golf pants that were clearly designed for someone six feet tall. The fabric pools around your shoes. The legs look baggy. And instead of feeling ready to play, you just feel frustrated.
Here is the reality: most golf pants start at a 32-inch inseam. For guys under 5’10”, that is a dealbreaker. You either pay for alterations or live with the bunched-up look. Neither option feels good.
I found four specific options — three pants and one shorts option — that solve this differently. One comes in a true 28-inch inseam. One uses a cuff to kill the length problem entirely. One is cheap enough that you can afford to get it tailored. And one is for warm-weather rounds when pants are off the table.
If you want the best overall, go with the CRZ YOGA. If you hate hemming and want a modern look, get the Primo Golf Jogger. These are the best golf pants for short guys you can buy right now without compromising on fit.
Quick Look: The Best Golf Pants for Short Guys
Why Standard Golf Pants Look Wrong on Shorter Guys
Before we get into the picks, let me explain why off-the-rack pants cause so much trouble for shorter golfers. It is not just about inseam length, though that is the main issue.
Three fit factors work against us, and understanding them makes it easier to know what to look for when shopping.
Rule 1: Inseam Is Everything
A 30-inch inseam is borderline okay for guys between 5’6″ and 5’9″. But if you are 5’5″ or shorter, you need a 28-inch inseam.
Most brands simply do not offer that. They start at 32 inches and assume everyone will either tailor or deal with it. The CRZ YOGA pants I will review below are the only option in this list that offers a true 28-inch inseam, and that alone makes them worth considering.
Rule 2: Taper Beats Straight Leg Every Time
A straight-leg cut makes short legs look wider and stockier. It also creates more fabric around the ankle, which leads to that baggy pooling effect. A slight taper — where the leg gradually narrows toward the ankle — visually elongates the leg. You look leaner and taller. Every product I recommend here uses a tapered or slim fit for this exact reason.
Rule 3: Rise Affects Everything Above the Waist
Rise is the distance from the crotch to the waistband. A low-rise pant sits too far down, making your torso look longer, and your legs look shorter.
A high or mid-rise keeps the waistband at your natural waist, which balances your proportions. It also prevents what I call the “diaper-butt” look, that saggy fabric bunching around the back of the thighs. For shorter guys, mid-rise is the sweet spot.
The Best Golf Pants for Short Guys — Ranked Honestly
I spent time wearing each of these on the course, at the range, and just walking around. I evaluated them on four criteria: inseam availability, overall fit, material feel, and how much work you have to do to make them look good. Here is how they stack up, starting with the clear winner.
1. CRZ YOGA Men’s All Day Comfy Golf Pants
Editorial Rating: 4.6/5 — This is the number one pick, and it is not close. The CRZ YOGA golf pants come in a true 28-inch inseam. That alone makes them the best option for any guy 5’6″ or shorter.
I am 5’7″ and the 30-inch inseam fits me perfectly without any hemming. The 28-inch option would work for someone an inch or two shorter than me.
- Inseam Options: 28″, 30″, 32″, 34″, 36″
- Fit: Slightly slim, tapered leg
- Material: Quick-dry, wrinkle-resistant, stretchy
- Pockets: Two side, two back, one hidden zipper pocket
The fit is the real story here. The leg is tapered just enough to avoid that baggy look without feeling restrictive.
I wore these for 18 holes and never once thought about how the pants felt. They moved with me through the swing, stayed cool when it got warm, and the hidden zipper pocket held my scorecard and a spare ball without bulging.
There are two honest trade-offs. First, the brand name is CRZ YOGA — not a traditional golf label. If you care about brand prestige on the course, that might bother you.
Second, the material is very lightweight. Some guys want a heavier, more structured fabric. These feel closer to athletic wear than traditional golf trousers. But for the money and the fit, I would take these over anything else in this category.
Best for: Guys who want a perfect fit straight out of the box with zero compromises on length.
2. Primo Golf Jogger
Editorial Rating: 4.3/5 — This is the smartest design solution on the list. The elastic ankle cuff eliminates the length problem. Instead of hoping the inseam is short enough, the cuff simply stops exactly where your ankle is. It is a clean look that avoids any fabric pooling.
- Inseam Options: Short (for 5’9″ and under), Regular
- Fit: Slim, tapered with elastic cuffs
- Material: Lightweight four-way stretch
- Special Features: Inner gel waistband, zippered ankle cuffs, four pockets
The inner gel waistband is a clever touch. It grips your shirt and keeps it tucked through a full round. I did not have to re-tuck once, which is rare for me. The four-way stretch is real; I felt zero restriction on a full driver swing.
That said, these are expensive for what they are. The cuffs can also feel a bit bulky depending on your shoe choice. If you wear low-profile golf shoes, the transition from cuff to shoe looks clean.
With bulkier spikeless shoes, there is a slight break at the ankle that some guys will not like. Also, the zippered ankles lean into a tech-wear aesthetic that might not suit everyone’s style on the course.
Best for: Guys who want a modern jogger fit and never want to think about hemming again.
3. PGA Tour Men’s Flat Front Active Waistband Golf Pant
Editorial Rating: 3.5/5 — I want to be honest here because this is the most popular option price-wise and I know why guys click on it. The price is absurdly low. But for short guys specifically, the fit is a problem.
- Inseam Options: 30″, 32″, 34″
- Fit: Classic, straight leg, extra thigh room
- Material: Performance stretch, moisture-wicking
- Special Features: Active waistband stretches up to 2″, UPF 15
The active waistband is genuinely comfortable. It stretches and keeps your shirt tucked. The material wicks moisture well and feels breathable on a hot day. I will give it that.
But here is the issue for short guys: this is a classic straight-leg fit with extra thigh room. That is the opposite of what we need. The leg does not taper, so the fabric hangs straight down and bunches at the ankle.
The 30-inch inseam is the shortest option, and even that was too long for me — I had to cuff them or accept the bunched look. If you are 5’5″ or under, the 30-inch inseam will still drag on the ground.
On the other hand, if you have larger thighs and do not mind a relaxed fit, the extra room might actually work for you. And at this price point, you can afford to pay a tailor $10 to hem them and still come out ahead. But out of the box, these are not built for shorter frames.
Best for: Guys on a tight budget who do not mind hemming or prefer a looser, older-school fit.
4. Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Shorts
Editorial Rating: 4.4/5 — I included this as a bonus because not every round calls for pants. When it is hot, and you want shorts, short guys face a similar problem: shorts that hit below the knee and make legs look stubby.
- Inseam: 10″
- Fit: Regular fit, flat-front
- Material: Smooth stretch woven, lightweight, durable
- Pockets: Four pockets, flat-front design
The 10-inch inseam is decent for guys 5’5″ and taller. It hits right around the knee without covering it completely. The 4-way stretch is fantastic for movement. I wore these on a humid day, and they did not restrict a single swing. The fabric dries fast, too, which matters when sweat is a factor.
The honest limitation: if you are under 5’3″, a 10-inch inseam will still look long and may cover your knee entirely.
That is the reality of shorts for shorter guys — you really want an 8-inch or 9-inch inseam, which is harder to find in golf shorts. Under Armour does not offer this in a shorter length, so taller short guys will love these, but very short guys may still feel the length is off.
Best for: Warm-weather rounds when pants are too much, and you want a durable, stretchy short that moves with you.
Comparison Table — Which One Fits You?
| Product | Best For | Inseam Options | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRZ YOGA | Perfect out-of-box fit | 28″, 30″, 32″, 34″, 36″ | Slim, Tapered |
| Primo Jogger | No-hemming solution | Cuff (Short/Regular) | Slim, Tapered |
| PGA Tour | Bargain hunters | 30″, 32″, 34″ | Classic, Straight |
| UA Tech Shorts | Warm weather | 10″ (shorts) | Regular fit |
How to Hem Golf Pants (If You Have To)
I know not everyone will find a perfect 28-inch inseam. Sometimes you fall in love with a pair that only comes in 32 inches. If that happens, hemming is the backup plan. A tailor will usually charge between $10 and $15 to shorten a pair of pants. Tell them you want a “no-break” hem, that means the pants barely touch the top of your shoe, creating a clean, modern line that does not bunch. It is a small investment that makes a massive difference in how you look on the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inseam length should a short guy look for in golf pants?
If you are 5’5″ or shorter, look for a 28-inch inseam. If you are between 5’6″ and 5’9″, a 30-inch inseam will usually work with a tapered fit. Avoid anything labeled as a 32-inch inseam unless you plan to get it hemmed.
Do golf joggers look acceptable on the course?
Yes. Many courses now allow joggers, especially those with a clean, tailored design like the Primo Golf Jogger.
The elastic cuff creates a sharp ankle break that does not look sloppy. Just make sure the overall fit is slim, not baggy, and you will look intentional rather than like you forgot your pants.
Can I alter golf pants with a straight leg to fit better?
You can hem the length, but altering the leg shape — like turning a straight leg into a tapered one — is much more expensive and often not worth it. Your best bet is to buy pants that already have the taper and inseam you need.
Why do golf pants bunch at the ankle for shorter guys?
Most brands cut pants with a 32-inch inseam as the starting point. When the pant leg is too long, excess fabric stacks up around the shoe. A tapered leg makes this less noticeable, but the real fix is a shorter inseam or an elastic cuff that stops the fabric from dropping.
Final Thoughts
Here is the bottom line. If you are a short guy tired of baggy cuffs and expensive alterations, stop buying pants that do not fit and hoping they will work. The CRZ YOGA pants are the easiest answer because they offer a real 28-inch inseam in a tapered cut that flatters a shorter frame.
The Primo Golf Jogger is the most stylish answer if you prefer a modern cuff design that solves the length problem at the source.
The PGA Tour pants are cheap but ask you to compromise on fit. The Under Armour shorts are solid for warm weather, but only if the 10-inch inseam works for your height.
You do not have to settle anymore. Buy pants that are actually designed for your body. That is the whole point.