Choosing a steel mace handle length is one of those things people tend to overthink.
We get questions all the time about whether someone should get a 36", 38", 40", or 42" handle. And while handle length absolutely changes the way a mace feels, there isn't one exact length that you have to use based on your height.
That's why we created our sizing chart. It's meant to give you a really good starting point without making this more complicated than it needs to be.
Start With Your Height
If you're new to mace swinging, the easiest answer is to use our recommended handle length based on your height.
We came up with those recommendations through our own experience and by having different people swing different handle lengths. The goal was to find lengths that worked well with different body sizes while still giving the mace enough clearance behind the body during a swing.
But these aren't hard rules.
Someone who is 6'2" can absolutely swing a 36" mace. Someone else may strongly prefer a longer handle. We're talking about preference and swing characteristics here...not whether a mace will or won't work.
If You Already Swing Maces, Use What You Know
If you already own a fixed-weight mace that you really like, you have another useful reference point.
Measure it.
Think about the distance from your hands to the center of mass of the mace you're currently swinging. You can use that information when deciding which Cadi V2 handle makes the most sense for you.
Just remember that a plate-loaded mace is a little different.
As you add plates, the weight stack grows and the overall implement gets longer. But because you aren't locked into holding the very bottom of the handle, you can simply choke up slightly to maintain a similar distance between your hands and the center of mass.
That adjustability gives you a lot of room to work with.
What Changes With a Longer Mace?
Handle length changes the arc of the swing.
A longer mace travels through a larger arc, which generally makes the swing feel slower. You have a little more time as the mace travels behind you before transitioning into the pullover.
If you're accustomed to swinging longer maces, that can feel really good.
Nate is 6'2", and our chart puts him on a 42" Cadi V2. He originally learned to swing with a 48" mace, so he's always been comfortable with that longer, slower swing.
What Changes With a Shorter Mace?
Shorten the handle and the swing changes noticeably.
The arc is smaller and the mace comes around faster. You have less time between different portions of the swing.
Even six inches makes a surprisingly big difference.
Going from our 42" handle to our 36" handle creates two very different swinging experiences, despite using the same basic piece of equipment.
And that's part of the fun.
Nate regularly uses the 36" Cadi even though he's 6'2". It's technically shorter than what we'd recommend for his height, but that doesn't make it unusable or somehow reduce the benefits of mace training. It simply changes the feel of the swing.
You Can Also Change the Effective Length With Your Grip
Another reason not to obsess over getting the "perfect" length is that your hands don't have to stay in one spot.
You can choke up on the handle.
Moving your hands farther up effectively shortens the lever and changes the distance between your hands and the weight.
This is also why we don't recommend depending on the pommel to hold onto the mace.
The pommel is primarily there as a reference point. You can feel when your hands start drifting toward the bottom of the handle and adjust your grip back onto the knurling.
Your grip should be doing the work...not the pommel.
So, What Mace Handle Length Should You Buy?
If you're new to mace training, use our height chart:
That's exactly why we made it.
It'll put you very close to a handle length that works naturally with your body and gives the mace plenty of room to travel behind you.
If you're an experienced mace swinger and already know you prefer a certain length, use that experience to guide your decision.
And if you're stuck between two sizes, don't stress over a 2 inch difference.
Mace handle length isn't something that needs to be dialed in to the quarter inch. Your grip position, plate stack, load, technique, and personal preference can all change how the mace feels.
Pick a good starting point. Swing it. Learn how it moves.
You have plenty of room to adjust from there, especially with different size plates (2.5lb plates vs 5 lb plates, for example. This will change the overall length of the mace and therefore change how the swings feel).