What is swing weight in golf?
Swing weight is an arbitrary measurement of the relationship of weight in a golf club about the 14-inch fulcrum point on a swing weight scale. When fitting swing weight, good club fitters really know that they are instead fitting for the head weight feel of the golf club.
Is my swing weight too low for my 7 iron?
For a full-grown man who can hit his 7 iron 150m, this is far too low. This is more of a swing weight that would be built for ladies or seniors. For us the case was relatively simple. First of all he should test an alternative club with the correct swing weight. The result couldn't be clearer and at the same time makes us a bit angry.
How does swing weight affect swing paths?
Given the huge changes in speed, distance, and accuracy, you would be right to expect that changes in swing weight changed our testers’ club path, face to path relationship, and angle of attack. 4 of 6 testers swung the club more left with higher swing weights, two swung more right.
What is swingweight?
Now imagine swinging that 5-iron with the lead tape on the clubhead, then at the middle of the shaft, then on the grip. How much weight you feel you are swinging will be different depending on where the lead tape has been added - even though the total weight of the club is identical in all three instances. That's swingweight.
What is the ideal swing weight for irons?
The swing weight of irons probably varies between D2 and D5 for 95% of Tour players. Most will be somewhere in this range. Players with high club head speed like Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson tend to be around D5-D6. Players with more average tour club head speed are around D3-D4.
Should irons and driver have same swing weight?
All of Your Clubs Should Have the Same Swing Weight Make sure all your clubs have the same swing weight. Even if you think your clubs are a bit light or heavy for you, all the clubs in your bag should at least be very close to the same swing weight.
What are the different swing weights in golf clubs?
There are six ranges, from A through F, and each has 10 values, numbered 0 through 9. A0 is the lightest, and F9 is the heaviest. Most men's clubs fall in the range of C9 to D8, with D2 being the standard, and ladies' clubs are usually between C4 and D0.
Is D5 swing weight too heavy?
If it feels too heavy at D5, you can remove strips of lead tape one by one until it feels right. If your driver is heavier than D5, ask your club fitter to add a heavier grip or a counterweight to reduce swing weight to D5. Get Fitted By A TPT Authorized Fitter.
What does a heavier swing weight do?
Swing weight is the measurement of the head-weight feel of a club. A club with a heavier swing weight will feel heavier to a golfer than one with a lighter swing weight, because its balance point is closer to the club head.
How do I determine my swing weight?
An accepted rule of thumb is that increasing or decreasing the weight of the clubhead by 2 grams will increase or decrease the swingweight by 1 and the same impact would be achieved by adding or subtracting 5 grams to or from the grip and 9 grams to or from the shaft.
What is the difference between D1 and D2 swing weight?
Swing Weight System Each letter is then subdivided into tenths -- from zero tenths to nine tenths. The greater the letter or number, the heavier the club's swing weight. Therefore, a club with a swing weight of D1 is heaver than a club with a C1 swing weight, and a D4 club has a slightly greater swing weight than a D2.
Are heavier golf irons better?
Usually, lighter clubs produce higher spin rates. And with spin rates that are too high, you might actually lose distance. Second, a lighter club is sometimes more difficult to control and can wreak havoc on your ability to make a smooth, rhythmic swing that accelerates through the ball.
What is swing weight?
In non-technical terms, swingweight is a measure of how the weight of the club feels when you swing it. It is not the same thing as a club's overall or total weight, and isn't even expressed as a weight measurement (swingweight is expressed through a letter-and-number combination code explained below).
What does less weight mean in golf?
Less weight produces shots of greater distance and accuracy for beginning and intermediate players. The low handicappers and pros have higher swing speeds, more control over the movements of the club and they possess an acute sense of 'feel' for the head of the club.
What does Lamanna say about swingweight?
Lamanna, for one, says, "In my experience, most players can only sense large differences in swingweights, and even Tour pros have a hard time telling the difference in swingweight between clubs with different shafts.". Lamanna says the focus seems to be shifting back to total weight as the key weight measurement.
Is swingweight important for golfers?
But not everyone is convinced that swingweight is something most recreational golfers need to lose sleep over.
Is a lighter shaft better for golf?
"Research indicates that lighter shafts are, in general, better for the average golfer. Less weight produces shots of greater distance and accuracy for beginning and intermediate players.
Can you use a swingweight scale on a golf club?
Those measurements are taken using a swingweight scale, and yes , individual golfers can buy and use one if they really want to. Take a club, say a 5-iron. Imagine adding lead tape to the 5-iron. No matter where you put the lead tape, the actual weight of the club will be identical. That is, if the lead tape is placed on the clubhead, ...
What is the swing weight of a golf swing?
While C-0 is a swing weight that is recommended for senior women and ladies, D-8 is pretty much the maximum that is played on tour. This swing weight can usually only be achieved with heavy heads, heavy shafts and light grips. Few tour pros actually play longer shafts so this is rarely an option.
Can you build a swing weight with a special construction?
In short: both a very heavy and a very light swing weight can only be achieved with a special construction - at least if you build the club "correctly". With incorrect construction, as we have seen in this test, it is indeed very easy to achieve such a swing weight.
Do drivers and wedges swing heavier?
In drivers and wedges, many professionals prefer a slightly heavier swing weight than in irons and woods. Basically, if you don't see yourself in one of these categories and you deviate significantly from the swing weight, you should be able to justify this and question it.
Do tour pros play longer shafts?
Few tour pros actually play longer shafts so this is rarely an option. To achieve a swingweight of C-0, the exact opposite is needed: very light clubheads and shafts. Heavy grips and shorter shafts are often not an option because, for example, ladies cannot play thick grips.
Swingweight, Technically Speaking
Swingweight vs. Actual Weight
- Swingweight and the actual weight of the club are different things, and understanding the difference goes a long way toward understanding the role of swingweight. The actual weight of a golf club is expressed in grams. Swingweight is expressed as "C9" or "D1" or some other combination of letter and number (more on that in a moment). Those measurements are taken u…
What Is Swingweight Used For in Golf?
- The key application of swingweight is in matching the clubs within a set. You want all your clubs to feel the same weight during the swing. If you are replacing a club or adding one, you want the new club to match the swingweight of your current clubs. But how important is swingweight, really? Recreational golfers who fancy themselves equipment "ex...
The Swingweight Scale
- Swingweight is expressed with a letter and number; "C9," for example. The letters used are A, B, C, D, E, F and G, and the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (G goes up to 10). Each combination of letter and number is known as a "swingweight point," and there are 73 possible swingweight measurements on this scale. A0 is the lightest measurement, progressing up to the heaviest, G1…