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how important is balance point for a golf club

by Toby Swaniawski DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A balanced swing allows you to have better control of the club and deliver it squarely to the ball, ensuring accuracy. Generating the clubhead speed necessary to maximize power also requires good balance.

Here's how it works: the swing weight of a golf club is measured on a 14-inch fulcrum that assesses the balance point of a club, which is displayed on an alphanumeric scale. The heavier a club “feels,” the more the club will tilt toward the club head side when balanced on that fulcrum.Mar 31, 2020

Full Answer

Why is balance important in golf?

Those adjustments make balance in golf more important than in other sports because changing muscle dynamics changes the golf swing. Golf is a unique sport because you start from a static balance position and once you start your golf swing you fall under the laws of dynamic balance.

Does counter balancing work for every golfer?

However, counter balancing does not work for every golfer. It is not a given that counter balancing will make you a better golfer; it is a feel thing that some players will benefit from. Conclusion – Who Would We Recommend It For?

What is dynamic balance in golf?

Dynamic balance is balance during motion, or how humans and animals balance themselves while moving. The difference between golf and most other sports when it comes to dynamic balance (once again) is that your feet don’t change positions during the golf swing.

What happens when you are out of balance in golf?

When they are playing slightly out of balance, the shots don’t go as planned and visualization is difficult. This often leads to technical golf swing thoughts in an effort to right the ship. The result is a tough day grinding it out on the golf course. I always address balance awareness first with every student I teach.

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Where should the balance point be on a golf club?

1:4022:14Shaft Balance Point & Swingweight - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo that the tungsten powder that is actually in the live the butt end of the shaft in order to makeMoreSo that the tungsten powder that is actually in the live the butt end of the shaft in order to make the button heavy. Right.

What does a high balance point shaft do?

0:492:18High Balance Point Shafts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what that does is it will help to offset the weight of today's modern driver heads driver headsMoreAnd what that does is it will help to offset the weight of today's modern driver heads driver heads are getting heavier. If you don't do anything to offset the additional weight in your driver.

Should I counter balance my golf clubs?

Counterbalancing helps reduce the natural movement in the clubhead that inevitably occurs when swinging the golf club. While this movement cannot be stopped, it can be controlled with counterbalancing, and it's worth doing. The balance helps players have control and make better kick to the shaft.

What is high balance point?

Just a point of clarification, high balance point = counterbalanced, "counterbalance" is just a somewhat arbitrary term that has been used to describe shafts that are generally above a certain balance point, typically around or above ~2.5" above neutral.

What is the best swing weight for a driver?

More than 80% of the time, he finds that golfers are creating the best results with a swing weight of D5 with Red Range shafts.

What is the average swing weight on tour?

The driver swing weight on Tour is probably between D-3 and D-8, but compared to the irons, it is much more individual and there are many ways to optimise the performance.

Who needs a counterbalanced shaft?

Most manufacturers are making driver club heads much heavier these days and players do not want to feel like they are swinging extra weight. Tour pros including Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, and Rory McIlroy have opted for counter balanced shafts in order to reduce total weight and increase club head speed.

Who benefits from a counterbalanced driver shaft?

The counterbalancing adds more weight to the butt end of the club instead of leaving it in the head where it would have traditionally been located. Since the balance point of the club is so high, the head of the club will feel much lighter. Some players feel as though this helps them to swing the club faster.

How do you counter balance a driver shaft?

0:303:07Counter Balance Driver Shaft - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then what they're trying to do by moving the weight higher up they're giving you the chance toMoreAnd then what they're trying to do by moving the weight higher up they're giving you the chance to have more headway.

What is heat pump balance point?

A balance point is the approximate outdoor temperature at which the maximum heating capacity of the heat pump matches the heating requirements of the home. The lower the temperature outside drops, the greater the heating needs are of the home.

What is a good golf swing?

A good golf swing is a smooth transition or weight and power through many different positions. The better balance you have, the better outcome of your swing will be.

How to swing a golf ball?

To start is balance on both legs, and being able to control pressure through both feet when you stand at (address) the ball. When you are on a tee or a flat fairway, pressure through your feet should be fairly even, and you would think that you don’t need to worry about your double limb (2 legged) stance, which is easy enough. But unless you hit the fairway 100% of the time on the most perfect location that you have an even stance, you are going to have to have good double limb support. Most shots not including the drive are typically not on even surfaces, even if you are in the fairway. You will need to be able to have a comfortable stance with your feet not perfectly aligned.

What is the balance point of a driver shaft?

Shaft balance points in driver shafts range from 48% from the tip to 56% of the length of the shaft. Shafts that have a balance point less than 50% are considered tip heavy and rare in driver shafts. Center balanced is where the shafts balance point is exactly in the middle. Lastly, if the balance is more toward the butt or ...

What happens to the shaft flex of a golf club when the swingweight is lower than D1?

However, if the swingweight of the club is lower then D1, and then the shaft flex becomes progressively stiffer. Conversely, the higher the swingweight of the club over D1, then the more flexible the shaft becomes. This is only true if standard grip weights (50g +/- 5g) are being used. But shaft weight alone is not the only consideration as ...

What is the weight range of a driver's shaft?

The most popular weight range of shafts today for drivers is in the upper 60g range. Using the same head, grip and length, you can see nearly a 5 swingweight point differential just by the balance point change. To put that in perspective, the 5 swingweight point differential has nearly the same effect as a 35g shaft weight change (when the balance point is in the shaft’s center).

Why does automatic balance work in golf?

Because your feet don’t move, your brain has to make a whole different set of adjustments to stay in balance. Because your feet don’t move, the automatic balance system will adjust how the muscles work. Those adjustments make balance in golf more important than in other sports because changing muscle dynamics changes the golf swing.

Why is golf unique?

Golf is a unique sport because you start from a static balance position and once you start your golf swing you fall under the laws of dynamic balance. The properties of static balance and dynamic balance are different. A golfer in dynamic balance also fulfills the laws of static balance, but not the other way around.

Why doesn't technical golf last?

You can use all of the different golf swing styles you want; if your body isn’t in balance during your golf swing, your brain will try to adjust the muscles of your body to get back into balance, which will alter any golf swing.

Why do golfers struggle during play?

This phenomenon explains why even PGA tour golfers sometimes struggle during play. When they are playing slightly out of balance, the shots don’t go as planned and visualization is difficult. This often leads to technical golf swing thoughts in an effort to right the ship. The result is a tough day grinding it out on the golf course.

Why does dynamic balance work?

In most sports dynamic balance works for you without thought because your movement facilitates the act of balancing.

What is statically balanced?

As soon as the big rock is moved, gravity takes over and the big rock falls. As long as you don’t fall down, you are statically balanced.

How to balance your foot in golf?

Place one leg in front of you with your toe pointing toward you. Stand on the one foot for 30 seconds. Repeat with the other leg. This drill helps with ankle stability and allows your body to understand how to balance towards one side or the other, a requirement within a good golf swing.

How to determine if you are in the correct position to make a swing with every club?

Here is a simple exercise you can use to determine if you create a balanced at set-up position. Closing your eyes to force your touch or “feel” to gain valuable data will determine if you are in the correct position to make a swing with every club.

What is the BodiTrak balance?

BodiTrak Balance – Should show little to no weight shift and balanced heel to toe. Balance Related to Eye Position Over the Ball — A couple items are certain with putting balance. If you have too much weight in your toes, it’s likely your eyes will be too far over the ball and line of your putt.

How to get the same effect on golf ball?

Ball Under Back Heel Drill — Same as the Back-Toe Drill but for people who have a hard time balancing. Place a golf ball underneath your back heel to gain the same effect. Putting your trailing foot back and on its toes in a “stork” stance will force you to accelerate through the ball during chips and pitches.

What causes a golf ball to sway forward?

Too much weight on the back side of your set-up position can cause an irreversible sway forward and past the golf ball, causing an early release, among other things. Adjust the weight balance of your set-up the same way described earlier, close your eyes and make the adjustment.

How many senses do you have when you swing a golf ball?

You have five senses. You only use three of them when making a golf swing — your sight, your hearing, and your touch. If we cut one of those senses off, the other two must become more acute. And if we cut off your vision, your touch becomes the only sense your brain and body can use to assist your equilibrium and keep you balanced.

What is the common thread in golf?

But one general theme will emerge: Regardless of the sport, balance is the common thread. So, it’s time to look at balance basics for golfers. Balance is what allows us as human beings to walk erect and not fall over. Balance is what allows us as humans to increase our speed of movement when participating within a sport.

Why do professional golfers like counter balanced shafts?

Professional golfers like the counter balanced shafts because they have the swing speeds needed to get the full effect of hitting one of these shafts accurately. If you try and give a slow swing senior golfer a counter balanced heavy golf shaft, they will struggle to get the same kind of feel and distance that the pros will.

What is counterbalancing a golf club?

Counterbalancing is basically a fancy way of talking about proper club fitting and feel. If you go for a custom club fitting the feel of the club head relative to your strength and your swing speed will all be taken into consideration. If counter balancing a shaft gives you more of the feel you need, it will absolutely be considered. We really feel as though lower handicaps, strong players will benefit the most from counter balancing. If you feel as though you are losing power and that you can swing it faster if you had more control, counterbalancing your golf clubs could be a brilliant choice to make.

Why do you lose distance when you swing a club?

If you swing a heavier object at a higher speed, the impact should result in more yards.

How to know your swing speed?

Most of the time, when you go for a fitting and get on a launch monitor, you can see what your swing speed is. There are also some cool GPS gadget watches that will give you your swing speed and lots of other information about your golf game. It is important to know your swing speed as most shafts have a general swing speed range where they will perform the highest. Although it is good to have an idea of both your iron and driver swing speed, most of the numbers needed to determine correct shaft flex comes from the speed of your driver.

What is swing weight?

Swing weight is the head-weight feel of the golf club. If a club has a heavy swing weight, it will feel heavier to a golfer than one with a light swing weight. As far as a balance point is concerned, a club with a lighter swing weight has a balance point that is closer to the butt end of the golf club.

How to give stability in golf swing?

Putting more weight near the hands of a player can really help to give you more stability in your swing. As you come into the impact position, there is always some movement that takes place. The clubhead will twist just a bit, and for strong players swinging quite fast, this little bit of twist can result in an ugly shot. With counterbalanced golf shafts, you will be able to keep things stable at impact.

Why is the head of a golf club lighter?

Since the balance point of the club is so high, the head of the club will feel much lighter. Some players feel as though this helps them to swing the club faster. There are actually quite a few benefits to counterbalancing your golf clubs, and we will get into that next.

How does a golf club help your back?

First, it will level your hips and shoulders, which changes the orientation of your spine and pelvis, putting less pressure on your back as you swing. This means improved rotation and greater extension, which will help you generate more clubhead speed.

What is the foundation of a good golf swing?

Balance is the foundation for any good golf swing. The perfect golf swing begins with your setup, but most golfers suffer from some kind of imbalance at address. This can lead to your shoulders and pelvis tilting too far to one side or an uneven weight distribution.

How much does a 1 step putter shaft weigh?

Weighing six grams more than conventional putters at 130g, the 1 One Step Putter Shaft is a single bend, straight tip model .370 in diameter that provides golfers with more flexibility in creating a pure amplified feel and reduced vibration at impact for more accurate and consistent putts.

What does titleist say about a long iron?

What Titleist says: “For players with a sweeping delivery seeking a forgiving long iron replacement. Features headweight adjustability and a SureFit hosel for dialed-in shots that launch high and land soft.”

Why is weight important in golf clubs?

Total weight is an important clubfitting feature for helping us to achieve a more consistent, repeating swing tempo and swing timing. If the total weight is too light the golfer will fight swinging the club too quick and experience problems in staying steady over the ball during the swing.

Why do golfers feel their shafts bending?

This may happen because of an inherent heightened sense of feel the golfer may either be born with or acquires from hitting lots and lots of shots with different clubs. When such golfers hit shots with a club that has a shaft which delivers their exact preferred amount of shaft bending feel at exactly their preferred time in the downswing to feel this bending action, the golfer tends to react by swinging with much better athletic coordination, with absolutely no restrictions and with a completely free, unrestricted release which results in a higher clubhead speed.

How does clubhead speed affect distance?

To achieve that requires the lighter total weight must be well matched to the golfer’s sense of swing timing and tempo so that they can hit the ball ON CENTER the highest percentage of time. If you hit the ball off center with a faster clubhead speed you will lose distance over what you can achieve with a slightly slower clubhead speed coupled with a high percentage of on center hits. Remember, for each ½” you hit the ball off center with a driver you lose 5% of your potential distance. 1” off center and you’re talking a potential 10% distance loss.

What is the effect of the Flex and Bend design on the clubhead?

The FLEX and the BEND PROFILE of the shaft (the full length stiffness design) can have a measurable effect on clubhead speed and on center hit consistency for golfers who have a very refined and specific sense of FEEL for the bending action of the shaft during the swing. Interestingly, this can happen both for very skilled golfers with a late release as well as some golfers who may have an early to midway release.

Why is the weight of the shaft important?

The WEIGHT of the shaft is important to ALL golfers, regardless of handicap, score or ability . As experienced clubmakers know, the weight of the shaft is the NUMBER ONE factor that controls the TOTAL WEIGHT of the club. The weight of the shaft also has a strong influence on how much headweight is required to achieve any particular sense of the clubhead feel during the swing.

Is the shaft like a golf club?

Actually, those who believe this statement have their auto parts mixed up. In reality, the shaft is more like the TRANSMISSION of the golf club because it connects the golfer’s hands to the clubhead and allows the golfer to transfer his or her power to the clubhead, and in turn, to the golf ball.

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