How to counter balance your golf clubs?
When you add weight to the butt end of the club, you shift the balance point of the club towards your hands and raise the overall static weight of the club. You also decrease the swing weight, so the head will feel lighter. Two Ways to Do It Leaving aside the DIY methods, there are two ways to counter balance your clubs.
What is counter weighting in golf clubs?
Counter weighting goes by many names, but, no matter what you call it, we’re talking about the same thing: adding weight to the butt end of the golf club. When you add weight to the butt end of the club, you shift the balance point of the club towards your hands and raise the overall static weight of the club.
What does swing weight mean in golf clubs?
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.
Should you add weight to the butt end of your golf clubs?
When you add weight to the butt end of the club, you shift the balance point of the club towards your hands and raise the overall static weight of the club. You also decrease the swing weight, so the head will feel lighter.
How do you counterweight a golf club?
1:087:14Does A Golf Club Counter Weight Work? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe little hole on the bottom of your golf grip now in this case i can just kind of push it in thereMoreThe little hole on the bottom of your golf grip now in this case i can just kind of push it in there.
How much weight should I counterbalance my putter?
The most commonly used putter counterweights are the 60g, 80g and 100g weights, with the 80g and 100g counterweights being the most commonly used by most golfers for the putter. There is no question the chance of improved putting performance with a heavy counter weight in the putter is very high.
Where should weights be placed on golf clubs?
Adhere the tape to the base of the back of the club to hit the ball higher. Center the tape as much as possible between the toe and heel of the club. Test the club. More weight can be added if desired by adding a 1-, 2- or 3-inch strip of lead tape.
What does counter weighting a golf club do?
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 I putt a counterbalanced putter?
0:121:04Putting With A Counterbalanced Putter-Putting Tips-Golf Digest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour left arm. Let the shaft of the putter run against your left forearm. And now you've got anotherMoreYour left arm. Let the shaft of the putter run against your left forearm. And now you've got another option for a different grip in your putting stroke.
How much weight should I add to my putter?
And while there's no rule of thumb for what's a good amount of lead tape to add, just know that for every 2 grams of lead tape added to the putter, you add one swingweight point. A heavier putter head makes the putter feel heavier and more like a pendulum, helping you make a smoother stroke.
How is swing weight calculated?
Measure the distance of the balance point of the club from the end of the grip (in inches).Subtract 14" from the result, and multiply it by the club's total weight in ounces or grams.The result is the torque (in inch-grams or inch-ounces) about an axis 14" from the butt, the base definition of swingweight.More items...•
How much weight should I add to driver head?
Perfect Driver Head Weight Vs Swing Speed In tests conducted by Mackenzie, et al (2015), they found that the best performing driver head weight is 174 grams for golfers across the board. During their study, various low handicap golfers tested drivers with head weights of 174 g, 190 g, and 200 g.
How many grams is a swing weight?
Golfers can add one swingweight point (increase from D4 to D5, for example) by adding 2 grams of club head weight. Conversely, decreasing club head weight by 2 grams will deduct one swingweight point. The most common way of adding weight to a club head is by using lead tape.
Who should use 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.
What is a counterbalanced design?
Counterbalanced designs allow the researcher to isolate the main effects due to condition and control for order and sequence effects only if there is no interaction between the procedural variables (time, position) and the independent variables.
What does adding weight to the back of a driver do?
Placing weight more toward the rear portion of the head will make it higher spinning, higher launching and more forgiving.
How much does a counter weighting grip cost?
It’s also a relatively inexpensive ($13/grip) way to give counter weighting a try. The main drawback is that the amount of weight isn’t customizable. If you opt for individual weights, you get unlimited customization, you can use your own grips, and the weights should last forever.
Do you have to do a lot of experimenting before you find the perfect configuration for your game?
And, much like with grips, you will probably have to do a good deal of experimenting before you find the perfect configuration for your game, unless you are able to find a fitter knowledgeable in counter weighting.
What is counter weighting?
Counter-weighting is a less common swing-weighting technique, but is important to know how to do . Before I begin the actual tutorial, I want to explain what counter-weighting is, and how it can be used to your advantage.
Can you lower the swing weight of a golf club?
Chances are, you probably won’t want to lower the swing-weight of a golf club, as most golf clubs have a fairly low swing-weight to start with (in my opinion). In the past, what I have used counter-weighting for is aimed more towards making the entire club heavier than decreasing swing-weight.
Why is the pivot on a golf club so annoying?
The pivot there is an annoying double-thingy because two hands. It's probably reasonable to adjust the weight of the club to suit the swing - but you still need a consistent swing. Wrists shouldn't rotate until after striking the ball right ... I think a heavy handle may feel nice.
Does the club shaft affect the shoulders?
Notice that through most of the swing, the club shaft is at a right angle to your left arm, so it matters very little where you add weight as far as your shoulders are concerned. In other words, regardless of where you add weight, the impact on your torso/shoulder twist is the same.
Does counterweighting increase the moment of inertia of the club?
Since the counter-weight is almost exactly at the pivot point of the club, by your wrists, it doesn't appear to me that it could do much of anything except increase the mass swung by your arms. Any significant counterweighting would increase the moment of inertia of the club and reduce club head speed.
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 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 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.
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 weight affect swing speed?
So swing weight can affect swing speed if a golf club feels (or is) too heavy for you. You always want to swing with the heaviest club you can, for your swing speed. If you start swinging with a club that is too heavy for you, not only will you lose accuracy but distance as well.
What happens when you add weight to the head of your driver?
When this happens, you will feel more weight in the head of the club, and the overall weight of the club will feel more substantial as well. Some golfers like the ability to feel the clubhead being heavy.
Do you need a heavier shaft for a golf club?
If you are a robust person that has a faster tempo, a heavier shaft is going to be what you need. If, however, you are a weaker golfer with slightly slower swing speed, you will need a lighter shaft. This is why you see many of the female golf clubs and senior golf clubs made with a graphite shaft.
Why counterbalance a golf club?
In short, it will give you more stability and control. It will raise the balance point of the club. This will help you get a fuller extension on your swing. It will keep your hands steadier. So, it is excellent if you suffer from shakes or yips.
Why is weighting different for each club in golf?
Because the fitter determines each weighting specifically for you, then the specific weight will take your play and your stroke into account as well. Something adaptable for your particular game is the dream of many golfers.
How does counterbalancing a putter work?
Counterbalancing the putter adds weight and changes the physics of the club. Many golfers say this makes the club feel stable, and that gives the control they need to make the perfect shot. If you suffer from yips and shakes, you can do some “Do It Yourself” weighting. Tried and tested techniques are best.
Why is it hard to jerk a golf club?
The physics of this is simple. Weighting makes the shaft of the club much heavier. If you are holding this extra weight, you will find it much harder to jerk the club when you contact the golf ball. No shakes, no jerking means it is much more likely that you will make a smooth stroke. A good stroke implies control.
What happens if the clubhead is acting with the ball in a way that you (the golfer) cannot
If the clubhead is acting with the ball in a way that you (the golfer) cannot control, then the chances are you will not hit the ball well. Think of it this way. Before you make a shot, you plan it out in your head. You select the correct club for the shot, get your stance right then hit the ball.
Where are the golf rules enforced?
Given how strictly the golf rule-makers in the United States and St. Andrews in Scotland enforce the rules, people naturally worry. They are very strict on matters such as the size of a clubhead. But you can rest easy if you want to counterbalance your clubs.
Is golf a mental game?
So that is a quick run through the physics. But, as we often say, golf is, above all, a mental game. Many golfers who use counterweights on their clubs talk about how the different feel of the club gives them more confidence. In the physics forum I mentioned earlier, one poster says that evidence-based trials have shown that where golfers do not know their clubs are counterweighted, it makes no difference to their game. However, if they are told that the clubs are counterweighted, then they do play better.
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 ...
How many gram inches is a swingweight?
Every swingweight is equal to 50 gram-inches. That means for every 6.5g of shaft weight with a balance point 7.75" beyond the fulcrum changes the swingweight by one point. The 6.5g only applies at this length as it will become increasingly more the shorter the club / shaft are.
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 ...
Where is the balance point on a monkey wrench?
Balance Point – The Monkey Wrench in the Equation. As mentioned before, the balance point of the shaft is not always located at the center of the shaft. Actually it is rarely there as most shafts for driver have a balance point that is approximately 52% from the tip of the shaft. Shaft balance points in driver shafts range from 48% from ...
Can shaft manufacturers dictate what length and swingweight the clubs are assembled to?
Since shaft manufacturers cannot dictate what length and swingweight the clubs are assembled to with their products, they have to know that manufacturers typically build to a narrow swingweight range. By knowing this, the flex of the shaft can be built into the design.
Counter Weighted, Counter Balanced, Back Weighted…What Is It?
Two Ways to Do It
- Leaving aside the DIY methods, there are two ways to counter balance your clubs. 1) Buy counter weights from a company likeTour Lock. 2) Buy pre-counter balanced grips. These grips, called the Secret Grip, are a relatively new invention from Boccieri Golf, the company best known for the Heavy Putter and a major, longtime proponent of counter weight...
Why Do It?
- So you know what it is and how to do it, but the question remains, “Why should I?” One answer that proponents are quick to point to: because Jack Nicklaus and Sergio Garcia do (Jack is even a spokesman for the Secret Grip). Of course, there are hundreds of PGA Tour players who don’t, so let’s move on. I would like to consider the benefits of counter weighting to putting and the full sw…
Conclusion
- Much like large putter grips, I think counter weighting is something that’s worth experimenting worth, particularly if you’re struggling with some part of your game. And, much like with grips, you will probably have to do a good deal of experimenting before you find the perfect configuration for your game, unless you are able to find a fitter knowledgeable in counter weighting.