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how to determine shaft weight golf

by Gregoria Kemmer PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to Calculate Golf Swing Weight

  • Lay a pivot point over a flat surface. This is a triangular gauge that uses gravity for balancing any object placed over...
  • Keep your golf club horizontally over the pivot point and hold it until the club balances properly.
  • Measure the shaft of the golf club from the point where the club balances over the pivot point to the grip end at...

Part of a video titled What Effect Does Shaft Weight Have on Performance in Irons?
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A range from the 70 gram category which is graphite all the way up to the 130 gram category which isMoreA range from the 70 gram category which is graphite all the way up to the 130 gram category which is a heavy steel golf shaft.

Full Answer

What golf shaft weight should I use?

How do I know if I need a stiffer shaft?

  • Feels ‘whippy’ in your hands.
  • Feels too light.
  • Your ball is ballooning in the air.
  • Your ball is behind your pitch mark when you hit your driver.
  • You ball spins to much on the greens when you approach with your irons.
  • Your accuracy has dropped.
  • You start hitting hooks.

How important factor is shaft weight in golf clubs?

Weight Of Golf Shaft

  • Weight Range of Golf Shafts At the time we spoke to Wishon, he told us that " shafts can be bought that weigh as much as 130 grams (4.6 ounces) ...
  • The majority of our panel agreed that shaft weight is very important. ...
  • If you really care about how your irons perform, you need the right shaft weight, as we found out in this test. ...

More items...

How does golf shaft weight affect playability?

When a shaft is lighter, it reduces what’s known as the total weight of a golf club, which is the weight of all components: the head, the shaft, the grip, and the things that hold them together such as the tip, tape, and epoxy. When the total weight of a club is reduced, it allows some golfers to swing faster.

What shaft weight should I use?

The shafts in the drivers of most golfers are probably in the 60 gram bracket. These shafts are light enough to help with speed yet heavy enough to give that feeling of more stability during the swing. This shaft weight will be beneficial to most golfers out there. 70 Gram Shafts – Who Are They For?

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What weight should my golf shaft be?

In general, golfers with slower swing speed and tempo can and should play a lighter shaft. Golfers with very fast speeds and tempo should play heavier shafts. Driver shafts typically weigh 55-60 grams for men and 45-50 grams for ladies.

How is golf shaft weight measured?

Measure the shaft of the golf club from the point where the club balances over the pivot point to the grip end at the top of the golf club using a tape measure. This measurement can be made in inches, centimeters or millimeters. Weigh the golf club using a postal scale. Make sure that the scale has maximum accuracy.

Is 75 gram shaft too heavy?

75 and 85 Gram Shafts And Who They Are For? These are generally for your stronger and better players, as they will be generating a lot of clubhead speed, the weight of the shaft helps to keep the clubhead under control during the swing.

What shaft weight should I use for irons?

Swing Speed Vs Iron Shaft Weight Table6 Iron Swing SpeedShaft Weight< 60 mph45 – 50 grams60 – 70 mph55 – 85 grams70 – 80 mph75 – 105 grams80 – 90 mph90 – 120 grams1 more row

Is a 70 gram driver shaft too heavy?

A 70-gram driver shaft is considered to be pretty heavy but not the heaviest. It falls into the middle but is still on the heavier side when you consider you could go with 50 or 60 grams instead. Those 10 grams sometimes make a significant difference.

What happens if golf shaft is too heavy?

Nippon suggested that a player should be able to tell largely by feel. A shaft that's too heavy will cause a “labored golf swing.” A shaft that's too light will hurt your ability to make solid contact. When you find the right shaft weight, you'll experience a “high energy swing” with uniform contact.

Is a lighter golf shaft better?

A lighter driver shaft rarely leads to a faster swing. “Only 12 percent of golfers swing their fastest with the lightest club,” Mucklow says.

What weight shafts do pros use?

It is why the most popular weight for driver shaft-weights on the PGA Tour is still in the mid-60-gram range, with some players having tried shafts less than 50 grams. But more and more, there are exceptions -- players opting for driver shafts decidedly heavier than most of their tour brethren.

Will a heavier shaft increase distance?

Heavy shafts tend to produce more distance, accuracy, and lower ball trajectory for a golfer with faster swing speeds.

How do I know if my iron shafts are too light?

A shaft that is too light will make you feel like the club is going too fast for your swing. It will feel like you have less control over the club throughout the swing and it will make you feel a little uneasy until you slow everything down, this can be dangerous.

Will a lighter shaft make the head feel heavier?

Remember though, a lighter shaft means the clubhead will feel heavier even though the overall club is lighter. This refers to what clubmakers call swing weight— it's a measurement of how heavy a club feels as you swing it, not how heavy it actually is.

Does a heavier golf club hit the ball farther?

It stands to reason that given the same swing speed, a heavier golf club will apply more force to a golf ball than a lighter one and will, therefore, result in greater distance.

Will a lighter shaft make the head feel heavier?

Remember though, a lighter shaft means the clubhead will feel heavier even though the overall club is lighter. This refers to what clubmakers call swing weight— it's a measurement of how heavy a club feels as you swing it, not how heavy it actually is.

What does a heavier shaft do to swing weight?

Adjust the swingweight of a club by installing a heavier or lighter shaft. The swingweight increases by one swingweight point for every 9g of shaft weight added. The swingweight decreases by one swingweight point for every 9g of shaft weight removed.

How many grams is a stiff shaft?

The shafts in most drivers typically weigh between 40 grams and 85 grams. Shaft manufacturers will offer stiff and regular flex in nearly all weight classes while most light and ladies flex clubs will weigh no more than 55 or 60 grams, but could be as light as 40 grams.

What weight shafts do pros use?

It is why the most popular weight for driver shaft-weights on the PGA Tour is still in the mid-60-gram range, with some players having tried shafts less than 50 grams. But more and more, there are exceptions -- players opting for driver shafts decidedly heavier than most of their tour brethren.

How does a golf club fitter look at weights?

Another way the good club fitters look at this matter of fitting the weights of the golf club is to understand that the total weight of the club is felt more on the backswing and the very beginning of the downswing while the head weight is detected and shows its influence on swing tempo consistency more from the beginning of the downswing to the release.

What is shaft weight fitting?

Shaft weight fitting involves judgment by the club fitter based on experience from having fit many golfers and learning from what golfers of different strengths, transition forces, tempos and weight feel preferences preferred, along with what ended up performing the best for them.

Why is it important to fit the weight of the golf club?

Fitting the golfer for the correct total weight and swing weight (head weight feel) is extremely important for enabling the golfer to achieve the highest level of shot consistency and swing repeatability. Too light or too heavy and the golfer struggles to maintain a consistent swing tempo, timing and rhythm. Match the weights of the clubs to the golfer’s transition force, tempo, rhythm and strength and a higher level of swing consistency happens, which also results in a greater on-center hit performance, better quality “misses” and fewer “off-the-world” shots.

When discussing the manner of fitting the shaft weight and total weight of a golf club, should the conversation also include fitting?

When discussing the manner of fitting the shaft weight and total weight of a golf club, the conversation should also include fitting the swing weight, or better stated, the head weight FEEL of the golf club at the same time. This is because the two “weights” of a golf club are very much interrelated in their effect on the fitting performance of golf clubs for each golfer.

How many parts are there in the club fitting series?

This story is part of a 10-part series from Tom Wishon on professional club fitting.

Does the weight of the shaft affect the weight of the club?

This is because shaft weight is the No. 1 determinant of the total weight of the club. Yes, grip weight and head weight have an influence on total weight, but they aren’t as important as the effect of the weight of the shaft. In short, when the golfer needs a lighter or heavier total weight in the clubs, fitting the weight of the shaft is how that is done.

Why do golfers swing heavier shafts?

A key factor in maximizing swing speed is maximizing muscle activation, which is why certain golfers can swing heavier shafts faster than lighter shafts. Slightly heavier shafts can activate additional muscle groups, effectively “turning on” more speed in a golfer’s swing.

How many inches of shaft is closest to clubhead?

The first four inches of the shaft nearest to the clubhead also play a role in energy transfer, but it’s a minor role as the first four inches of the shaft, regardless of shaft model, does not vary as much as clubhead weight.

Why use lighter shafts?

Using a lighter shaft allows more weight to be placed in the clubhead through adjustable weights, hotmelt, etc. without increasing the total weight of the club. This “redistribution” of shaft weight into the clubhead can be one of the last tweaks in a fitting that unlocks more distance off the tee.

What is in person club fitting?

An in-person club fitting is the only way to know for sure that a golfer has the best shaft for them. For that reason, the purpose of this article is not to help golfers “fit themselves.” After all, even the best golfers in the world rely on fitters to help them optimize their performance.

What happens when a golf club shaft is lighter?

When a shaft is lighter, it reduces what’s known as the total weight of a golf club, which is the weight of all components: the head, the shaft, the grip, and the things that hold them together such as the tip, tape, and epoxy. When the total weight of a club is reduced, it allows some golfers to swing faster.

How to increase distance on golf clubs?

There are two factors that are critical to increasing distance, and lighter shafts can help with both factors. These factors are: 1 The Speed The Club Head Is Travelling At Impact 2 The Mass Of The Club Head

Does the weight of the club head affect the energy transfer?

We know that, in general, the heavier a club head is the more energy it can transfer to a golf ball if the clubhead speed remains the same or very close to the same. This is because, at impact, the transfer of energy is related almost entirely to the weight of the clubhead. The first four inches of the shaft nearest to the clubhead also play a role in energy transfer, but it’s a minor role as the first four inches of the shaft, regardless of shaft model, does not vary as much as clubhead weight.

How does the weight of a golf club affect the shaft?

The swing weight of a golf club is often directly proportional to the weight of its head. If the clubhead is heavy, the swing weight will also be heavy. This will result in the shaft playing soft. When the clubhead is light, the shaft will play stiff.

What is shaft weight?

As the name indicates, shaft weight refers to the weight of the shaft of your golf club. Shaft weight is an important aspect of any golf club and can have various consequences on your game.

What is Golf Swing Weight?

Swing weight is a common measurement in golf that indicates the overall feel of a golf clubs weight while swinging it. Swing weight refers to the weight of a golf club at one-third of its top section (head) and two-thirds of its bottom section (grip).

What are the factors that affect the swing weight of a golf club?

There are four key factors that can have an impact on the swing weight of a golf club: Weight of your club’s grip. Weight of your club’s head. Weight of your club’s shaft. Length of your club. Altering just one of these parameters will modify the swing weight and in turn the feel of your golf club when you use it.

Why is my golf ball fat?

Turf contact. A heavy swing weight may result in hitting the golf ball thin. In contrast, you may be hitting the ball fat because of too light swing weight. Shot contact with the club. If the swing weight is heavy, the shots tend to get hit towards the golf club’s heel.

Why is there more shot dispersion in golf clubs?

Although you can add weights and restore the original swing weight of the club, there may be increased chances of shot dispersion because the original stiff flex tends to get softened.

Why is a golf club so heavy?

A golf club that is too heavy will be difficult to swing, and can cause a golfer to tire out faster during a game. Secondly, a lightweight club makes it difficult for you to retain the right path through the swing and control the club. Both instances will result in inconsistency and many off-center hits.

How many shots does each golfer hit with each shaft?

Each golfer hit 10 shots with each shaft and the results were measured by our FlightScope X2 launch monitor. All testing was done at the range at The Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club.

Is it easy to fit in golf?

What I hope you’re starting to see is that, just like golf itself, fitting is not easy. There are no shortcuts and the little bits of “common knowledge” are, more often than not, a bunch of bulls***.

Is shaft flex a governing body?

There is no ‘governing body’ for shaft flex that says a regular shaft or a stiff shaft has to be within a certain frequency range. That is why choosing a club solely based on shaft flex is highly flawed. After finding the right weight and torque, shaft flex is used to fine tune the shaft for the player.

Is shaft flex the end all?

The general golfing public has been conditioned and educated that shaft flex is the end-all-be-all when it comes to shafts and that simply is not true. The weight of the shaft is going to help keep the player’s swing on plane. Shaft flex has no industry standard.

What is the first thing to decide on golf shafts?

The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length. Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order. Read on to find out all about how ...

How to measure the length of a golf club?

In order to determine the length of your club, stand tall and get someone to measure from the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor. Do this with both hands and take an average of the two measurements.

How to know if you have picked the wrong shaft?

If you have picked the wrong shaft, you will immediately know. When you go to swing the club, you will find that the ball won’t go as far as it should, and you may hit the ball off-centre. You may also find that the club may feel “dead” if the shaft is too heavy or stiff, or alternatively it can feel too soft and weak – both can significantly impact your game. Therefore, if you don’t know what to do, don’t guess, because you may end up with the wrong shaft for you and it can be costly to rectify if you have to buy more shafts or new golf equipment.

What is a multi-material shaft?

A recent addition to the market are multi-material shafts which are used on both irons and drivers. This type of shaft incorporates steel and graphite into one shaft to get the best of both worlds for each player, to suit all playing types. Generally, the shaft is made using a steel shaft that has a graphite tip.

How long should a 5-iron shaft be?

The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights. If the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor is: 29 to 32 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 inches. 33 to 34 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 1/2 inches.

How much does graphite shaft weigh?

Graphite shafts are much lighter, less durable and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams – around half the weight of a steel shaft! These light-weight shafts help to provide a greater swing speed for more power, however, it sacrifices control due to the flex generated in the swing.

What is the difference between steel shafts and graphite shafts?

Steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterpart s. They are often made from carbon steel, but stainless steel is sometimes used, and start at 120 grams.

What to know about golf shafts?

In today’s guide we will review everything you need to know about golf shafts. Picking out the proper golf shaft is very important as it will impact several components of your golf swing. For example, picking the wrong golf shaft flex can cause you to hook or slice the golf ball. It also can hinder the total distance the ball flies by having too much spin or too low of launch. But don’t worry, at the end of reading today’s guide you’ll be much more educated on the buying process and how to pick out the right golf shaft. Lets Get Started!

Why is shaft weight important?

Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball. Lighter weight shafts tend to be swung faster (since they are lighter), increasing club speed. However, we don’t recommend looking automatically at the lightest shaft and disregarding heavier shafts.

What is the best shaft for golf?

Steel – A steel golf shaft is usually stronger and more durable (less likely to snap) than a graphite shaft. It’s also less expensive and sometimes stainless steel is used in the creation of the steel shaft. There is also two variations, stepped steel and rifle steel.

Why does my golf shaft have a slice?

When the golf shaft is too stiff, it doesn’t unload properly at impact. This can lead to the face staying open and result in a slice golf shot. Beware, a slice isn’t always an indication the shaft is too stiff so if you already have a slice, it could be caused by another fault in your golf swing.

What shafts do golfers use?

For most golfers, a graphite shaft works great. Most iron sets are made with graphite shafts as well so you get that material type by default usually unless you specifically seek out steel shafted irons. With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control.

Why do golf clubs have shafts?

During the golf swing the shaft causes deflection (bend) that causes the clubhead to be in a forward and toe downward position relative to the grip of the club.

What is the most common shaft material used in golf clubs?

Graphite Shafts. Graphite – this type of shaft is usually lighter weight compared to a steel shaft but it’s less durable and more expensive to make. Graphite is one of the most common shaft types used in golf clubs and can arguably be considered the main shaft material used, beating out steel.

How to measure golf shaft?

Use a tape measure to measure the shaft from the place where it is balancing on the pivot point to the end of the grip, which would be the top of the club. Record this number in inches, millimeters or centimeters.

How does swing weight affect golf?

By Jamie Lisse. Swing weight affects how the club feels during your swing. If you are looking to improve your golf game then you should think about calculating your golf swing weight. It is important to match your natural swing speed with the swing weight of a club to get the best results when you are on the course.

How to balance a golf club?

Step 1. Place a pivot point on a flat surface. A pivot point is a triangle-shaped gauge that is used for measuring by employing gravity to balance an object on top of the pivot point. Pick up your club and place it horizontally on the pivot point until it balances.

How many grams are in an ounce of golf club?

The weight will likely be in ounces and you will need to convert it to grams. One ounce equals 28.3495231 grams.

Why do golfers buy shafts?

The problem is that buying a shaft because someone else uses it is like buying a size 44-long jacket because that’s what Tiger wears. It can be counterproductive to your game to purchase a shaft that isn’t right for you.

What shafts do you need for a slow swing?

Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.

What does low torque mean on a shaft?

5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.

What happens if you have a longer shaft?

As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...

What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?

Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.

How many inches is Rickie Fowler's shaft?

A look at Rickie Fowler's fairway wood shaft, which measures 42 inches with 0.5 inches of tipping.

Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?

Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.

What is the X stiff range?

X-stiff – This is the range where most high-level players fall. If you’re swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set.

What is the average speed of a senior swinger?

Senior – Slower swingers fall into this category. Between 72 and 83 mph signifies you need to be hitting senior flex.

Can you extrapolate your swing speed to driver?

You should consider that your swing speed for your irons might not extrapolate perfectly to driver (and vice versa), so while a certain flex might be right in some clubs, that might not be the case in others.

Is True Spec Golf affiliated with 8AM?

Our friends over at True Spec Golf shared some data with us that illustrates the shaft that’s right for you based on your swing speed throughout the bag. ( True Spec and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf ).

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