- Swing-weight is universal, and is based on the comparative weights between the clubhead end of the club to the grip end of the club (D9 will “feel” heavy, while C9 ...
- Swing-weights range from A0 to G9
- D0-D6 are probably the most common swing-weights (anything you buy at a golf store off the rack)
- Swing-weight is not a measurement of total club weight
How to change the swing weight of a golf club?
Using a Swing Weight Scale
- Place the golf club for which you want to measure the swing weight over the swing weight scale.
- Adjust the sliding counterweight until the golf club is perfectly balanced.
- Note the point where the sliding weight gets aligned against the scale. The value at this point specifies the swing weight of your golf club.
How to Swing Golf Club for beginners?
Fundamentals of Swinging an Iron
- Setup. We always emphasize that body positioning is of extreme importance when it comes to where the golf ball will land.
- Takeaway. As you can imagine, how you begin your swing will greatly affect the rest of your swing. ...
- Backswing. There are a couple of points that you should focus on here, as well. ...
- Downswing. ...
- Impact. ...
- Finish. ...
How do you transfer your weight in the golf swing?
Let's take a more detailed look at the correct weight shift sequence:
- Address: Equal weight on both feet, balanced between heels and balls of the feet.
- Takeaway: During the initial 12” of the swing, weight should begin shifting onto the right instep.
- To the top: Continuing the backswing, additional weight should transfer to the right foot. ...
How to properly shift weight in a golf swing?
Proper Weight Transfer in the Golf Swing
- Athletic Base. As he indicates in the video below, it all starts with “an athletic base; weight distribution on the balls of your feet; shoulders a little bit out on ...
- Shift versus Slide. ...
- Hip Moves Up and Behind Back Leg. ...
- Baseball Drill. ...
- Contact John. ...
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.
Do golf swing weights work?
A light swing weight can prohibit the golfer from properly feeling where the head is during the swing and cause issues with squaring the face at impact, while a heavy swing weight can cause fatigue and negatively affect performance over time.
What is a good 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.
What do weights do in golf clubs?
All in all, weights have made their way onto every golf club you could put in your golf bag. This is ultimately in order to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) of a golf club and reduce its ability to twist.
How do I know what swing weight I need?
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.
Does swing weight affect distance?
How Much Does Swing Weight Affect Distance? Both swing weight and the total weight of the club are going to affect distance. In order to hit the ball far, you must be swinging at a high rate of speed, and the ball has to be hit in the center of the clubface.
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 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.
What swing weight should a senior golfer use?
A swing weight between C-8 and D-1 is the best swing weight for a senior driver, and the shaft should be 55-60 grams. Loft should be 12-13 degrees or higher, and seniors should look for 2-4 degrees of hook in the face or consider an offset driver head to prevent slicing.
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.
What is the difference between D2 and D3 swing weight?
The difference between each swing weight measurement is incredibly small. For example, all it takes to make a golf club go from a D2 to a D3 rating is about . 07 ounces in the club head. That is approximately the weight of a single penny.
Should I add weight to my irons?
From the clubhead, in the cavity of your irons, directly on the shaft, or even underneath your grip. The point of lead tape is to increase the swing weight of a club by adding weight. In theory, it can help you hit it further and straighter than a lighter club.
Why is it important to use a heavier swing weight in wedges?
The heavier swing weight in the wedges and short irons can possibly help club and club face awareness for greater precision. It’s important to remember that swing weight and overall weight are mutually exclusive. A heavy club can have a light swing weight and vice versa. That’s because swing weight is merely addressing the balance point ...
What happens if you swing heavy?
A light swing weight can prohibit the golfer from properly feeling where the head is during the swing and cause issues with squaring the face at impact, while a heavy swing weight can cause fatigue and negatively affect performance over time. ADVERTISEMENT.
Is swing weight too heavy?
Finding the proper swing weight for your game is mostly preference-based, but according to Tim Briand, Senior Vice President of GOLF’s sister company True Spec Golf, issues can arise if swing weight is too light or too heavy. A light swing weight can prohibit the golfer from properly feeling where the head is during the swing ...
Why is a heavier swing weight heavier than a lighter swing weight?
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. As with the fitting of the shaft weight, the club fitter also has to evaluate the golfer’s transition force, tempo, strength and any pre-determined feel preference the golfer may have ...
What is the difference between a baseball hitter and a golf swing?
He has to rely on quick eye-hand coordination. In contrast, the golf swing is just that – a swing of the club.
What is shaft weight?
Shaft weight is by far the biggest contributor to the total weight of the club, which is simply a measurement of how heavy a club is. 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 ...
What happens if you don't hold your golf club properly?
Then you learn good posture and setup. If you don’t start in a good position, the body can’t perform the swing motion properly. With a good grip and a sound setup posture, I believe anyone can learn a functional golf swing pretty easily.
How wide is a golf ball?
The ball is 1.68 inches in diameter, and the functional striking area on a golf club is about 1.5-inches wide. If you vary in your setup by even 3/4 inch, you have imposed a serious obstacle to success. If you do nothing else to improve your golf game, learn how to set up the same way every time.
Do you fit shaft weight and swing weight at the same time?
Both elements — shaft weight and swing weight — are influenced by the same golfer swing characteristics, which is why good club fitters will fit for both the shaft weight and the swing weight at the same time in the fitting process. In the actual fitting process, however, the shaft weight comes first. This is because the test clubs required ...
Is swing weight measured in grams?
Remember, swing weight is NOT an actual measurement of weight as are grams, ounces or pounds. 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.
What is swing weight?
Swing weight relates not only to the club’s weight but also to the distribution of the weight. A club with more of its mass concentrated in the club head has a higher swing weight and requires more energy for the golfer to swing it at a specific speed. Golfers should use clubs with the correct swing weight to maximize their potential.
How many ranges are there in swing weights?
Swing weights use a letter-and-number combination that represents the range and the specific reading. There are six ranges, from A through F, and each has 10 values, numbered 0 through 9.
How does a club maker measure swing weight?
Club makers measure swing weight with a special balance that positions the club at the correct fulcrum point and determines the amount of weight required to counterbalance the overhanging portion of the club. The balance may read directly in swing weight, or it may require a chart to convert its readings to swing weight.
When was swing weight invented?
In the 1920s , club manufacturers invented swing weight as a measure of the dynamic feel of the golf club. The value relates to the moment of inertia of the club at a fulcrum point, near the grip end of the club.
What is swingweight in golf?
A simplified definition of swingweight is the relation of weight between the head end of the golf club and the grip end.
How to change the swingweight of a golf club?
A golf club's swingweight can be changed by altering the club head, shaft, grip or length of the golf club. Swingweights are measured on a alpha-numeric scale, ranging from A0 (lightest) to G10 (heaviest).
How much does a 9 gram shaft increase swingweight?
Assuming the shaft is not increased or decreased in length, an increase of 9 grams in shaft weight will increase swingweight by approximately one swingweight point (increase from D3 to D4, for example). Conversely, a decrease by 9 grams in shaft weight will decrease the swingweight by approximately one swingweight point.
How many swingweight points does a golf shaft increase?
By increasing the length of the golf shaft by one-half inch, the swingweight will be increased by three swingweight points (increase from D2 to D5, for example). Conversely, by decreasing the length of the golf shaft by one-half inch, the swingweight will be decreased by three swingweight points.
How to adjust swingweight?
Golfers can adjust the swingweight of their golf club by changing the length of the club. Adjusting the length of a golf club affects the weight relationship of the club head end and grip end of the golf club. By increasing the length of the golf shaft by one-half inch, the swingweight will be increased by three swingweight points ...
How to add weight to a club head?
The most common way of adding weight to a club head is by using lead tape. Lead tape is a very dense product with an adhesive backing that is attached to the club head to add weight.
Weight Adjustment Guidelines (Useful reference)
Here are some useful conversions that will help you when swing-weighting your clubs :
About the Author: Zach Gollwitzer
Hey!! I'm Zach, the founder of The DIY Golfer. I created this site in 2015 while playing D1 collegiate golf to help myself understand the game of golf better and improve as a player. Fast forward a few years, and it has become much more than a journal.
What is swing weight?
Swing weight is probably something that only a fraction of all golfers have ever heard of. Every player knows the difference between steel and graphite shaft. Or between stiff and regular. But if you ask a player what swing weight he has in his irons, you'll probably only get questioning looks. And yet, the swing weight is of elementary importance.
How does swing weight affect performance?
The swing weight has a big influence on how you can move and accelerate a club during the swing . Among other things, it determines where the club head is at the moment of impact and how it can be controlled. As you can see, these are all important points that have a great influence on performance. But why is the swing weight not right ...
How many swing weight points does half an inch of shaft make?
And that is the last thing you want: a set of irons with varying length and swing weight. With the shaft, you can roughly say that half an inch makes up about 3 swing weight points.
What weight swing does Sergio Garcia use?
The wedges are extremely heavy, but the long irons are very light. Sergio Garcia plays with a swing weight of C-8, which is very light. On the other hand, he plays one of the heaviest shafts of all, the Modus 130, and adds some weight to the end of the shaft.
How to make a club head lighter?
To make the club head lighter, the shaft must be removed, the weight removed (drilled out) and the shaft remounted . Both processes are not very simple and require a lot of experience.
Can you make sure the swing weight does not fit you?
On the contrary: by making small changes you can even make sure that the swing weight does not fit you at all. Two short examples: - You buy a new iron but choose a shaft that is 1 inch longer because you are quite tall. The manufacturer makes this club for you by simply adding a longer shaft.
Is shaft weight a reliable indicator?
Always assuming the weight distribution in the shaft is identical - which it rarely is. In this respect, the shaft weight is not a reliable indicator, especially since one rarely knows the exact weight distribution. The grip also has a great influence and is often underestimated.
