- Swing weight is an observed estimation of the heaviness of your golf club that you feel when you swing it.
- MOI is a physical quantity and represents the club weight that inhibits the rotational acceleration of your golf club surrounding a player’s wrist hinge and prevents turning the club from ...
- The axis of swing weight of a golf club is 14 inches when calculated using a Lorythmic scale and 12 inches with an official scale from the golf club butt. ...
- Swing weight is interpreted as a linear function and is calculated as the product of the overall mass of the golf club and the distance from its center of gravity ...
- Swing weight is measured in terms of mass-times-length and converting the result to an artificial scale. The final value is expressed as a letter-number combination.
- MOI is interpreted as a non-linear function of the distance rendered by the golf club. ...
- Swing weight is measured with the help of dedicated mechanical or electronic devices. ...
- MOI is measured with the help of dedicated electronic devices or using a formula and general-purpose tools that comprise a ruler, a stopwatch and a postal scale. ...
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 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 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.
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 does the swing weight of a golf club mean?
Swingweight is not an absolute measurement of weight but rather a representation of the relationship between the amount of weight in the bottom two thirds of a golf club compared to the top third of a golf club. From a players perspective this translates to how the weight of the club "feels" during a players swing.
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.
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.
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 heavier swing weight do?
Swing weight is important to get the most out of every swing. If a golf club feels too heavy, the golfer has to swing harder, can find it difficult to swing, and tires out through the round. Heavier clubs and a tired golfer means less speed and less speed means less distance.
What does a higher swing weight mean?
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 does C9 swing weight mean?
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 will “feel” light) Swing weights range from A0 to G9.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women)
Does swing weight affect ball flight?
If the swingweight is too light, you will sense you're having a harder time controlling your tempo and the number of times you hit the ball on the heel or top it will increase. If the swingweight is too high, you will find yourself pushing the ball more, and the club will feel too heavy and more laborious to swing.
How do you determine the swing weight of a golf club?
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...•
What does swing weight C9 mean?
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 will “feel” light) Swing weights range from A0 to G9.
What does heavier swing weight do?
Swing weight is important to get the most out of every swing. If a golf club feels too heavy, the golfer has to swing harder, can find it difficult to swing, and tires out through the round. Heavier clubs and a tired golfer means less speed and less speed means less distance.
What does a higher swing weight mean?
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.
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 ...
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 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 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.
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 refers to the weight of a golf club at one-third of its top section (head) and two-thirds of its bottom section (grip). Although swing weight can have a major impact on a golfer’s performance, it can’t be considered as an absolute measurement.
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.
How to increase weight of golf club?
Using a lead tape to increase the swing weight. Stick a few lead tape strips on the clubhead of your golf club. Depending on the width of the tape, a 1-inch long strip of tape will increase the weight of the club by 1 gram. Apply the strips on the lower back of the golf club towards its center.
What does shaft weight mean?
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. Incorrect shaft weight can affect your ball speed, result in wrong shots, lessen your distance and increase your dispersion.
How to adjust golf swing weight?
As a general rule of thumb, increasing the weight of the clubhead by two grams increases its swing weight by one point. Similarly, increasing the length of the golf club by one inch boosts the swing weight by six points.
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.
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.
What is swing weight?
As mentioned before, swing-weight is a measurement of clubhead weight relative to the grip end of the club.
What does it feel like to swing a golf club upside down?
When you swung the club upside down, you probably felt like your swing was extremely quick, and you had no sense of rhythm. When you swung two clubs at once normally, you probably felt a great sense of where the clubs were during all parts of the swing, but also probably didn’t feel much power.
What happens if you swing too light?
If you have too “light” of a swing-weight, you might feel like the Hulk, but lack any regards to where the club-head is during different positions of the swing, which once again will limit your ability to return the club square at impact.
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.
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 "experts" might argue that it is ver…
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…