Back weighting of golf clubs (putting weight underneath the grip or inside the top of the shaft) is a subject that few professionals and fewer amateurs that even attend a golf academy know much about. However it can have a profoundly positive effect on the performance of your clubs. Jack Nicklaus Back Weighted His Golf Clubs
What does swing weight mean on a driver?
While head weight determines the load of the driver head. The swing weight scale ranges from A0 to G10. A0 is the lightest swing weight, while G10 is the heaviest on the scale. On average, men’s clubs will register a swing weight of D0 – D2, and ladies C5 – C7.
How much does a back-weighted Golf Club grip weigh?
The grip weighs in at 92 grams, 40 grams more than a traditional grip. A tungsten button on the butt end of the grip accounts for the additional weight. "We have a full line of back-weighted golf clubs," Boccieri said.
What is the best head weight for a golf driver?
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 do you add weight to a golf club?
Simply loosen the weight and slide it into position, or remove it. By applying an inch of lead tape to your driver you can add up to 2 grams of weight to the club. Adding too much tape will impact the weight balance of your club, and will affect your long game.
What does adding weight to back of driver do?
Placing weight more toward the rear portion of the head will make it higher spinning, higher launching and more forgiving. To simply add weight to the head, place lead tape directly in the center of the sole; this will slightly lower overall CG, as well, which can be beneficial for most golfers.
What does back weighting a golf club do?
Back weighting and counterbalancing are essentially the same thing. In the past, counterbalancing a club was called back weighting because lead tape or weight would be put on the back end (butt end) of the golf club to help to make the balance point on the shaft higher.
What does moving weights on driver do?
A lot of modern drivers come with settings that allow you to move the center of gravity horizontally. Moving around weights can favor more of a fade (left to right) or draw (right to left) ball flight.
Should weight be in front or back of driver?
Though 90% of a golfer's weight should be on their front foot at impact, many golfers struggle with hanging back too much on their back leg. This leads to decreased power and inconsistent contact. By starting with the weight slightly forward, it is easier to transfer the rest of the weight at impact.
Does adding weight to a driver increase distance?
It is clear that a heavier driver head can help you to achieve longer distances, however you need to be able to generate sufficient clubhead and ball speed. Lighter driver heads can help you to get the ball airborne and provide consistent carry.
Where do you put the weights on a golf driver?
Clubs with movable weights typically have ports into which weights are screwed. To reduce a slice, heavier weights are placed by the clubhead's heel, while the club's lighter weights are set by the toe.
What is the ideal 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 adding loft to a driver open the face?
When you adjust a hosel to increase loft, you are actually closing the face fractionally. Conversely when you reduce loft you are open the face slightly. Some clubs counter this visual change by allowing you to also change the face angle by using balance points on the sole.
What does lowering the loft on a driver do?
Lower lofts can provide more energy transfer at impact because there's less of an oblique angle. It's why your 7-iron flies farther than your 8-iron. In our test, drivers with less loft consistently produced more ball speed, even for low swing-speed golfers (3.2 mph more compared to the 10.5 and 12-degree drivers).
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.
Do you shift weight with driver?
6:5912:31Driver Vs. Iron | How To Shift Your Weight - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe kind of got to do the backswing weight shift early on to allow us to then get back on that leadMoreWe kind of got to do the backswing weight shift early on to allow us to then get back on that lead side so with the driver.
How can I increase my driving distance?
5 Top 100 Teacher-approved tips to boost your driving distanceIncrease the speed of the backswing. ... Stay back longer during the downswing. ... Proper shoulder tilt at address. ... Make harder practice swings. ... Use your wrists.
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.
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 does weight do in a golf club?
When most golfers talk about adding weight to a golf club, what they are really talking about is the swing weight of the club: adding weight to the head of the club in order to increase the speed of the swing and thereby increase the distance that the ball is hit. There are different ways of doing this.
How much do professional golfers bag weigh?
A PGA Tour player's bag is about fifty pounds. Carrying a fifty-pound bag for eighteen holes is no easy task. Especially when you consider the terrain that these caddies are asked to traverse. PGA Tour players rarely lose a golf ball in the course of the round, so we know they aren't filling the bag with golf balls.
What Is Swing Weight
In layman’s terms, swing weight is how heavy or light a golf club feels when you swing it. Unlike the standard weight, swing weight is not measured in grams but is measured using a complex system.
How To Measure Swing Weight
Swing weight is measured using a particular balance scale designed specifically for this purpose. Robert Adams introduced the technique to measure swing weight.
How To Read Swing Weight
Unlike standard weight that is expressed using grams or ounces, swing weight is represented using a combination of letters and numbers.
How Important Are Swing Weights For Golf Drivers
Swing weight is one of the most essential metrics for improving your swing technique and, ultimately, your overall game. However, its significance in the case of drivers surpasses any other golf club.
BIG STU
I am also a proponent of weight down low and back. But a lot of it depends on the kick of the shaft too. Right now I am experimenting with a Homna G1-x that has the weight in the back but can not get it to perform as consistant as the 915 for me. Yep there are so many variables though with so many weights,shafts and settings
jaskanski
I've been dabbling with this concept for several months myself too. I agree that weight low and forward (a la SLDR) produces very low spin drives with plenty of distance - but it comes at the expense of being very loft specific and unforgiving compared to other driver with weights moved to the rear.
chisag
I am also a proponent of weight down low and back. But a lot of it depends on the kick of the shaft too. Right now I am experimenting with a Homna G1-x that has the weight in the back but can not get it to perform as consistant as the 915 for me. Yep there are so many variables though with so many weights,shafts and settings
mrsmith123
A lot of the weighting effectiveness is dependent on angle of attack as well. For example, if you are a person who believes in swinging with a descending angle of attack with driver (hitting down on it) then a driver with weight forward and higher loft is beneficial.
Dr Strangelove
My experience is the same as chisag. My swing speed is 100. I had an awful time with the SLDR when switching from the R1. The Ping G25 and Cobra Fly Z are without a doubt easier to hit.
chershey
I just switched the weight from the back to the front on my EPIC SZ and have been killing the ball on the driving range. I'm not going to be able to test it out on the course until July 1, but right now I'm liking it that way. We'll see how I hit when I'm under pressure.
Thatginger96
The SLDR gave me my best numbers I think I have ever gotten, but it was so low spin that my mishits just fell out of the sky. What I like about my Ping G30 Ls tec is that my spin remains constant even on bad hits. It's not as low of spin as the SLDR was, but it can get that low if it's hit right.
Where is Matt from Plugged In Golf?
He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
How many testers have the lowest spin?
Four of five testers did have their lowest spin with the weight forward, and three had their highest spin with the weight back. Since the movable weights impacted launch and spin so significantly, it follows that they also affected distance.
Why do we favor testing with low handicap players?
We favor testing with low handicap players because the data is much cleaner: there are far fewer wild shots and mishits. However, it would be interesting to see if higher handicap players would be more or less sensitive to the movement of weight.
How much does a secret grip weigh?
The grip weighs in at 92 grams, 40 grams more than a traditional grip. A tungsten button on the butt end of the grip accounts for the additional weight.
What is the secret grip of Boccieri Golf?
ORLANDO, Fla. -- When Boccieri Golf developed its Secret Grip it did so principally to provide golfers an easier way to back weight a club. What it discovered, company president and CEO Stephen Boccieri said, was that it actually improved performance. "From a performance standpoint, I never thought there could be a grip ...
Does Jack Nicklaus back weight clubs?
Back-weighting clubs is not knew. Jack Nicklaus back-weighted clubs, as do a number of tour players. The process of back-weighting clubs has been somewhat cumbersome, requiring drilling through the end of the grip. The Secret Grip accomplishes the same thing simply by changing the grip. "None of the average golfers know anything about ...
What does weight pack do on a driver?
Weight Packs. You can purchase weight packs for your driver head, and add and remove them to your preference. Adding weight will shift the CG of the driver, and impact your launch angle, spin levels, and MOI.
What is the difference between swing weight and head weight?
Swing weight determines the heaviness of your club when you swing it. While head weight determines the load of the driver head. The swing weight scale ranges from A0 to G10. A0 is the lightest swing weight, while G10 is the heaviest on the scale.
Why do my golf shots end left off the tee?
If your shots are consistently ending left off the tee, it may be due to a light driver head that you are twisting on your backswing. Adding weight to your clubhead will help to stabilize it for a squarer impact.
Why do golfers need a weaker loft?
Slower swinging golfers that struggle with consistent carry and total distance , may prefer a weaker loft to help them with launch.
What is the average size of a driver head?
The average size of a driver head is between 440 cubic centimeters (CC) and 460 cc. The smaller driver head allows for better workability off the tee. While the larger head offers the average golfer a more forgiving option in your long game.
Where to place CG on a golf driver?
If you are getting too much height and spin rpm off the tee, you will want to manipulate the weights to place the CG in the front part of the sole of the driver.
Does a heavier head slow down tempo swingers?
A heavier head may further slow down the swing speed of moderate to slow tempo swingers. Moderate and slow swinging players will struggle to get the ball airborne. Loss of carry and total distance for slower swingers. Susceptible to pushing shots.
What is back weighting in golf?
Back weighting of golf clubs (putting weight underneath the grip or inside the top of the shaft) is a subject that few professionals and fewer amateurs that even attend a golf academy know much about. However it can have a profoundly positive effect on the performance of your clubs.
Why is a back weighted golf club better?
When a club is back-weighted, it feels more stable in the hands and moves more comfortably through the change of direction during the swing. If the club is too light in the grip, it is easy for the clubhead to leverage the hands out-of-plane if the swing is not in perfect timing.
Who invented gravity golf?
David Lee the inventor of Gravity Golf Academy has been experimenting with adding weight underneath the grip for the last 35 years to create a perfect balance for each club.
Did Jack Nicklaus back weight his golf clubs?
Jack Nicklaus Back Weighted His Golf Clubs. One compelling reason for writing on this subject is that in recent months there have been advertisements on television where Jack Nicklaus has been endorsing the process of back-weighting. I’ve never heard him mention it during his years on the tour, nor until just recently.
JStang
I recently changed shafts from an Aldila Rogue Silver to a Grafalloy New Blue to take some spin off of my ball. I had always loved every club that had the Grafalloy Blue shaft in it. I played last night and noticed a much lower flight and the ball really seemed to explode off the face.
Nessism
I believe Stuart is correct. Minor weight additions won't change ball flight.
Wooderson
I know that is what Tom has said. I know that is the theory, but in application it just is not true. You will make a noticeable change with a 5-10 gram addition towards the rear.
Game Changer Or Placebo?
The Myths
- Myth #1 – Movable weights affect launch and spin Myth #2 – Movable weights affect shot shape and dispersion Myth #3 – Movable weights affect forgiveness Myth #4 – Movable weights affect feel
How We Tested
- For this test, we brought together five testers, all with single digit handicaps. Each player hit the same driver (TaylorMade M5) with the weights in four different positions: forward, back, heel, and toe. Each player selected a shaft that fit their swing and used it throughout the test. We collected data on every swing but only counted five drives per setting, each with a smash factor above 1.4…
The Results
- Though the results were not always predictable, there is no question that launch and spin were affected by the position of the weights. In comparing their highest launching setting to their lowest launching setting, our testers had differences of 3.2, 3.7, 2.1, 2, and 2.8 degrees. It is worth noting that the forward weight position, which should be the lowest launching, produced the exp…
For Future Testing
- One thing that we’re interested in is how different the results would be with mid or high handicap players. We favor testing with low handicap players because the data is much cleaner: there are far fewer wild shots and mishits. However, it would be interesting to see if higher handicap players would be more or less sensitive to the movement of weight. Our hypothesis is that high …
Conclusion
- This test provided at least as many questions and opportunities for further testing as it did answers, but one thing is very clear: if you have movable weights in your driver, you can gain a lot by having them positioned correctly. Don’t settle for the weight position that is supposed to work for you. Book some time on a launch monitor, preferably with a club fitter, and test a variety of w…