Swing weight, simply put, is how heavy a golf club feels when you swing it. It is not a finite measurement and is not something measured in grams like the weight of a golf club’s shaft or grip. This measurement was invented in the 1920s to describe the dynamic feel of a golf club as the player swings it.
What is swing weight in golf?
To put it simply, the bigger the globe, the more energy in that part of your golf swing. “This is an intuitive way to see how velocity flows through the body and out to the club,” he writes. This animation is an above view of a tour player hitting a driver. Each segment of the body has a globe.
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.
What is the swing weight of a golf club?
Swing weights range from A0 at the lightest to G10 at the heaviest, with most men’s clubs coming in around D0-D2 and women’s clubs weighing C5-C7. The difference between two swing weights, D0 and D1 for example, is approximately two grams of weight in the club head.
How to shift weight in golf swing?
- Address position.
- Shifting
- Final position
What is swing weight?
Why is it important to have the proper swing weight?
What does the swing weight scale indicate?
How is swing weight measured?
What are the factors that determine swing weight?
What happens if a golf club feels too heavy?
Do golf clubs feel good?
See more
What does Swingweight mean in golf?
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 standard Swingweight 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 Swingweight should my driver be?
To optimize distance, golfers should aim to increase the weight of their driver head and the first four inches of shaft as much as possible without compromising the other three factors.
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 c2 swing weight?
0:154:19Swing Weight Explained - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's just a relative point routine measuring the dish basic balance point between the head and theMoreIt's just a relative point routine measuring the dish basic balance point between the head and the button of the the club. So when we put this on the swing of a scale.
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.
How do I know my swing weight?
How to Calculate Golf Swing WeightsPlace a pivot point on a flat surface. ... 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. ... Weigh the club on a postal scale.More items...
Is 50 gram driver shaft too light?
50 gram shafts are among the lightest you will see on the market. They tend to be favoured by golfers who struggle to generate clubhead speed. These shafts are often favored by junior and senior golfers, they can give a nice boost to the driving distance of these groups.
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.
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.
Should driver swing weight be the same as irons?
All of Your Clubs Should Have the Same Swing Weight Make sure all your clubs have the same swing weight. Even if you think your clubs are a bit light or heavy for you, all the clubs in your bag should at least be very close to the same swing weight.
How many grams are in a Swingweight?
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.
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, ...
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
Answer
Swing weight refers to the amount of weight in the bottom two thirds of a golf club compared to the top third. It matters because it reflects the feel of a golf club to the player, more so than a club's total weight. This is important to match all the clubs within your set.
More about swing weight
Swing weight is measured using a balance scale that was patented by clubmaker Robert Adams in 1934. The scale goes from A0-G9 with the greater the letter and number, the heavier the swing weight. An average men’s golf club would have a swing weight of D2 whilst a ladies club would be C6.
Why is swingweight important?
The importance of swingweight is that golfers need to have a point of reference for how head heavy or how head light our golf clubs feel when we swing them – so when we find the right club weight balance that feels the best to our natural swing tempo and timing, we then can know how to duplicate that same weight feel in other golf clubs we may buy. ...
What happens if a golfer is too fast?
If a strong golfer with a fast, forceful tempo uses golf clubs with a low swingweight, the golfer will struggle with maintaining a comfortable, repeating swing tempo, will continually fight the tendency to swing too fast, and will suffer from a higher percentage of off center hits. Conversely if a weaker golfer with a smooth, ...
What is the letter number on golf clubs?
One of the very first technical points a golfer learns about his equipment is the letter + number designation which describes the SWINGWEIGHT of the clubs. C8, D1, D4 are examples of the letter/number designation which have been used to label the swingweight of golf clubs.
Is swingweight a weight?
That’s all well and good but just what is swingweight? First of all, it really is not an actual weight or an actual measurement of a weight or mass. It is not a standardized accepted weight/mass parameter like “grams”, “ounces”, or “pounds.”.
What is swing weight?
Swing weight, simply put, is how heavy a golf club feels when you swing it. It is not a finite measurement and is not something measured in grams like the weight of a golf club’s shaft or grip. This measurement was invented in the 1920s to describe the dynamic feel of a golf club as the player swings it.
Why is it important to have the proper swing weight?
It is important to have the proper swing weight for your swing and tempo. An incorrect swing weight can throw off your swing and lead to more off-center strikes and inconsistency. A swing weight that feels right keeps your swing on the correct path and tempo, yielding consistent, accurate results swing after swing.
What does the swing weight scale indicate?
Once the counterweight balances the entire club, the swing weight scale indicates what the swing weight of that club is. Robert Adams of Adams Golf fame is credited with inventing this system of finding the proper balance in golf clubs.
How is swing weight measured?
How Swing Weight Is Measured. Swing weight is measured using a special balance scale that places the golf club at the proper fulcrum point. The fulcrum point is where the golf club is evenly balanced on both ends and does not tilt to either side. Once balanced at the correct fulcrum, club makers move a sliding weight that measures the amount ...
What are the factors that determine swing weight?
The four factors that come into play when measuring swing weight are: Weight of the club head. Weight of the grip. Weight of the shaft. Length of the golf club.
What happens if a golf club feels too heavy?
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. If a golf club feels too light, the golfer will find it difficult to control and keep the club on the proper path through their swing. ...
Do golf clubs feel good?
Every golfer has played with golf clubs that just felt right. You were able to make your best swings consistently, the clubs felt good in your hands, and they made you a more confident golfer.
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…