Golf-FAQ.com

why back weight a golf club

by Orie Gleichner Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

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.

Part of a video titled Does Back Weighting Your Driver Add Distance? - YouTube
2:47
5:36
Because you have all this weight on the opposing end. So even though it feels lighter that doesn'tMoreBecause you have all this weight on the opposing end. So even though it feels lighter that doesn't mean it moves faster.

Full Answer

Does the weight back on a golf club make it more forgiving?

Some players did report that the club felt more forgiving with the weight back. One player said, “That shot definitely would have been a dud if the weights weren’t back.” Without tracking impact location, however, this is only anecdotal.

What does it mean when a golf club is Back-Weighted?

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.

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.

Is a heavier swing weight better for golf clubs?

On the other hand, some say a progressive swing weight is better, with the longer clubs having a lighter swing weight and the scoring clubs having a heavier swing weight. The heavier swing weight in the wedges and short irons can possibly help club and club face awareness for greater precision.

image

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.

Do weighted golf clubs help?

Swinging a light-weight object is critical to teaching your body how to speed up and move faster. Many of my students believe that swinging a weighted club is good for speed, but they are wrong. That builds golf muscles, which isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, it only teaches you to swing slower.

What do weights do in golf clubs?

Here's how it works: the swing weight of a golf club is measured on a 14-inch fulcrum that assesses the balance point of a club, which is displayed on an alphanumeric scale. The heavier a club “feels,” the more the club will tilt toward the club head side when balanced on that fulcrum.

Why are golf club heads weighted?

Adding weight to your clubhead will help to stabilize it for a squarer impact. Don't add too much weight, because then your shots will start going right.

Does a heavier golf club hit the ball farther?

Together, the speed and mass determine the magnitude of the force that is applied to the golf ball. 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.

How do you use a weighted golf club?

0:091:26Weighted Golf Club - Golf Training Club Exercise - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I also swing it to strength that my golf swing muscles to have a higher club head speed but withMoreAnd I also swing it to strength that my golf swing muscles to have a higher club head speed but with good technique. I do this in front of a mirror to make sure a good technique.

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.

How does club weight affect swing speed?

It has been found that if you can decrease the total weight of a club by 20-25 grams, you can see differences of up to 3mph in swing speed. Certainly, this is a good amount of speed that will lead to a large increase in the distance of the shots that you can hit.

Does swing weight affect distance?

The swing weight (aka head weight feel) of each golfer's clubs have a key influence for on center-hit consistency and can also affect the swing path, release and angle of attack — all of which can have a significant effect on shot distance.

What does 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.

Are lighter irons better?

Usually, lighter clubs produce higher spin rates. And with spin rates that are too high, you might actually lose distance. Second, a lighter club is sometimes more difficult to control and can wreak havoc on your ability to make a smooth, rhythmic swing that accelerates through the ball.

Does losing weight affect golf swing?

There's no doubt that losing that extra weight (particularly in the mid-section) can help improve your swing, while becoming stronger can inject more power into your drive.

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.

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.

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.

Who made MacGregor irons?

In 1977, I had the opportunity to spend some time working with Jack on his golf swing, and as a gesture of appreciation, he asked his personal club maker, Jack Woolcotti, to build a set of MacGregor irons for me. Mr. Woolcotti had his own private shop which was quite a fascinating place.

Two Ways to Do It

Leaving aside the DIY methods, there are two ways to counter balance your clubs.

Why Do It?

So you know what it is and how to do it, but the question remains, “Why should I?”

Conclusion

Much like large putter grips, I think counter weighting is something that’s worth experimenting worth, particularly if you’re struggling with some part of your game.

Try It For Yourself!

Win a set of 7 Secret Grips, including a putter grip, from PluggedInGolf.com. Click HERE to enter.

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 the force of a golf club?

The force is the face of the golf club striking the stationary ball as the golfer swings the club. To put this concept another way, the particular manner in which the golf ball is launched into the air and how far it goes is determined by how much force the golf clubhead is carrying at the point of impact.

How to do a backswing?

Here is the sequence of steps that the golfer takes during the backswing: 1 The golfer sets up his or her stance and addresses the ball (positions the golf club face behind the ball). 2 As the golfer begins the takeaway, backing the clubface away from the ball, the legs start to pivot away, and the torso rotates, followed by the shoulders. 3 The arms follow the shoulder rotation so that the club creates a sweeping arc like a second hand on a stopwatch moving from the six to the twelve. 4 As the club is brought back behind the golfer’s head, the wrists are cocked so that the golf club is nearly parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing.

How does the golfer generate torque?

As the legs and torso unwind and rotate in the direction of the target, they generate a tremendous amount of torque, and the arms and golf club are just coming along for the ride. Throughout the downswing, the golfer generates club speed, which peaks as the swing bottoms out where the clubhead meets the ball.

Why is it harder to swing a heavier golf club?

However, a heavier club will be more challenging to swing at higher speeds because there is more weight involved.

Why is there no magic formula for determining the proper golf club weight?

Because golfers encompass all age groups, sizes, statures, and athletic abilities, there is no magic formula for determining the proper golf club weight that can apply to all individuals, just as body type does not dictate distance.

What are the benefits of lighter golf clubs?

Benefits of Lighter Golf Clubs. With tremendous advancements in golf equipment technology , there are lighter materials available to manufacture golf club shafts and heads. Graphite and other composites are much lighter than steel and are also more flexible and forgiving.

Why are heavier golf clubs better than lighter golf clubs?

Whereas heavier golf clubs may provide more power upon impact and result in greater distance, they can affect swing mechanics and make it more difficult to control the ball flight. On the flip side, lighter golf clubs are easier to manage and may result in fewer errant shots, but distance may be sacrificed.

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.

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.

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.

image

Counter Weighted, Counter Balanced, Back Weighted…What Is It?

Image
Counter weighting goes by many names, but, no matter what you call it, we’re talking about the same thing: adding weight to the butt end of the golf club. When you add weight to the butt end of the club, you shift the balance point of the club towards your hands and raise the overall static weight of the club. You also decre…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

Two Ways to Do It

  • Leaving aside the DIY methods, there are two ways to counter balance your clubs. 1) Buy counter weights from a company likeTour Lock. 2) Buy pre-counter balanced grips. These grips, called the Secret Grip, are a relatively new invention from Boccieri Golf, the company best known for the Heavy Putter and a major, longtime proponent of counter weighting. Both methods have their pl…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

Why Do It?

  • So you know what it is and how to do it, but the question remains, “Why should I?” One answer that proponents are quick to point to: because Jack Nicklaus and Sergio Garcia do (Jack is even a spokesman for the Secret Grip). Of course, there are hundreds of PGA Tour players who don’t, so let’s move on. I would like to consider the benefits of counter weighting to putting and the full sw…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

Conclusion

  • Much like large putter grips, I think counter weighting is something that’s worth experimenting worth, particularly if you’re struggling with some part of your game. And, much like with grips, you will probably have to do a good deal of experimenting before you find the perfect configuration for your game, unless you are able to find a fitter knowledgeable in counter weighting.
See more on pluggedingolf.com

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9