How much does Swing weight even matter?

[golfer929]

I mean, you can't really feel a difference in one or 2 points on the scale. Would the average player even tell the difference from C5 to D2? I am honestly not sure, it seems like people mostly play what they feel is best in their hands. The pro's could use pretty much everything. I can hit it 280+ off the tee, does it affect a player like me at all?

[ChaosTheory]

Everyone has an opinion. Mine is that it matters, and that just because you might not be able to consciously tell the difference, that doesn't mean your golf swing can't. And it probably can.

[golfer929]

Everyone has an opinion. Mine is that it matters, and that just because you might not be able to consciously tell the difference, that doesn't mean your golf swing can't. And it probably can.

Ok, that sounds fair enough. Curious to hear more opinions

[03trdblack]

Some people are more sensitive to swing weight and some more sensitive to overall weight. I know I can definitely feel the difference between a few swingweight points but usually it doesn't bother me unless it's very heavy or very light.

[Matt J]

The greater your swing speed the more sensitive you are to timing and swing weight effects your timing.

 

Most anyone could certainly tell the difference between C5 and D2.

 

Buy some lead tape and experiment. It might improve your game.

 

For me, I have totally different misses if the clubs are too light vs. too heavy, but generally it seems anything from C9 to D4 or so works for me depending on the shaft weight.

[Jagpilotohio]

Virtually any golfer will sense a 7 SW difference.

 

Most would definitely think c-5 feels strangely light and would likely have tempo problems.

 

D-0 versus D-2. Eehh. Very few would know the difference.

[Carvallo Golf]

Here is what I feel is the order of importance for playing good golf:

 

1. Sound fundamentals/technique will trump anything

2. Length, loft , lie, grip that all match the golfers body are most critical club specs

3. Looks- clubs must appeal to the eye and inspire confidence.

4. SW/MOI/frequency/flex/etc...and everything else is used to compliment clubs that fit the golfer.

 

The importance of these can vary from golfer to golfer, but I feel the order is correct.

 

Too much variation within a set will cause problems for most people.

[mizuno player]

It matters greatly to me. I am very sensitive. Also, I have found that over all weight increases when SW does.

 

I had a set come in at d6-7. Could this hit them. Threw them in the corner. Ordered Mizuno MP 5. D 2. All the difference in the world. To me.

 

There may have been other factors it I only knew the SW values.

 

I may be an outlier. Or just weird.

[Carvallo Golf]

It matters greatly to me. I am very sensitive. Also, I have found that over all weight increases when SW does.

 

I had a set come in at d6-7. Could this hit them. Threw them in the corner. Ordered Mizuno MP 5. D 2. All the difference in the world. To me.

 

There may have been other factors it I only knew the SW values.

 

I may be an outlier. Or just weird.

 

Not weird at all

[Noodler]

The absolute values of swingweight are meaningless (swingweight is NOT a measure of weight, but rather of balance about a 14" fulcrum). You cannot compare swingweight across clubs if any of the components are different (it becomes an apples-to-oranges comparison).

 

Swingweight does provide value within the build of the same set to achieve consistency within the build that results in an even progression of "swing heft" as you move from the shorter clubs to the longer clubs.

 

If you want all of your clubs to have the same swing heft, then you want to investigate MOI matching. If you want all of your clubs to have the same dynamic heft and the same "feel" then investigate MBI matching.

[Cwebb]

If you do very detailed testing, most will find some difference. For example, test your irons with impact spray on the face to show exactly where you are striking them, while adding/subtracting head weight. Most will find their impact pattern will change

[Nard_S]

Sounds delusional but I can tell between D1 & D2 and nail a SW pretty fast in my hands. Static weight is even a bigger factor though. 10 grams is a pile more of weight but when you consider it's 2 1/2 sheets of paper, it's kind of bewildering.Taking the effort to tune in on these things and the shaft profile is way more important than what's on the end of it.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Around 6 years ago i bought some Callaway X Forged wedges D7 swing weight.

 

4 years ago bought some mint Bridgestone J33 DPC?? not the CB and all D3, Perfect match! Good feel/

2 years ago i bought J33CB and rebuilt to D3. Loved them.

Sold them to a coworker who picked them up off my desk and said Hey, these feel great !!

Had Ping S58, well under D Zero, struggled until i rebuilt at D3, eventually sold to get the Forged Feel!!

 

I am a Sensitive Mail !! I need more Lead/Tip Weights. I;m happy with that.

Play Your Best !!!

[apprenti23]

SW matters for everyone! Any golfer can tell the difference of 3+ points of SW. What I don't understand is how for the longest time oems wanted everything at D2. That's wayyyy too light for me!

[getitdaily]

Swing weight is an area I haven't researched much. Anecdotally I can recall that sw or overall weight seems to be important when a change is made but that you adjust to the change over time.

 

My evidence:

 

Played mp33 irons for years. Several years ago I changed to mp63 irons. Over the next few weeks, as I hit range balls, there was just something off with the 63s. They felt heavier. I was spraying a bit. Took the 33s to the range and striped them. In the same session I grabbed the 63 and sprayed them. I could feel the difference and my results were showing what I felt.

 

I never looked into the differences. Both sets had dg s300 s flex shafts. Something was different though. I almost took the 63s back. I decided to persevere and now love the 63s.

 

So my conclusion is that sw matters when a change is made, but you adjust eventually and normalize the feel.

 

What I have no idea about is intra-bag sw differences. I have a 3hybrid that I tend to hit a bit squirrelly at times. It feels lighter so I may measure it relative to My 3wood, 3iron, and 6iron to if there's a difference.

[Carvallo Golf]

Swing weight is an area I haven't researched much. Anecdotally I can recall that sw or overall weight seems to be important when a change is made but that you adjust to the change over time.

 

My evidence:

 

Played mp33 irons for years. Several years ago I changed to mp63 irons. Over the next few weeks, as I hit range balls, there was just something off with the 63s. They felt heavier. I was spraying a bit. Took the 33s to the range and striped them. In the same session I grabbed the 63 and sprayed them. I could feel the difference and my results were showing what I felt.

 

I never looked into the differences. Both sets had dg s300 s flex shafts. Something was different though. I almost took the 63s back. I decided to persevere and now love the 63s.

 

So my conclusion is that sw matters when a change is made, but you adjust eventually and normalize the feel.

 

What I have no idea about is intra-bag sw differences. I have a 3hybrid that I tend to hit a bit squirrelly at times. It feels lighter so I may measure it relative to My 3wood, 3iron, and 6iron to if there's a difference.

 

Great term..."intra bag " and this is one of the most common issues I see in sets of clubs all the time. SW or MOI, every group of clubs should be fit individually and the specs will have good flow through the set.

 

 

 

[wkuo3]

Yes, it would matter to a lot of the golfers even the slightest of change in swing weight for feel.

Then again, it probably would not make any difference for some of the other golfers. I had found, usually the better the golfer the more they could feel the slightest change in their golf equipment.

[Matt J]

I think it's a big deal these days largely because of all of the different shaft weights being built.

[b.mattay]

Super overrated for me personally. I cut 1 1/2" off my driver without adding any type of weight to the head and it honestly doesn't feel any different to me. I have also tried swings with ladies clubs and really don't notice much difference in curvature etc...

[getitdaily]

Swing weight is an area I haven't researched much. Anecdotally I can recall that sw or overall weight seems to be important when a change is made but that you adjust to the change over time.

 

My evidence:

 

Played mp33 irons for years. Several years ago I changed to mp63 irons. Over the next few weeks, as I hit range balls, there was just something off with the 63s. They felt heavier. I was spraying a bit. Took the 33s to the range and striped them. In the same session I grabbed the 63 and sprayed them. I could feel the difference and my results were showing what I felt.

 

I never looked into the differences. Both sets had dg s300 s flex shafts. Something was different though. I almost took the 63s back. I decided to persevere and now love the 63s.

 

So my conclusion is that sw matters when a change is made, but you adjust eventually and normalize the feel.

 

What I have no idea about is intra-bag sw differences. I have a 3hybrid that I tend to hit a bit squirrelly at times. It feels lighter so I may measure it relative to My 3wood, 3iron, and 6iron to if there's a difference.

 

Great term..."intra bag " and this is one of the most common issues I see in sets of clubs all the time. SW or MOI, every group of clubs should be fit individually and the specs will have good flow through the set.

 

Finally had that 3h measured and it was at d-0. My irons are at d-2 or d-3. I added some lead tape to bring the swingweight up to d-2 and hit a few simulator balls and things appear better. Won't get to test it until next weekend but if the hybrid starts to behave then intra-bag swingweight differences will have explained why I can hit irons so well, 3wood so well, and spray the 3h. Also appears too light is not good for me.

[Matt J]

A scale is relatively inexpensive and lead tape is even less. If you're curious, why not test it yourself? It's much easier to make an educated opinion after trying some different swing weights rather than reading other peoples' opinions on the internet.

 

FTR, I hit an old wedge at the range yesterday with heavier swing weight, same shaft, loft and lie as the one in my bag... Trajectory was 20% higher. That's not how sensitive I am, that's making the same shaft a whole flex softer.

[JCAG]

I can make a 120 pound driver any swingweight you want. Now pick it up and hit it. You say you hurt yourself?

 

Assuming a golf club is within standard weight and comes close to fitting you, then varying the swingweight can have an effect. The variation would have to be more then 2 swingweights and closer to 4 for any major effect. Forget one swingweight.

[plexinico]

Yes it does matter. Can you tell one small variation? Probably not.

If you compare with Tyre pressure in a car, you'd certainly be hard pressed to feel a small change in pressure but you'll feel it different if you vary it a lot....

[KCCO]

Cut 1 1/2" off your driver, you will feel it until compensation is made to get to your comfortable SW....once corrected prob hit center of face more as well

[TheInfidel]

My driver swing is around 118-120. As a result my swing can go to pieces with really light swing weights. Hit some 3/4 woods in the past where I knew I would love the head but because of overall SW it was a total bust. My transition becomes an organised spasm. Just me....

[rsballer10]

The SW scale helps with quality control within a set. If my driver is C9-D8 I don't actually care, except my 3W is D4, and the driver will feel a tad "off" if it isn't matched to it.

[b.mattay]

Cut 1 1/2" off your driver, you will feel it until compensation is made to get to your comfortable SW....once corrected prob hit center of face more as well

 

I did this very thing with no adjustments after. Can't tell the difference between a 43.75 inch driver and a 45.25 inch driver in terms of swing weight.

[gioguy21]

i'm progressive in SW from my driver to wedges going from D4 in the driver down to D7 in the wedges. i like a heavier head b/c to me, i can feel it better from the transition and it doesn't get 'lost' between the top of the backswing and impact.

[Noodler]

It's like no one in this thread even bothered to read my previous post (#10). You're all still talking about swingweight values as if you can compare your D2 to another guy's club that's at D2.

 

I blame the manufacturers and the industry that continues to pretend that swingweight values are absolute measures and meaningful across different clubs.

 

Is anybody listening?

[gioguy21]

It's like no one in this thread even bothered to read my previous post (#10). You're all still talking about swingweight values as if you can compare your D2 to another guy's club that's at D2.

 

I blame the manufacturers and the industry that continues to pretend that swingweight values are absolute measures and meaningful across different clubs.

 

Is anybody listening?

 

actually, what we're talking about and what you were talking about (yes, read your post) are different things.

 

the reason why manufacturers/industry continues to (not pretend, it's a measurable value) use swing weighting is because golfers who prefer a 'heft' (as you put it) have a reference when ordering a club.

 

the fact you're discussing matters of MOI matching is NOT the same thing - which you mention.