Are clubs too light today? That was the question last week. This week’s question is what can you do about it? I have written various posts on this over the years – including one recently. It is important that you address this in a fitting. Clubs that are the right weight for a player will perform better.

Let’s look at some basic club specs. First up is swing weight vs. static weight. The two ways we measure weight in a golf club. Static weight is the weight of a golf club. You put it on a scale and it gives the total number of grams it weights. We hardly ever talk about this spec, but it’s important because THIS is the weight we manufacturers try to lower when we make a club lighter. The other type of weight measurement is called swing weight. We chatted about this last week. Swing weight is a measure of balance – it tells us how the club feels when swinging it. We can make a club lighter, yet have the swingweight stay the same. THIS is what is happening to clubs in the modern age.

Ideally, if we want heavier clubs, we want to do so without increasing the swingweight – at least not by too much. Huh? You might say… How can you make it weigh more one way, but not weigh more another way? It’s simple. They aren’t measured the same way, so, if you understand how they both work, and what a player is looking for, you can make this happen easily.

Swingweight is measured in “points”, and 1 swingweight point is the equivalent to 2 grams of weight. For reference, a dime weighs about the same amount as 1 swingweight point. Hmmm… So, you want me to put in a shaft that weighs 40 grams more? And this won’t change the swingweight? I’m not great at math, but won’t adding 40 grams of weight add 20 swingweight points??

Uhhh, No. And here is where you need to understand the difference. Static weight is a measure of total weight. Swingweight is a measure of BALANCE. In essence, swingweight tells us, not so ironically, what the club feels like when you swing it. Ok, duh… If you add 40 grams more weight in the shaft, some of that weight will be above the balance point, and some will be below it. Since swingweight is a measure of balance, you can add weight to BOTH sides of the balance point to make the club feel to same way when you swing it, but have it be heavier.

Light bulb? I have a chart that simplifies what happens (ask me if you want a copy). Let’s look at a real-world example. I hinted at shaft weight above. Let’s assume we are going from a 90-gram Vector stiff flex to a Dynamic Gold S300. 90-grams to 130-grams.

Here we go. For every 9 grams that shaft goes heavier, the swingweight increases by 1 point. So, our 40-gram shaft weight difference would influence the swing weight by +4.5 points. Swingweight is a measure of balance, so the balance point of the shaft will influence swingweight. Lower = +1-2 SW Points, Higher = -1-2 SW Points. Dynamic Gold has the highest balance point, so it will decrease our SW by 2 points. We are now at +2.5 SW Points. Grip is another way to add or decrease Swingweight. A heavier grip will decrease swingweight by roughly 1 point per 5 grams additional weight. If you can find a grip that the player likes that is 12 grams heavier than the stock grip, the swingweight will be the same as the stock Swingweight – all while you added 52 grams of weight to the club… Now that’s cool.

I just had a set of Apex Ai200’s built. I wanted a heavier weight AND a heavier swing weight in a standard-length build. I used Dynamic Gold and a 49-gram MCC grip. They came in at D4, and about 30 grams heavier than the standard weight – just the way I like ’em.

Say this same configuration is needed, but, we need the set to be longer and more upright. Plus 1/2″ adds 3 swingweight points. Going 2* upright? That actually takes some away – drop it by 1/2 point. So, what do we do? Live with a D4.5 swingweight, or can we find an even heavier grip? Golf Pride MCC Plus4 Align midsize?? That’s a 67-gram grip – that will drop us another point. D3.5 SW on a set of clubs 2*Up, +1/2″ with a Dynamic Gold build. That club will be north of 60 grams heavier than a standard club but will feel only slightly heavier during the golf swing.

Can you make a club heavier without making it swing heavier? The answer is yes, and you might want to consider doing it. I focus on weight early on and often when I fit. I use weight to help straighten out ball flight. You do? How?? Heavier static weights make the club harder to manipulate with your hands. Heavier static weights make the club harder to “throw over the top” at the top of the backswing. Heavier club weights can help a player swing the club better – IF they can handle the extra weight. You can’t just add weight without knowing what you’re doing – to do it correctly, you have to add weight to both ends of the club to keep the swingweight in check. Heavier static weight is good. A swingweight that is too heavy will not allow a player to stay in balance. A heavier static weight will often lead to faster swing speeds (swinging a heavier hammer) and straighter shots (more consistent shaft and harder to flip the hands at impact). A heavier swingweight will often lead to shorter distance, decreased accuracy, very poor balance, and a potential for injury. Clearly, this can only be done for the right player, and the degree to which you do it is very individualized.

Remember, there is an optimal weight for every player. You can go too heavy despite keeping the swingweight in check. You can also go too light while keeping the swingweight in check. This is why you fit. I try it with any player we don’t need to go lighter than the stock shaft. You almost never know until you try it. Work your way up through shaft weights one weight class (10-15 grams) at a time. When the player looks like they are laboring and can’t stay in balance, go one weight class down – this is your sweet spot for that player. This will tend to give the straightest results with the best blend of distance.

Happy Fitting!!!

Jim Yeager, PGA