Lightweight Shafts Affect on Swingweight, CG, and Overall Club Weight

[oceansunfish]

I did my 'homework' per Joe K. and thewitt's information

QUOTE(thewitt @ Apr 25 2007, 12:41 PM)
Lighter shafts result in lighter swingweights. Don't artifically add weight to the head and soften the shaft flex just to bring the swingweight up to an arbitrary number.

Swingweight is NOT an indicator of weight, it's a relationship between the components that make up the club.

C7 is just fine for a club made from ligher components. If the shaft flex is matched to the player, there will be plenty of head feel in a C7 iron.

-t


Thanks to the search option, I was able to find some info provided by "thewitt" regarding my situation.

I recently changed shafts in my R7 TP from DG R300 to Nippon 950 S (95 gram shaft). A difference of approximately 32 grams. (Same weight grip was used) Per the explanation above, the lighter shaft meant I got a lighter swingweight. And, according to Joe's reference material at the top of the BB, a lighter swingweight by almost 4.

In addition, the club builder told me, the R7 TP heads turned out to be pretty light, which didn't help. Hence, when I inspected the tips of the pulled R300 shafts, there were also lead slugs inserted into them as well.

So, the result was a lot of lead was placed into the hossel to achieve a D2 swingweight, the "arbitrary" swingweight per "thewitt". And, according the Joe's info, I figured about 10 grams of lead was added just to compensate for the lighter shaft, plus, what was already in there to make up for the R300. It's possible that there was so much lead inserted that the CG would be affected.

On the other hand, I don't feel that the shaft flex was softened significantly as the flex feels similar to my old irons fitted with the same shafts and step pattern. I'm probably not that good to feel the difference anyway, but I do feel as if the overall club feels heavier vs. my older irons. I don't know how to explain the feeling, but it's as if I'm slower through impact vs. my older irons. Adding all the extra lead does make the overall weight of the club heavier.

Perhaps I should follow "thewitt" advice and remove some lead and lesson the swingweight to D0 or even into the upper C-range. As long as I can feel the clubhead, that's what matters.

BTW, is this necessarily a poor club design if club builders have to add a bunch of lead to the hossel for even a pretty standard shaft like the r or s 300?

Feel free to add comments, they will be appreciated. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the situation and getting way too technical for my own good.

[joey3108]

TM r7 Head have weight port and design purposely for this type of situation where you have to do custom weighting to accomodate light weight shaft to achieve the swingweight you like to be at.

 

An experience clubbuilder should knows how to pop the old one out and replace it w/ the right weight catridges so you'll have a consistent CG replacement as low as possible inside the hosel port and reach his goal on the SW. You can combine it w/ a light weight grip ala Dual multi compount or Winn grip (44-46gr ) to compensate if you don't want to add to much weight in the port. However you will have a lighter static weight.

 

Here are a post that has a pic of weight catrideges for TM irons look like:

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76998

 

Good luck!

 

Joe

[oceansunfish]

I saw your post about the weight cartridges prior to my post, unfortunately, it was AFTER I purchased my new set and had them reshafted! Argh!

 

I know the club builder used the basic lead weights that are cylindrical in shape, not bullet weights or pointed like the TM weights. I'm wondering if the use of a different shaped lead slug would affect the intended design proporties of the iron? I understand what you're saying in that you would be able to reshaft the irons and by using the TM furnished cartridges, you would be restoring the components back to the original finished state.

 

I will say that the club builder I used is someone with close to 30 years of experience and skillful. He was straightforward in showing me the weights used, etc.

 

Bottom line, the modification to my irons with new shafts, "blueprinted" as well as proper lie adjustment, is a vast improvement over the orginal configuration. With regards to the amount and shape of the lead used, I think I'm "splitting hairs" where my 'game' isn't good enough to warrant.

 

I am learning something.

 

Thanks Joe.

 

p/s My next set of irons will be obtained using your ability to obtain OEM stuff then 'tweaking'. Take all the doubt out of the equation.

[joey3108]

You or he can still use the tungsten rod as much as possible w/ the right diameter/lenght and still drop it in the weight port and adjust from there. I'm sure if it still need more adjustment in the shaft tip would be minimal. We can find this tungsten rod in the metal supplier or golf club component company.

 

The point here is that he should know that he need to pop the old weight out inside the port and replace it as heavy as possible for the swing weight intended to keep the CG as low as possible.

 

However, If you are playing it pretty well now...you should be a happy man! :cheesy:

 

 

Joe

[oceansunfish]

I wanted to add further that the club builder used more lead than he would've liked, in fact, he had to use the longest lead slugs he had on hand.

 

When I reshafted my old 320's with lightweight steel, extra lead had to inserted as well. I did notice, when I used impact tape, that on come clubs, not all, the sweet spot seemed to move towards the heel a bit. Same goes for the R7 TPs. Essentially, the clubs match! <grin> :drinks: