Changing head and or swing weight to help load shaft more efficiently

[taylorhat]

Like the title says, is it possible to help aid in loading the shaft by adding weight to the club head? I know this will mess with swing weight but I know you can alter that too.  Obviously the most rational thing would be to sell the shaft to get one that fits me, but I don't want to quite do that yet.  

 

Fwiw I have a tour adxc 7x in a ping 425 lst.  I was coming from a even flow black 75 6.5 with 115 120 ss

[Drivingrangehero]

When I was in a Ping G30 Ls Tec I had a Tour 65x and it was a bit too stiff for me. I added some weight 6-8 grams to the head and it felt a lot better. 
 

You can always peel lead tape off. 
 

My current driver Ping G410 lst came with a 12g weight, I swapped shafts and cut the current gamer down, and installed a 20g weight after playing with lead tape first. 
 

I went through Howard’s DIY Driver tune up, and it’s probably made me the best version of myself driving the ball now. I’ve never hit more fairways in my life. 
 

Add lead tape incrementally till it feels right, don’t worry about swing weight.
 

If it feels too heavy in the head, try choking down. If you find that it is within your window for stiffness after the weight is added, and you choke down, you could always cut the butt end to fit.  
 

Another option in not to cut it since its a shaft you could probably sell rather easily and buy one that’s a better fit. 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Drivingrangehero
Link added

[Stuart_G]

36 minutes ago, taylorhat said:

Like the title says, is it possible to help aid in loading the shaft by adding weight to the club head? I know this will mess with swing weight but I know you can alter that too.  Obviously the most rational thing would be to sell the shaft to get one that fits me, but I don't want to quite do that yet. 

 

Head weight does play a part in how much the shaft loads for any given swing.   But the amount of loading has nothing to do with efficiency of either the shaft or the swing.  But getting the head weight feel to be a good fit is way more important than anything the added head weight might do to the amount of loading.  And no, adding weight to the butt end will not counteract any weight added to the head.    So head weight isn't a very good way to control or manipulate the loading.

 

In fact, if you want to nit pick, more loading means more elastic deformation and more energy loss in terms of internal friction - but it's really trivial so not something one needs to consider.

 

Now, the head weight feel and the even the loading feel for some can potentially be important feedback in terms of controlling the swing.   So changes to either could (again potentially) effect the efficiency or quality of the swing.   But there are no rules or even generalities that are useful in that context.   It's just something each person has to figure out through trial and error.  That's where Howard's DIY fitting tutorial (link above) comes in - it's a way to help you do that.

 

16 minutes ago, Drivingrangehero said:

lead tape always peels off.

 

I use it quite a bit and have never had it fall off.   Good quality tape, a clean and smooth surface on the club in a place that wont contact the ground during the swing, and a decent amount of pressure with something hard (like the butt end of a screwdriver) - especially around the edges is usually what it takes to keep it in place.   In fact, do it right and it can be a PITA to remove after being in place more than a few weeks.

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Stuart_G

[taylorhat]

Awesome thanks, I guess I was hoping it could soften it up a touch by head weight to perhaps get more of a kick feel, but that sounds like it'll cause potentially more issues.  I also apologize if I sound quite dense, I truly appreciate your guys time. I'll check out Howard's.  

[Adam C]

Can we all just stop using the term "loading the shaft". It is possibly one of the least helpful, and inaccurate descriptions of what the shaft does. Basically infers that if you don't "load" the shaft then it won't perform correctly. I admit I still use the term on occasion but need to stop

The shaft deflects and then straightens. Some golfers want to feel more of that deflection and some golfers don't. Okay, climbing down from the soapbox.

 

To answer the question, yes, adding head weight will allow the shaft to deflect more and in my experience most golfers prefer that feeling to the feel of a shaft with no "give" to it.

 

[Drivingrangehero]

13 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

I use it quite a bit and have never had it fall off.

What I meant is that, once you find the right weight with the tape, you could always peel it off if it’s too aesthetically unappealing to the eye, then install a proper looking headweight. 
 

I’ve  never had it peel off without lots of effort

[Stuart_G]

3 minutes ago, Drivingrangehero said:

What I meant is that, once you find the right weight with the tape, you could always peel it off if it’s too aesthetically unappealing to the eye, then install a proper looking headweight. 
 

I’ve  never had it peel off without lots of effort

 

Ahh, that clears things up. Thanks.

[Stuart_G]

14 minutes ago, taylorhat said:

Awesome thanks, I guess I was hoping it could soften it up a touch by head weight to perhaps get more of a kick feel, but that sounds like it'll cause potentially more issues.  I also apologize if I sound quite dense, I truly appreciate your guys time. I'll check out Howard's.  

 

The only real way to counteract those issues is play it at a shorter length to counteract the increase in swing weight.    Drop it down to 43.5" or 44"  and you might be able to add enough weight to soften it up a little.   Of course, that might drop the swing speed a little - although you never know until you try.  Test it out by  choking up.

Edited July 19, 2021 by Stuart_G

[Drivingrangehero]

5 minutes ago, Adam C said:

Can we all just stop using the term "loading the shaft"

I hear you!

 

It’s really a feel thing being put in terms to convey a message in some sort of Golfwrx Social Constructionism. 
 

So I’m guessing you don’t care for people saying “I overpowered the shaft” 😝 

[Adam C]

13 minutes ago, Drivingrangehero said:

I hear you!

 

It’s really a feel thing being put in terms to convey a message in some sort of Golfwrx Social Constructionism. 
 

So I’m guessing you don’t care for people saying “I overpowered the shaft” 😝 

Everyone on this site overpowers the shaft! Pretty sure I am the shortest hitting poster here.

[Drivingrangehero]

29 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

Drop it down to 43.5" or 44"  and you might be able to add enough weight to soften it up a little.   Of course, that might drop the swing speed a little - although you never know until you try.

 Like Stuart says “that might” drop the SS

 

I cut my driver down from 45 1/2 to 44 1/2 and have the same swing speed. In fact my ball speed not only didn’t drop, but increased on the overall average.  
 

When I went through Howard’s  DIY Tune up. I’d have ball speeds fluctuation 164-168mph, but averaged 165mph, when I cut my driver an inch I averaged 166.6 mph due to better strike location.