Really Light Swingweight?

[dlow206]

Anyone play really light swingweights? So I used to play my full set of irons -0.5" and then had weight added back to get them as close to "standard" as possible.

 

However, I am doing a project to MOI match my irons. After doing an optimization with an 8 iron with lead tape, i found the optimal 8 iron weight to be around C8 or C9. This is with 85 gram graphite shafts. 

[Buzzkill]

I play C9, pretty much standard swing weight for Ping Eye 2 irons.

[dlow206]

I should also clarify my original post. My irons are both light from a swingweight standpoint and a total static weight standpoint. 

 

I am a smooth tempo, smooth transition guy. Feel like the lighter weight clubs made my transition even smoother, in a good way. 

[Buzzkill]

I’m currently playing 95 gram graphites BUT previous set had Steelfiber i70s at C8, no issues.

[ShortGolfer]

Super light ladies graphite shafts.  40g 4I to 55g SW.

[TwistedSister]

2 hours ago, dlow206 said:

I should also clarify my original post. My irons are both light from a swingweight standpoint and a total static weight standpoint. 

 

I am a smooth tempo, smooth transition guy. Feel like the lighter weight clubs made my transition even smoother, in a good way. 

I play Recoil 660SC shafts.  I added tip weights and powder to get them to D0.  I am also smooth tempo and transition.  It took a few rounds to get used to it but now would not go back.  No elbow pain and not tired at the end of the round like I was before. 

[Primo1868]

4 minutes ago, dhacker56 said:

I play Recoil 660SC shafts.  I added tip weights and powder to get them to D0.  I am also smooth tempo and transition.  It took a few rounds to get used to it but now would not go back.  No elbow pain and not tired at the end of the round like I was before. 

How old are you if I may ask? 

[TwistedSister]

19 minutes ago, Primo1868 said:

How old are you if I may ask? 

65

 

[Primo1868]

42 minutes ago, dhacker56 said:

65

 

Thanks!

[dlow206]

I don't find many people in my age range that play as light of clubs (i'm only in my late 30s). I would say I'm decently strong from a gym perspective, though i have had some injuries.

 

Swinging the lighter weight clubs today, i felt in control of the club, whereas i know realize i used to be fighting the clubs to control them. Dispersion seemed much better, still had misses at the range, but not the huge block right that I tend to hit with irons. 

[Billfitz]

I don't know the swing weight of my clubs, and don't care. I do know from decades of experience that what works best for me are lightweight grips and shafts. That's understandable now at age 71, but I preferred them from the day I started using them some 30 years ago. You really should question the value of swing weight when you can have two clubs with the same swing weight but a difference of 50g or more in net weight.

[Rbsiedsc]

My set was fit to me d0 with heavy shafts though. I think lighter aw in long irons and heavier the shorter you go is the way of the future. 

[Righty to Lefty]

You can play whatever swing weight you prefer as this is basically a measure of how the weight is distributed along the club but the effort required to move it is the same regardless of the swing weight at any given total weight. Looks like you are finding your optimal fit though so congrats on that no doubt. 

[Stuart_G]

3 hours ago, Righty to Lefty said:

but the effort required to move it is the same regardless of the swing weight at any given total weight.

 

That would be true only if there were no rotation of the club happening during the swing - and every golf swing has lots of rotation.

[dlow206]

7 hours ago, Righty to Lefty said:

You can play whatever swing weight you prefer as this is basically a measure of how the weight is distributed along the club but the effort required to move it is the same regardless of the swing weight at any given total weight. Looks like you are finding your optimal fit though so congrats on that no doubt. 

 

I am playing a lighter swingweight and lighter static weight. about 10 grams lighter shafts and i didn't mention grips above, but about 8 grams lighter. 

[Righty to Lefty]

4 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

 

That would be true only if there were no rotation of the club happening during the swing - and every golf swing has lots of rotation.

What I mean is that the club weight can remain constant yet various swing weights can be accomplished.  

[Stuart_G]

2 minutes ago, Righty to Lefty said:

What I mean is that the club weight can remain constant yet various swing weights can be accomplished.  

 

True but my point was really that "effort" will change just as much with swing weight (really head weight) changes as well as with static weight (shaft weight) changes.

 

Actually "effort" is not the best word to use - since perceived effort is really not a good representation of the theoretical effort needed.

 

[MrFlipper]

3 hours ago, dlow206 said:

 

I am playing a lighter swingweight and lighter static weight. about 10 grams lighter shafts and i didn't mention grips above, but about 8 grams lighter. 

 

I'm a lighter static weight guy myself. But there really isn't a standard. How much does, say your six iron, weigh, in grams? Or another of your irons, if you prefer. Just not wedges 🙂

 

And do you know your shaft uncut weight, and grip weight? These are all measures that I track on my clubs, being more affected by total static weight, and distribution of that weight, than you might think.

 

Just curious. Thanks.

[Billfitz]

1 hour ago, MrFlipper said:

And do you know your shaft uncut weight, and grip weight?

Of course. If I didn't I wouldn't buy them.  😉

[dlow206]

1 hour ago, MrFlipper said:

 

I'm a lighter static weight guy myself. But there really isn't a standard. How much does, say your six iron, weigh, in grams? Or another of your irons, if you prefer. Just not wedges 🙂

 

And do you know your shaft uncut weight, and grip weight? These are all measures that I track on my clubs, being more affected by total static weight, and distribution of that weight, than you might think.

 

Just curious. Thanks.

 

I am working on a MOI matching project for my set, and just finished optimizing my 8 iron as the reference club. So I will have every input parameter needed, which includes the above. 

[rdookeran]

There are a couple of roads that you can walk here. I would suggest that you read Dave Tutelman's articles on MOI matching to help understand the theory. https://www.tutelman.com/golf/design/swingwt4.php . Jeff Summit also has some related material on the subject.

 

From my experience, MOI matching is a real hit and miss. I feel that if you don't mind single length irons then you would be a candidate for MOI matching. I've fooled around over time with different variations on a theme (3/8" increments, 7/16" increments) and found that 7/16" worked the best in terms of comfort and playability. If your base club is 8 iron to work from, then mark your static lengths on the measuring rule and map out your build. The swingweight throughout the set would be accurate enough, but it's not a dealbreaker if they are slightly off. Unless you are a scratch golfer you will not notice any difference. My only complaint with the 3/8" increments was that the short irons became too heavy with the added length.    

[A.Princey]

Light swing weights aren’t inherently bad, and actually might benefit your swing. I wouldn’t completely discount anything in the C range as too extreme, but venture further down the scale than that, and it may be too far. B range and lower will probably wreak havoc on your swing. 

[MisterT]

Interestingly, I play better with heavier swing weights as that allows me to feel where the clubhead is. My prior irons were D3 and my current irons are D2 while my driver, 3 wood, and hybrid are all D3 and wedges D5. I am in my 60s.

[Billfitz]

Why is your swing weight high? Is it because your shaft and grip weights are low? Or have you added lead tape to the heads? That's the problem with swing weight, you can have ten clubs with identical swing weight but none of the individual parts weights or total static weight is the same. That's why I ignore it.

Edited December 11, 2021 by Billfitz

[denkea]

On 12/11/2021 at 1:37 PM, Billfitz said:

Is it because your shaft and grip weights are low

Grips = Yes

Shaft weight = NO

Lighter grips = heavier swing weight

Lighter Shafts = Lighter swing weight

[Stuart_G]

2 hours ago, denkea said:

Lighter Shafts = Lighter swing weight

 

Assuming same balance point yes, so sometimes yes but also sometimes no.

 

We can't really generalize anymore on what will happen to swing weight with any shaft weight change.  Balance points vary way too much for that to be a predictor.

[skraly]

Doesn’t work with my irons.  But I’ve played around with a driver at 45.5” and C5 swing weight.  Had enough interesting results to continue to tinker with it.

[deepred]

Just for kicks I put my favorite club of all my 45 years of golf on the swingweight scale not long ago. The early 80’s Wilson Tour Block 11 four wood measured D0. I was stunned, expected it was D2 at least so I chatted with a club designer about it and he is of the opinion the heavy, tip stiff, steel Dynamic shaft and the heavy brass sole plate made the head feel heavier than it is.

 

[Stuart_G]

20 hours ago, deepred said:

he is of the opinion the heavy, tip stiff, steel Dynamic shaft and the heavy brass sole plate made the head feel heavier than it is.

 

 

The first can be true for some - softer shafts slow down how quickly we feel the resistance from the weight and "soften" the head weight feel.

 

I sincerely doubt the second would actually make enough of a difference to be noticeable by anyone.

 

Edited December 23, 2021 by Stuart_G