Swingweight Question

[Cjetblack]

So I have been experimenting with my longer clubs.  I have both the Mavrik driver and 5 wood.  After gripping down and hitting shots, I decided to cut down both clubs.  Strike pattern improved, but I was still having trouble squaring the face.

 

For the 5 wood, I cut an inch off (42.75 to 41.75).  According to the calculations, I needed to add roughly 12 grams of weight back to the head to get the swing weight back up.  I did just that.  I added the 14g weight from the driver, and it felt like a hammer!  Upon trying it out though, I just could not square the face even though I was hitting much more in the middle.  I put the original 2g weight back in, and even though it was lighter, I could square it much more easily.  So possibly the head was just too heavy for me even before the cut down?  I’m playing it now somewhere in the C range.  Anyone else play comfortably from that range?

 

Driver was the same.  I cut .75” off.  Still could not square it until I put the 14g weight in the heel (Max version).  Instantly was able to turn it over more and even able to get some

toe strikes which is usually uncharted territory for me!

 

I have ordered some extra weights just in case (thank goodness for adjustability!). It amazes me the difference a few grams can make on performance.  I know that swingweight can be very subjective, but I’ve never tried to play anything in the C range just because I’ve always thought of the D range as “normal”.

 

And it only seems to affect me with longer clubs.  Anything shorter and I can turn it over, although I do want to do the same experiment with my hybrid since maybe stock lengths are a bit too long (I’m 5’10”).

 

Sorry for the novel, but has anyone else experienced the same thing?  Did you stick with it?  I’m gonna roll with it, especially if I can correct my right miss a bit, but I will always have the extra weights in my back pocket just in case.

[AzRoger]

I have a Mavrik 5 and 7 wood in my bag, cut them both down about an inch. Didn't mess with or even measure the swingweights, like most new clubs usually takes a few rounds to get use to them. Have been in the bag almost two years now and no plans to swap them out, very solid.

[Cjetblack]

8 minutes ago, AzRoger said:

I have a Mavrik 5 and 7 wood in my bag, cut them both down about an inch. Didn't mess with or even measure the swingweights, like most new clubs usually takes a few rounds to get use to them. Have been in the bag almost two years now and no plans to swap them out, very solid.

I love the 5 wood.  I usually

play Callaway fairway woods, but I was aware of how head heavy this one felt in comparison to the others that I’ve had (X Hot, XR).  Maybe I just lucked into a better swingweight for me, but I’ll take it!

[Ger21]

1 hour ago, Cjetblack said:

 According to the calculations, I needed to add roughly 12 grams of weight back to the head to get the swing weight back up.  I did just that.  I added the 14g weight from the driver, and it felt like a hammer!  Upon trying it out though, I just could not square the face even though I was hitting much more in the middle.  I put the original 2g weight back in, and even though it was lighter, I could square it much more easily.

The swingweight scale was never intended to be used like this. Always play what feels and works best.

[Cjetblack]

1 minute ago, Ger21 said:

The swingweight scale was never intended to be used like this. Always play what feels and works best.

I’m thankfully starting to learn this.  

[sheepdawg]

9 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

The swingweight scale was never intended to be used like this. Always play what feels and works best.

I'm a swingweight fanatic. My irons are all dead on D-3. One thing the swingweight scale deals with is between your ears.

[Nessism]

2 grams per swingweight point is for mid irons.  For woods, it's more like 1.5 grams.  

[Phebus]

I had a Ping G430 Max driver that I cut down. Swingweight went down to C8, so I started playing with lead tape to see what swingweight worked best for me. Ended up that adding weight back to the head only hurt me, so I just played it at the lower swingweight and ended up loving it.

I just went to a fitting for the new Ping G430 Max 10k, and was fit for a 45” shaft vs the stock 45.75” shaft and without correcting headweight hit it better at the lower swingweight as well, so I’ll be cutting it down. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

I had the opposite experience. Cutting down worsened my success rate. Lengthening improved it. Still yet, adding additional weight improved it further. If I used hot melt, my driver would probably be a solid object.... It works for me.

Weight works with the little grey cells to provide feedback. It helps to tighten up my rhythm and raise the average speed whilst decreasing maximum speed. I don't know how many peak MPHs I've lost in driver head speed, but it likely is a reasonable amount.

 

Yet, 280 even in the light rough is better than 310 in the lake, trees, weeds or OB. 😄 I'll take that.

[Nessism]

32 minutes ago, Phebus said:

I had a Ping G430 Max driver that I cut down. Swingweight went down to C8, so I started playing with lead tape to see what swingweight worked best for me. Ended up that adding weight back to the head only hurt me, so I just played it at the lower swingweight and ended up loving it.

I just went to a fitting for the new Ping G430 Max 10k, and was fit for a 45” shaft vs the stock 45.75” shaft and without correcting headweight hit it better at the lower swingweight as well, so I’ll be cutting it down. 

 

Just order the length you want.  Ping will shorten it for you for free.  

[Phebus]

27 minutes ago, Nessism said:

 

Just order the length you want.  Ping will shorten it for you for free.  

Curious if you order a shorter shaft, since Ping can’t and won’t add weight to the head if they’ll adjust swingweight with a tip weight or if they’ll just shorten shaft and ship it as is. 
I’ve asked my Ping fitter this  question and I’m waiting on his reply. 

[Cjetblack]

1 hour ago, Nessism said:

2 grams per swingweight point is for mid irons.  For woods, it's more like 1.5 grams.  

Did not know that.  Thanks!

[Pepperturbo]

3 hours ago, sheepdawg said:

I'm a swingweight fanatic. My irons are all dead on D-3. One thing the swingweight scale deals with is between your ears.

Truth. 

 

 

[Phebus]

3 hours ago, sheepdawg said:

One thing the swingweight scale deals with is between your ears.

Well, I guess I don’t have to worry about it then, not much there, lol. 

[mat562]

I'm a firm believer that a lot of people are playing clubs that are too long for them to control simply because the manufacturers have decided that everything needs to cater for the ball going memorably further on the one nutted strike in every ten that an average 20 handicapper manages with a 46" driver.

 

I play a 44 1/2" driver and a 42 1/2" 3-wood. I'm a cigarette paper under 6' and a natural drawer of the ball. For what it's worth, I like a swigweight of D-4, but I agree with the posts above that it's more a preference that's been quantified than a slavish devotion to a particular number on a scale.

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, Phebus said:

Well, I guess I don’t have to worry about it then, not much there, lol. 

You been listening to your wife or GF... LOL