How important is proper swingweight?

[Gapwedge]

What affect would a too light of swingweight have on a golfer who is better fitted for a heavier swingweight, i.e. using a C6 swingweight club verses a D4?

[Ringer]

Tempo is gonna go, timing is gonna go, and you'll get more ball bound than ever. You gotta swing the club and if you have too light a club in your hands, you're more likely to use the small muscles of your hads and arms to swing it.

You swing an axe with your big muscles.. you swing a hammer with your arm.

[Gapwedge]

Tempo is gonna go, timing is gonna go, and you'll get more ball bound than ever. You gotta swing the club and if you have too light a club in your hands, you're more likely to use the small muscles of your hads and arms to swing it.

Ringer, can a golfer actually distinguish say between a D2 and D4 and how accurate are swingweight balances that do the measuring?

[Ringer]

Ringer, can a golfer actually distinguish say between a D2 and D4 and how accurate are swingweight balances that do the measuring?

The player may not feel the difference through his conscious mind but his subconscious will feel it and act accordingly. Usually small differences don't show up until later on. It takes several swings before the small differences become big enough to see. Sorta like watching your kids grow up. Every day they don't look like they've changed much... but compare every 5 years and it's crazy how different they are.

[Everardo]

Ringer, can a golfer actually distinguish say between a D2 and D4 and how accurate are swingweight balances that do the measuring?

On average people wont be able to tell the difference of 2 points but like Ringer mentions your body may be able to tell (This is assuming that your swing is like a robot's though)

[fusioncal]

And what would happen if the current swingweight is too much? A lot of chunkin'?

[Ringer]

And what would happen if the current swingweight is too much? A lot of chunkin'?

No, more pulling with the left side and usually a cut. You tend to try twist your body more, pulling your left hip and left shoulder away from the ball on the forward swing and not releasing the club properly on plane.

[Gapwedge]

No, more pulling with the left side and usually a cut. You tend to try twist your body more, pulling your left hip and left shoulder away from the ball on the forward swing and not releasing the club properly on plane.

Ringer, Would the opposite characteristics be true if you had a club with a too light swingweight i.e. hitting more hook than you would like or even pulling the ball?

[TCCcaddie]

I've never felt a huge diferance when moving between a hevier weight to a lighter one. It just takes some prcatice and geting used to. You have work on adjusting your tempo and timing to suit the new club.

[Gapwedge]

I've never felt a huge diferance when moving between a hevier weight to a lighter one. It just takes some prcatice and geting used to. You have work on adjusting your tempo and timing to suit the new club.

This begs the question: Shouldn't you get the club right for your swing instead of adjusting your swing to the club? I know if I went from a D4 to a C6 iron that I would be overswinging like crazy and my tendency to swing over the top would be pronounced resulting in constant pull hooks. After all isn't that the purpose of good club fitting, finding the proper swingweight for your swing. I don't want to have to constantly adjust my swing to the club.

[TCCcaddie]

Well i think that the answer to that is if you feel like the adjustment to the new club is too drastic than the club is not worth it. But if you think that you can make the adjustment without any major implication on the rest of your game then go for it.

[Ringer]

Ringer, Would the opposite characteristics be true if you had a club with a too light swingweight i.e. hitting more hook than you would like or even pulling the ball?

Yes.. but remember that we are smart creatures so we adjust and any number of things could happen given enough time.

[Ringer]

Well i think that the answer to that is if you feel like the adjustment to the new club is too drastic than the club is not worth it. But if you think that you can make the adjustment without any major implication on the rest of your game then go for it.

Ahhh yes I hear this sentiment ALL THE TIME. No offense, but it almost always comes from high handicappers or people who can't really afford to buy the right set of clubs.

Don't try to fit the square peg through the round hole. Even if you successfully do it once or twice doesn't mean it's the right way to do it. You have to remember your subconcious mind is the one swinging the club and making adjustments. What you THINK is going on is rarely ever what is actually happening.

[fusioncal]

Ringer, Would the opposite characteristics be true if you had a club with a too light swingweight i.e. hitting more hook than you would like or even pulling the ball?

The same exact question I was going to ask. Thanks for bringing it up.

Yes.. but remember that we are smart creatures so we adjust and any number of things could happen given enough time.

That explains why I was hitting hooks most of the time with med-long irons when I still had NS Pro 950GH on. Now with heavier shafts (TT TC) I hit straighter and with occasional fades. I had my irons reshafted not because the hooks, but because they felt too light. Now I know that they also fixed the hooks (I'd thought mostly because of the flex). Thanks for the answer!