Swing Weight

Standard Swingweight Ranges
In general, values between C-5 and D-0 are considered "light" - meaning that the combined weight of the shaft and the clubhead extending past the 14" fulcrum is just that, "light". Such a swingweight might be appropriate for a weaker male golfer or an average woman golfer. For an average male golfer, a C-range swingweight would probably lack "feel". Lots of Ping clubs fall in this range.

D-0 to D-4 are "average" swingweights for men. Commercially available clubs will generally be found in the lower end of the D range. The actual weight differences are actually quite small. The difference between a D-0 and D-1 is two grams, roughly the weight of a dime. The total range of D-0 to D-4 could be covered by taping a quarter and a dime to a clubhead. It is generally agreed that even the best professionals can't feel the difference in a single swingweight point.

D-5 to E-0 are thought of as "heavy" swingweights. There is a fine line between "OK" and "too heavy". Good players, who are strong enough to "handle" heavy head weights, tend to feel that too much weight in the head makes it harder to control distance and "finesse" shots because there is just too much mass in the club head. (E=MC squared and all that). There is an exception in wedges. For short clubs, swung at slow speeds, it is usually agreed that very heavy clubheads promote feel. Consequently, it is common for better players to have their wedges, including the pitching wedge in the high D to low E range.]

Taller golfers can tolerate heavier swingweights. Each 1" in added length adds 6 swingweight points keeping headweight the same. Therefore, to get the same "feel" a taller golfer might find swingweights in the D-5 to D-8 range quite comfortable. Swingweights over E-0 always become suspect, except in wedges.