Swing Weight

Exceptions and Recommendations
In the past, matched swingweights were judged as a sign of quality in golf clubs. Since heads, shafts and grips were manufactured according to imprecise tolerances, swingweight was the only measurement manufacturers could control easily. Matched swingweights might very well be an anachronism.

Swingweight measurements can be defeated by artificial means, such as putting lead weight down the shaft, or applying a heavier grip or placing weight under the grip to "trick" the scale. Consequently, swingweight is only meaningful in the context of overall weight of the club.

Matched swingweights does not necessarily mean quality in golf clubs. To promote feel and consistency, a gradual increase in swingweight through the set might be more effective. If a good player owns a set of D-3 clubs, but likes a D-7 pitching wedge and an E-0 sand wedge; might it not be more logical to increase swingweights gradually throughout the set? Likewise if the goal of a driving iron were to hit a shot that "bores and rolls", why wouldn't a heavy swingweight be appropriate?

In our opinion, the reason lightweight graphite shafts for irons have not gained acceptance among better golfers is that manufacturers have not produced clubs with sufficient swingweight to provide feel. Sets built with lightweight graphite shafts usually measure in the mid to high C swingweight range. There is a simple reason. Manufacturers don't have heads that are heavy enough since they are managing inventories and building to "averages". We are getting great results from lightweight graphite shafts built with swingweights in the D-3 to D-5 range. For better golfers, this is unexplored territory.

Finally, SST PURE ® solves the problem of inconsistency in graphite shafts. It is now safe to play graphite in your irons.