This podcast explores the concept of swingweight in golf and clarifies a common misconception: swingweight is not a measure of how heavy a club is, but how its weight is distributed. More accurately, swingweight describes club balance rather than total mass.

In the traditional Lorythmic system, swingweight is measured around a fixed fulcrum point located 14 inches from the butt end of the grip. The result is expressed on an alphanumeric scale from A0 to G0. The higher the letter and number, the more weight is distributed toward the clubhead relative to that fulcrum. Because the system is based on leverage, two clubs can share the same swingweight while having completely different total weights and very different feels.

This distinction is critical. Swingweight tells you where the weight is, not how much weight there is. A modern lightweight iron can have a higher swingweight than a heavier traditional iron if more mass is positioned toward the head. This is why total weight, swingweight, and balance point must always be evaluated together.

Swingweight is influenced by several variables:

• Head weight: Every 2 grams added to the head equal 1 swingweight point.

• Shaft weight: Every 7 grams equal 1 point.

• Grip weight: Every 4–5 grams lower the swingweight by 1 point.

• Club length: Every ½ inch change alters swingweight by approximately 3 points.

• Lie angle: 3° flatter adds 1 point; 3° upright subtracts 1 point.

Among these, club length and head weight have the greatest impact because they change leverage around the fulcrum. Lengthening a club dramatically increases swingweight even without adding mass, which is why blindly chasing a “standard” swingweight (such as D0) often leads to poor results.

Swingweight also affects feel and performance. Higher swingweights generally make the shaft feel more flexible and the club feel heavier at the top of the swing. Aggressive or hand-dominant players often benefit from higher swingweights, while lighter swingweights can help less-skilled golfers generate more clubhead speed. However, identical swingweight numbers do not guarantee identical feel or performance.

This leads to one of the biggest misconceptions in golf equipment: the idea of a universal “standard” swingweight. These standards were created when club lengths were uniform. In modern fitting, forcing a club back to a target swingweight after changing length often disrupts total weight balance and reduces performance.

The key takeaway is simple: swingweight is a balance metric, not a performance guarantee. Proper clubfitting must prioritize the individual golfer’s movement pattern, strength, and tempo—integrating swingweight with total weight, MOI, and balance point—to achieve consistent ball striking and optimal speed.

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