How light is too light for your driver?

[@bestestusername]

For my golf a heavier head gives me more control feel and straighter drives and more forgiving. My Cobra speedzone extreme has had the weight bumped a few grams and works a treat now for me, its was ok new but if it went bad it was really bad now its quite nice. It all comes down to having a play down at the range and who does not enjoy going down the range!

[@Pine-Explorer]

What shaft do you have in that bad boy

[@Rob-oo5lt]

I bought a Ping G430 Light version. Couldn't get on with 430 as it was far too light. Got rid of the 430 and bought a Ping G425. It was a heavier swingweight. Could feel it great at D4 swingweight and got back to hitting Fairways at a good yardage Off the Tee.

[@robertsymes6421]

Fantastic video Greg. Highlights the quality (face contact data) of the Ventus TR at extreme swing weights. Looking forward to catching up later this month 😃 Have a great holiday and keep well .

[@SydneyGolfTech]

That’s so true Bob. The Ventus was definitely a star in this video. I’ll see you soon.

[@jacobr4558]

Thanks for making this video! I have currently been super confused with a lot of my data on the simulator. I can almost match PGA ball and Club speed with a lot of my irons and then as they get longer it changes dramatically. Don't the driver I'm like 25 miles per hour behind them and 30 mph behind in ball speed. I thought it was my technique I thought it was doing something weird I now believe it's actually the equipment! One of the conclusions I've come to is if you want to go with a longer Club and swing smoother you typically would have to lighten the swing weight not necessarily the overall weight because you still need some Mass by way of contrast if you want to absolutely Hammer through the ball violently at impact more like an actual Hammer instead of a flail then you would increase the swing weight dramatically I know Johnny Miller used a driver that was a D9 or D7 I think it was D9 that was only 43 in Long when he was winning in 1973. He stands 6'2 and his driver was only 43 and a half inches long. Yet he swung it at a D9. So there's definitely some combinations that are never discussed so that's why I want to thank you for making this video cuz you confirmed a lot of my theories with how the equipment can and should work.

[@plusfour1]

I'd give up distance for dispersion every time. There's a big difference between playing off the fairway vs from the rough. I lean towards playing with a heavier weight because of the consistency but I'm getting older and heavier clubs affect my game towards the end of the round. So I think there's more to consider when making decisions on swing weight or shaft weight

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@plusfour1 statistics actually show that the further you hit it, the better the result, regardless of whether or not you are in the rough. The old adage of f giving up distance for accuracy is no longer the best way to play golf.

[@legend9018]

Great video. Always found it interesting how 2 clubs with the same static weight could have different swing weights depending on how its distributed between grip, shaft and head and how a club with a heavy static weight could swing lighter than a club with a lighter static weight. Ping Drivers tend to run heavy which is why quite a few of their stock offering shafts are counter balanced.

[@SydneyGolfTech]

For sure. It’s unbelievable how much can change with weight distribution. I’m not sure we ever get it done perfectly. Thanks for watching.

[@jackotoole1559]

That intro music was Rick Shiels original I reckon 🤷🏻‍♂️ start of the meteoric rise? Haha

[@joshuawilliams3221]

I currently have a Cobra LTDx LS with a Ventus TR Blue and am interested in trying out the TR red and black. Lots of people I have seen are actually seeing lower or same ball flight and easier to draw with the red. Great video! I’d love to play around with these

[@joshuawilliams3221]

Would love you to do a Ventus TR and original comparison video!

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@joshuawilliams3221 I have done the TR red vs original and black TR vs original so I’ll put together a TR blue vs original too.

[@lukesmith3803]

Great video GB! Very interesting data.

[@JayJay-jx3zg]

I'd love to see the Iron version of this video. I have this query right now because I'm considering new irons. Getting older I want a tad more forgiveness and want to keep my swing speed up and protect my joints. Will a D0 or lighter go as far or further than a D3/D4 iron? I'd like to stay steel and their are some heads like PXG and Callaway that have adjustable head weights.

[@SydneyGolfTech]

That’s a great question. Generally lighter clubs can increase speed but too light and you can give up MOI and it can make the shafts feel too stiff. What’s more of a concern for me is that you want to stay in steel when there are so many benefits to graphite now.

[@JayJay-jx3zg]

@SydneyGolfTech I've never tried graphite tbh. 5-10 years ago when I looked into it, they still had a ways to go to get the consistency of steel. Who's making great graphite shafts for irons these days?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@JayJay-jx3zg fujikura, Mitsubishi, UST, Graphite Design and KBS all make great graphite iron shafts. I have been playing graphite for 6 years and can’t see myself going back to steel.

[@MJ-LazyBones]

I'd like to see same idea of heavier set up but see the differences with the swing weight changed by back weighting. I reckon light clubs loose efficiency but ehat about a heavier club that swings light??

[@SydneyGolfTech]

Some would say that the heavier club backweighted would work well. I suppose it’s the principle behind counterbalanced shafts. Would be a great experiment to do for sure.

[@jimmyculp8756]

I replaced the 26 gram backweight in my Ping Max, now in theory I should have a 460 cc LST Ping?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

The LST has a lighter back weight, but the total weight is the same as the Max with the heavier back weight. Basically the LST has more mass at the front of the driver, hence lower spin. The max won’t have that extra weight at the front.

[@NovaScene]

Seems like the TR Red at 5S is a beast with our speed. Have you tested it with Stealthy?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

I haven’t yet, but I think the red 5S could be a really good option. I love the idea of going lighter, but I have never really found the stability in one on the golf course. This one will definitely get a run.

[@franzose1967]

how does total weight affect the performance of a golfclub? And whats the difference in performance of a 280 gram abd a 320 gram club with the same swingweight?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

I haven’t done an experiment using a 280g club and a 320g club so I can’t answer that part of your question. In general total weight will slow swing speeds down though.

[@kidze73]

Hi SGT, what would you say is the optimal swing weight for a 90 mph driver swing speed? Thanks!

[@SydneyGolfTech]

I can’t answer that one definitively, but I’d start at about the D2 mark and go from there.

[@aywm6792]

A lot of other factors to consider when you game such a hefty/light driver on course. Fitness, fatigue, tempo, pin placement, ground firmness, wind etc. Always very deceiving in indoor environments. Hence why club fitting doesn’t always translate on course 😬

[@SydneyGolfTech]

All of those factors are considered when I do a fit. I don’t generally fit at the extreme ends of swing weight for some of the reasons you have mentioned. Indoor fitting is far superior than outdoor, but that’s another debate.

[@aywm6792]

@@SydneyGolfTech love that debate actually. Any chance you can put up a video on indoor vs outdoor fitting? Would be a very good insight for many.

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@aywm6792 great idea. I’ll film that one when I’m back in Aus.

[@ccarlock8537]

D6 for the win as allllllwayysss

[@purrly8578]

You feel the 5s was a better fit for you? Or more testing needed?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

I’d love to play a 5 series shaft, because I know there is a speed benefit and this is the first one that I have found that could have the stability I’m looking for. Can’t wait to get it on the golf course.

[@purrly8578]

Definitely excited to hear about the journey. Do you have the TR black 5x coming to try as well?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@purrly8578 as soon as it’s available, I’ll definitely be adding it to the fitting matrix. 😃

[@laawson1]

Tr red x or s? And is the carry distance in meters?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

TR Red 5 in stiff. Carry is in metres as we are in Australia. Thanks for watching.

[@laawson1]

Big carry then in meters with that club head speed. Is the tr red have a stiffer tip then the regular Ventus red?

[@SydneyGolfTech]

@@laawson1 watch the video. All the answers to the questions you have asked are mentioned in the video.

[@bards7443]

Love your content Greg..... but that intro nearly had me having an "eppy" 😵‍💫

[@SydneyGolfTech]

Lol. A little fast for me too.

[@MW-od8vu]

“How light is too light?” Wouldn’t that have a lot to do with your swing speed as well? Just asking for a friend. 😉

[@vantumpete]

Seems like d6 had lowest dispersion.

[@noelsmith4359]

Hmmm...........................

[@andycorso8498]

Whatever, I’m enjoying the lighter weight of the red tr 5S……..

[@SydneyGolfTech]

I love it too. Light and stable is a great combo.