A couple of days ago we did a test to see if increasing the head weight of a driver would increase momentum of the head and give longer distance.
https://0to300golf.blogspot.com/2019/04/testing-driver-head-weights-will.html
These were the specifications of the clubs used in the test. The same shaft an Accra TZ5 75 M4 45.75 inches were used with the heads.
Next we postulated what would happen if we made a club with the light and the heavy heads more functional to use, i.e. have a heavier swing weight with the lighter head and a lighter swing weight and stiffer shaft with the heavier head. Could we get more accuracy with the lighter head and a more optimal flight with the heavy head?
To make the swing weight heavier with the light head we used a longer club, a 46.5 inch Accra Tour Z RPG 472 M4 and added just a small bit of weight (4 grams) to the head. To make the swing weight lighter in the heavy head we used a shorter shaft, a 43.5 inch Accra FX 300F M4, and took a 4 gram weight from the head. The shorter shaft would also make the club stiffer.
These are the specifications we changed the clubs to.
The test was hitting 12 shots with the standard driver, a PXG 0811 X 10.5 degrees, 45.75 inches with the Accra TZ5 75 M4, to get a baseline. Then we hit 3 shots with the light head, 3 shots with the heavy head and continued until 12 shots were hit with both. The conditions were very good for testing around 18 degrees with a slight helping left to right breeze. The shots were recorded on a Trackman 111 launch monitor.
We can see all three weights worked well with the light giving the best results, a significant difference in club head speed, 3.4 mph over the standard and 2.2 mph over the initial test. A 4.6 mph difference over the standard in ball speed and a 4.1 mph increase over the initial test. The dispersion was quite good too a little over 27.5 feet on average from the target line, which was a significant improvement on the initial test 24.55 feet closer a near 50% improvement.
Distance was up on all three from the initial test which can be attributed to the helping breeze as the ball speed was very similar in the standard driver over the two tests. We can put the 10 yards carry increase in that due mainly to the helping breeze. There was a notable 26.5 yard increase in the light club carry.
The heavy club had the expected decrease in spin rate leading to an increase in its roll out. It's accuracy also increased by 9.15 feet on average.
The ball speed conversion or smash factor in all three was 1.45 for the lightest 1.46 for the standard and 1.50 for the heavy, all had an increase.
Making the light and heavy clubs more functional to use gave much better results. An excellent increase in carry, overall distance and accuracy for the lighter head. The heavier head had a decrease in spin, giving a more optimal flight.
We can see from both tests that going heavy in the head gives a better ball speed conversion.
What does this mean for golfers?
If you're looking for more club head speed going light in the head is a good idea. It's important to make sure the club is swing weighted well if a lighter head is used.
If you're looking for a club to control better going heavy in the head is a good idea. A short heavy club would be great for golfers who struggle for accuracy and in particular for strong golfers who lack accuracy.
Comments and questions are always appreciated.
https://0to300golf.blogspot.com/2019/04/testing-driver-head-weights-will.html
Club Head
|
Club Speed MPH
|
Ball Speed MPH
|
Carry Yards
|
Total Distance Yards
|
Dispersion Feet
|
Spin Rate
|
Face to Path
|
Standard
|
103.1
|
149.9
|
239.5
|
264.6
|
21.65
|
2292
|
-0.3
|
Light
|
104.4
|
150.9
|
232.6
|
260.6
|
52.19
|
2402
|
-2.0
|
Medium
|
102.9
|
150.4
|
237.6
|
259.5
|
51.03
|
2712
|
-0.6
|
Heavy
|
100.4
|
149.0
|
236.2
|
256.8
|
37.89
|
3013
|
0.2
|
Above are the results of the test. We found from the test that the lighter head gave more club head speed but less accuracy and the heavy head gave a better ball speed conversion but not quite an optimal flight with a higher spin rate due to the shaft flexing more, adding dynamic loft and spin loft.
Club Head
|
Club Head Weight
|
Total Weight
|
Swing Weight
|
Shaft Flex /cpm
|
Standard
|
193.4
|
324.2
|
D6
|
259
|
Light
|
181.2
|
312
|
C8
|
266
|
Medium
|
197.7
|
328.5
|
D8
|
256
|
Heavy
|
218.3
|
349.1
|
F1
|
244
|
These were the specifications of the clubs used in the test. The same shaft an Accra TZ5 75 M4 45.75 inches were used with the heads.
Next we postulated what would happen if we made a club with the light and the heavy heads more functional to use, i.e. have a heavier swing weight with the lighter head and a lighter swing weight and stiffer shaft with the heavier head. Could we get more accuracy with the lighter head and a more optimal flight with the heavy head?
To make the swing weight heavier with the light head we used a longer club, a 46.5 inch Accra Tour Z RPG 472 M4 and added just a small bit of weight (4 grams) to the head. To make the swing weight lighter in the heavy head we used a shorter shaft, a 43.5 inch Accra FX 300F M4, and took a 4 gram weight from the head. The shorter shaft would also make the club stiffer.
Club Head
|
Club Head Weight
|
Total Weight
|
Swing Weight
|
Shaft Flex /cpm
|
Standard
|
193.4
|
324.2
|
D6
|
259
|
Light
|
185.3
|
319.3
|
D2
|
263
|
Heavy
|
214.1
|
365
|
D6
|
256
|
These are the specifications we changed the clubs to.
The test was hitting 12 shots with the standard driver, a PXG 0811 X 10.5 degrees, 45.75 inches with the Accra TZ5 75 M4, to get a baseline. Then we hit 3 shots with the light head, 3 shots with the heavy head and continued until 12 shots were hit with both. The conditions were very good for testing around 18 degrees with a slight helping left to right breeze. The shots were recorded on a Trackman 111 launch monitor.
Results
Club Head
|
Club Speed MPH
|
Ball Speed MPH
|
Carry Yards
|
Total Distance Yards
|
Dispersion Feet
|
Spin Rate
|
Face to Path
|
Standard
|
103.3
|
150.4
|
250.9
|
277.3
|
35.95
|
2582
|
-0.7
|
Light
|
106.7
|
155.0
|
259.1
|
286.5
|
27.64
|
2512
|
0.1
|
Heavy
|
100.0
|
150.1
|
247.2
|
276.5
|
28.74
|
2684
|
-0.1
|
Discussion of the Results
We can see all three weights worked well with the light giving the best results, a significant difference in club head speed, 3.4 mph over the standard and 2.2 mph over the initial test. A 4.6 mph difference over the standard in ball speed and a 4.1 mph increase over the initial test. The dispersion was quite good too a little over 27.5 feet on average from the target line, which was a significant improvement on the initial test 24.55 feet closer a near 50% improvement.
Distance was up on all three from the initial test which can be attributed to the helping breeze as the ball speed was very similar in the standard driver over the two tests. We can put the 10 yards carry increase in that due mainly to the helping breeze. There was a notable 26.5 yard increase in the light club carry.
The heavy club had the expected decrease in spin rate leading to an increase in its roll out. It's accuracy also increased by 9.15 feet on average.
The ball speed conversion or smash factor in all three was 1.45 for the lightest 1.46 for the standard and 1.50 for the heavy, all had an increase.
Conclusion
Making the light and heavy clubs more functional to use gave much better results. An excellent increase in carry, overall distance and accuracy for the lighter head. The heavier head had a decrease in spin, giving a more optimal flight.
We can see from both tests that going heavy in the head gives a better ball speed conversion.
What does this mean for golfers?
If you're looking for more club head speed going light in the head is a good idea. It's important to make sure the club is swing weighted well if a lighter head is used.
If you're looking for a club to control better going heavy in the head is a good idea. A short heavy club would be great for golfers who struggle for accuracy and in particular for strong golfers who lack accuracy.
Comments and questions are always appreciated.
