Golf Swing Speed Chart for Golf Club Fitting

Golf Swing Analysis - Club Fitting to Match Golf Shaft & Swing Speed

Sep 15, 2009 Jake Crum

Golf club fitting requires a golf swing speed chart or a visit to the golf shop. The club fitting goal is to match a golf club, specifically the shaft, to a golf swing.

The swing speed is so critical in matching a golfer to a club, and particularly the club shaft, that many golf shops now have golf swing analyzers. These analyzers may measure a number of data points related to the golf swing, but all of them will measure swing speed, or club head speed, at impact with the ball. Many golfers may not have a local golf shop with an analyzer. To overcome this, the golfers swing speed can be estimated with a little common information about the golfer's driver distance and club selection.

Golf Swing Analysis and What the Chart Doesn't Show

There are two specific items needed to create the chart for estimating a golfer's swing speed. The first is the typical distance the golfer hits their driver. This distance is the "carry" distance, measured without roll. The second item is the club selection from 150 yards for an approach shot.

There are two items the chart will not show, which are the recommended torque of the shaft and the recommended weight of the shaft. When the chart is created, it will only show the estimated swing speed and the recommended shaft flex. It will not account for the swing path, club face position or any results of the shaft torque. A general rule would be that the higher the swing speed of the golfer, the less torque the shaft should have. This would mean a lower torque number. Conversely, the lower the swing speed the higher the torque number may be. The weight of the shaft affects swing speed, but may be considered the personal preference of the golfer. A strong golfer with a higher swing speed may be comfortable with a heavier shaft. A golfer with a little less strength or technique may want a lighter shaft to possibly help generate more swing speed.

Swing Speed Chart Based on Driver Carry and Club Selection for 150 Yards

Driver Carry.................... 150 Yard Club......................Swing Speed................... Flex Rating

260 yds +.......................... 8 or 9 iron............................ 105 MPH +........................ XS (extra stiff)

240 yds - 265 yds............ 7 or 8 iron............................. 90 - 110 MPH.................. S (stiff)

215 yds - 245 yds............ 6 or 7 iron............................. 80 - 95 MPH.................... R (regular)

180 yds - 220 yds.............4 or 5 iron............................. 70 - 85 MPH.................... A (amateur, senior)

< 180 yds ..........................3 iron or 5 wood................... < 70 MPH........................ L (ladies)

No Industry Standards for Golf Club Shafts

Although the swing speed chart has some ambiguity, and may vary slightly from other charts, it is a reasonable representation of a golfer's swing speed. Much of the ambiguity comes from the variability of the golfer's swing speed. The chart works with a range of carry distances and club selectionsto provide a speed range. The real issue is the lack of a set of shaft standards within the golf industry.

This means that a very popular shaft, produced by shaft manufacturer A, is called a "stiff" shaft and is recommended for a driver swing speed up to 110 mph. Manufacturer B has a shaft called "extra stiff" which is for driver swing speeds over 105 mph. Manufacturer C, as an example, may have a shaft that is called "tour select", which is intended for swing speeds in the 105 mph range versus a model called "tour elite" intended for swing speeds greater than 110 mph. Clear as mud? This is the exact reason club fitting is so confusing. This lack of a standard is also why so many golfers go to a professional club fitter that knows each manufacturers idiosyncrasies. However, the opinions on shafts and manufacturers may vary from one club fitter to the next.

Golf Club Fitting in the Golf Shop or Online

There are custom club builders and club fitters with online availability. Many of these are professionals that have a multitude of experience with the ambiguities of the custom club and shaft fitting world. Due to the variability of each individuals golf swing speed, and the necessity of working with averages, golf club fitting is not an exact science. Even different golf swing speed charts will vary somewhat. With all of these limitations, the playing field is almost level, leaving all professional club builders and fitters in the same realm of ambiguity.

It is recommended that the average golfer, with limited shaft or club fitting experience, start the fitting process online. The first goal is to learn about club performance, and particularly shaft performance. Additionally, every golfer should learn about their own golf swing and how it relates to the golf club. The topics of Golf Swing Tempo or Graphite Shaft Technology may be useful in studying golf club fitting. With the chart as a guideline, start online and collect all of the available information about the golf club, the golf club shaft and the golf swing speed.

The copyright of the article Golf Swing Speed Chart for Golf Club Fitting in Golf is owned by Jake Crum. Permission to republish Golf Swing Speed Chart for Golf Club Fitting in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Golf Club Shaft Torque