How to Change a D2 Iron to a D4

A system of measurement developed in the 1930's, swing weight allows golfers to better pair their own swing strength with an ideal weight club. It pits the weights of the club components (head, shaft and grip) against a 14-inch pivot point, which more or less accounts for the grip of the club. Through this system, alter the swing weight of an iron, from a D2 to a D4 for example, by either adding weight to the head, switching to a lighter shaft or subtracting weight from the grip.

Things You'll Need

  • Lead tape
  • Lighter shaft
  • Lighter grip
  • Swing weight scale
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Instructions

  1. Altering the Head

    • 1

      Place your iron on a swing weight scale to confirm its swing weight.

    • 2

      Stick small, one-inch lengths of lead tape to the back of the club head. One inch of lead tape roughly equals one gram in weight, and, depending on the weight of your iron's shaft, it can take 2 to 4 grams to change the swing weight from D2 to D4.

    • 3

      Place the iron back on the swing weight scale and confirm it reached the specified weight.

    Altering the Shaft

    • 4

      Take your irons to a club fitter or golf outlet store to have the shafts of your irons removed. Avoid the urge to do this dangerous job yourself and avoid injury or damage to your clubs.

    • 5

      Switch to a lighter shaft than the one you previously used. In most cases, move on to a graphite shaft, but use the proper graphite weight in accordance to the weight of your club head and grip. If you give the weights -- or at least the brands of your grip and head -- to the club fitter, he will tell you exactly what to look for in a shaft.

    • 6

      Purchase the new shafts and have the club fitter assemble them with your club heads and grips.

    Changing the Grip

    • 7

      Take your irons to a club fitter and have him remove all your grips.

    • 8

      Switch to lighter grips than the ones you had removed. Again, if you supply the club fitter with the exact head and shaft model you currently use, he will tell you the proper weight grips to look for.

    • 9

      Purchase grips of the specified weight and allow a professional fitter to install them on your clubs.