Golf club marketing is full of technical terms: swing weight, offset, MOI, CG, kick point, torque. Understanding the main specifications helps you compare clubs, talk to a fitter and know why a club feels or performs the way it does. Here's a plain-English guide.
The head
| Spec | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Loft | Angle of the face relative to the shaft | Main factor in launch and distance |
| Lie | Angle between the shaft and the ground with the sole flat | Affects direction. Read golf club lie angle and length |
| Offset | How far the leading edge sits behind the hosel | More offset helps square the face and launch the ball higher |
| Bounce | Angle of the sole that stops the club digging | Key for wedges. Read golf wedges guide: loft and bounce |
| MOI (moment of inertia) | Resistance to twisting on off-centre hits | Higher MOI means more forgiveness |
| CG (centre of gravity) | The balance point of the head | Low and back CG launches higher and adds forgiveness; forward CG reduces spin |
| Head size | Volume of driver and wood heads | Larger heads can be more forgiving; drivers are limited to 460cc |
| Face angle | Whether the face sits open, square or closed at address | Affects how the club looks and where the ball starts |
The whole club
| Spec | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Club length in playing position | Affects posture, control and speed |
| Total weight | The weight of the whole club | Lighter clubs can be swung faster; heavier ones can feel more stable |
| Swing weight | How heavy the head feels relative to the grip, measured on a scale such as C9 or D2 | Affects feel, tempo and timing |
| Grip size | Diameter of the grip | Affects hand action and face control. Read how to regrip golf clubs |
Swing weight
Swing weight is measured on a letter and number scale, with D0 to D3 common for men's clubs and C-scale values common for women's and lighter clubs. Adding length, a heavier head or a lighter grip increases swing weight. Many fitters aim for consistent swing weight through a set so every club feels similar.
The shaft
| Spec | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Flex | How much the shaft bends | Match to swing speed and tempo. Read the golf shaft flex guide |
| Weight | Shaft weight in grams | Lighter for speed, heavier for control |
| Kick point | Where the shaft bends most | Low kick point launches higher; high kick point launches lower |
| Torque | How much the shaft twists | Higher torque feels softer; lower torque feels more stable |
| Material | Steel or graphite | Graphite is lighter and absorbs vibration; steel is heavier and more consistent for many golfers |
How specs work together
No single spec makes a great club. Loft, shaft, length and head design work together to produce launch, spin and forgiveness that suit your swing. A fitting with a launch monitor shows the combined effect. Read custom golf club fitting and launch monitor numbers explained.
Frequently asked questions
What is swing weight in golf?
A measure of how heavy the club head feels when swung, relative to the grip end.
What does offset do?
It helps the face close and launch the ball higher, reducing slices.
What is MOI?
Moment of inertia, a measure of how much the head resists twisting on off-centre hits.
Does kick point really matter?
It has a modest effect on launch and feel; flex and weight usually matter more.
The bottom line
Knowing the key specs helps you understand your clubs and choose better ones. Focus first on loft, lie, length and shaft flex, then consider forgiveness features such as MOI, offset and CG. A fitting brings it all together. For more on equipment, read what clubs to carry.