Golf training aids have always walked the fine line between innovation and highway robbery, but the Stack Speed Training System might just take the cake as the most egregiously overpriced piece of equipment in the game. At $300 for what amounts to a weighted stick with some washers, it’s the kind of pricing that makes you wonder if golf equipment manufacturers think we’re all trust fund babies.
Let’s be clear about what you’re getting for $300: a shaft with removable weights and a proprietary app that requires a serial number to function. Oh, and did I mention there’s also a subscription component? Because apparently selling you a $300 stick wasn’t enough revenue. The real kicker is that the entire system is mechanically simple—it’s threaded rod, washers, and a club shaft. That’s it. No electronics, no smart technology built into the device itself, just weighted training that’s been around in various forms for decades.
The Stack system comes with five different weight configurations ranging from 165g (lightest, green) to 365g (heaviest, silver), with intermediate weights at 205g (blue), 280g (red), and 325g (black). These weights are fixed, proprietary, and expensive to replace or supplement. But here’s the thing—there’s absolutely nothing special about these specific weight increments, and as we’ll see, there are compelling reasons why you might want completely different weights anyway.
| Weight Configuration | Stack System Weight |
|---|---|
| Lightest (Green) | 165g |
| Light (Blue) | 205g |
| Medium (Red) | 280g |
| Heavy (Black) | 325g |
| Heaviest (Silver) | 365g |
Building Your Own: Two Paths to the Same Destination
YouTube creator Matthew Ryan from Project Golf recently proved just how absurd Stack’s pricing is by building his own version for under $40. His approach involved grabbing a cheap 5-7 iron from a thrift store, removing the head with a blowtorch, and epoxying a 5/16″ all-thread rod into the shaft. The total materials cost breaks down to about $5-6 for the club, $3 for the threaded rod, $5 for fender washers, $3 for wing nuts, $5 for JB Weld epoxy, and $3 for super glue—roughly $25-30 total. The build process is straightforward: heat and remove the club head (steel shafts only, as composite shaft holes are too small for 5/16″ rod), drill out any remaining epoxy, mark about 1″ depth on the all-thread, coat it with epoxy, and thread it into the shaft. After it dries overnight, you cut the all-thread to 2.5″, create your custom weight stacks by super-gluing fender washers together, attach a wing nut base with a glued 20g weight, stack your custom weights, and secure with a second wing nut.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5-7 iron from thrift store | $5-6 |
| 5/16″ all-thread rod, 12″ | ~$3 |
| 5/16″ fender washers | ~$5 |
| 5/16″ wing nuts (pack of 3) | ~$3 |
| JB Weld epoxy | ~$5 |
| Super glue | ~$3 |
| Total | $25-30 |
The alternative path is to start with the HH-GOLF Swing Speed Trainer available on Amazon for $33. This gives you a quality graphite shaft with a rubber grip already assembled, plus an adjustable screw-on weight system with a female threaded socket that accepts standard fasteners. The stock configuration provides a base shaft weight of 240g, 275g with one 35g weight added, and maxes out at 325g with the included 50g weight. But here’s where it gets interesting—for another $5-12, you can pick up M14 screws and various fender washers from Home Depot and create custom weight stacks that match the Stack system exactly or go well beyond it. Total investment: $38-45 for a complete system with unlimited customization potential.
| Configuration | Weight |
|---|---|
| Base shaft | 240g |
| + 35g weight | 275g |
| + 50g weight (max) | 325g |
Why Customization Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the dirty secret of speed training that Stack doesn’t want you to know: one size does not fit all. Stack’s fixed weight increments are designed for an “average” golfer, but that’s a meaningless concept when it comes to individual swing speed development. Juniors and lighter swingers might need lighter starting weights in the 100-140g range with smaller increments between weights, and they might benefit from entirely different training protocols than what Stack prescribes. On the other end of the spectrum, players with heavier driver swing weights might need maximum weights exceeding 400g and larger weight jumps to create adequate overload stimulus. Even among similar-aged adult golfers, different training goals require different approaches—working on tempo versus maximum speed, injury recovery protocols, maintenance phases versus gains phases—all benefit from tailored weight progressions.
With DIY or modified systems, you control everything. You can mix different washer sizes to hit precise weight targets, add lead tape for fine-tuning, create as many or as few weight configurations as you need, and adjust as your swing speed improves over time. Want to replicate Stack’s exact weights? Easy—just calculate the right washer combinations. Want to create a lighter progression for a junior golfer? Buy smaller washers. Need heavier weights because you’re already swinging 120+ mph? Stack more washers or use heavier hardware. This level of customization is impossible with Stack’s fixed system unless you buy their expensive proprietary add-on weights.
| Target Weight | Washer Combination |
|---|---|
| 20g | 2x 5/16″ fender washers |
| 40g | 4x 5/16″ fender washers |
| 80g | 8x 5/16″ fender washers |
| 100g | 10x 5/16″ fender washers |
| 160g (Stack Green equivalent) | Mix of fender washers + larger diameter washers |
The price comparison really drives home how absurd Stack’s markup is. They’re charging $300+ for a system with limited customization options that require purchasing proprietary weights. DIY from scratch costs $25-40 with unlimited customization. The modified HH-GOLF approach costs $38-45 with equally unlimited customization. Both DIY approaches deliver the same training stimulus as the Stack while giving you complete control over your weight progression.
| System | Base Cost | Customization | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stack System | $300 | Limited (must buy proprietary weights) | $300+ |
| DIY from Scratch | $25-30 | Unlimited | $25-40 |
| Modified HH-GOLF | $33 | Unlimited | $38-45 |
The Open Source Movement Golf Needs
Someone in the golf community needs to step up and create 3D printable weight designs with precise gram measurements, open-source training protocols (which are largely public knowledge anyway), free app alternatives that track progress, STL files for whistle attachments, and detailed washer combination charts for exact Stack weight matching. The mechanical design is trivial—there’s no justification for a $300 price tag on what is essentially $15 worth of materials and a free app that artificially requires their hardware via serial numbers.
If you want to train for speed and add distance to your game, you have two excellent options: DIY from scratch for $25-40 as a complete control afternoon project, or modified HH-GOLF for $38-45 as an easier build that’s still fully customizable. The DIY and modification routes are actually superior because you can match or exceed Stack’s weight range, customize for your body type and goals, adjust as you progress, replace components cheaply if damaged, and build multiple configurations for different training phases. The protocols are widely available online, the app requirement is artificial, and the 900% markup is indefensible. Build your own and get better results for pennies on the dollar.
Drop a comment below—what other golf training aids are criminally overpriced? Let’s build a list of DIY alternatives,
David is an avid golfer who loves walking Connecticut’s courses and playing alongside his family. He’s passionate about golf course architecture and one day hopes to play at Pebble Beach.
