Thread: Question on Generation of Clubhead Speed in Golf Swing

Hi, I am a Golf Pro grappling with a question of Physics. There are 3 basic laws of physics used to generate clubhead speed -: namely
1.Centrifugal Force (centripetal)
2.Width of Arc
3.Weight Transfer on the forward swing thus generating Momentum

The first 2 I can explain in terms of physics quite comfortably, however, the 3rd one has raised some knotty problems for me. I am pretty certain that if one took 2 identical persons in physical makeup and technique with the only variable being body mass, that the person with more mass will hit the ball further. The formula for this I suppose would be p=mv - However my research has suggested that the answer is probably more complicated than this as there is a quite complex correlation between the following
Kinetic Energy
Velocity(speed)
Force
Pressure
being some of the interrelated factors

Also I am not sure if one can say that the club itself inherits the properties of momentum generated by the golfers transfer of Mass by virtue of being attached to the golfer via the grip end

Can someone please kindly provide me with a formula or equation that would prove these correlations and the fact that extra mass would increase force applied to the ball by the golf clubhead in the scenario I have mentioned above.

Originally Posted by Clickpro

Hi, I am a Golf Pro grappling with a question of Physics. There are 3 basic laws of physics used to generate clubhead speed -: namely
1.Centrifugal Force (centripetal)
2.Width of Arc
3.Weight Transfer on the forward swing thus generating Momentum

The first 2 I can explain in terms of physics quite comfortably, however, the 3rd one has raised some knotty problems for me. I am pretty certain that if one took 2 identical persons in physical makeup and technique with the only variable being body mass, that the person with more mass will hit the ball further. The formula for this I suppose would be p=mv - However my research has suggested that the answer is probably more complicated than this as there is a quite complex correlation between the following
Kinetic Energy
Velocity(speed)
Force
Pressure
being some of the interrelated factors

Also I am not sure if one can say that the club itself inherits the properties of momentum generated by the golfers transfer of Mass by virtue of being attached to the golfer via the grip end

Can someone please kindly provide me with a formula or equation that would prove these correlations and the fact that extra mass would increase force applied to the ball by the golf clubhead in the scenario I have mentioned above.

What you are asking is extremely complicated and it is most likely to be found in a book that deals with the mechanics of golf. I am a ski coach and the books on the mechanics of skiing are extremely complicated, I expect that golf is at least as complicated. I am guessing that the momentum imparted to the ball has to do not only with the mass of the arm of the golfer but also with the way the golfer changes the swing just before impact. This is a collision problem that can be simplistically reducred to:

MV=MV'+mv'

M=mass of golfer upper torso + arm
V=speed of golfer arm before hitting the ball
V'=speed of golfer arm after hitting the ball
m=mass of golf ball
v'=speed of golf ball

So:



This is an overly simplified explanation of the ball speed dependency on M. I am quite sure that it is much more complicated than that