Golf Physics 101

[Started2k3]

Re: Golf Physics 101

Started2K3:

That is a true statement and you can look it up, Pendulum moves fastest on the front side until gravity slows it down. Simple Version.

Then go out side with a golf ball and drop a brick on top of it to see how far it travels, object in motion from the effects of gravity and then think about forward momentum and relate it back to the Pendulum.

In golf we are dealing with the collision of two objects and that is:

Distance = Mass x Velocity

http://www.myphysicslab.com/pendulum1.html

Set up the graph so that you can see "angular velocity" and "angle".
If you do it right, the top of the circle represents the fastest velocity of the pendulum which is when the pendulum is at the bottom of the arc.

[SevenBall]

Re: Golf Physics 101

If I remember correctly, Newton's Law's of Motion assumed one thing, everything happens in a vaccuum.

Once I think I was drunk and shot a round using a vacuum. That count?

[Scragger63]

Re: Golf Physics 101

From memory, a pendulum is travelling with its greatest velocity immediately past its low point and is travelling with its greatest acceleration immediately prior to stopping at its highest point...

Depending on whether I recall corectly or not, Mr Gordon will either be very happy or unhappy with me now......



Cheers

[Started2k3]

Re: Golf Physics 101

We can discuss if the greatest speed is directly at the bottom or a nano fraction past that point.

1. http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/pe.html

Based on integration of the equations and that gravity is affecting it at all times then it would be at the bottom.

Now speaking on the same lines when we have the greastest speed is there a decrease in force? The greater the force a decrease in speed?

I have no idea what you are saying here.

This is our main concern in producing distance in our swings.

Also what needs to be taken into account is Linear Speed Versus Angle Speed.

Angular velocity = Linear Velocity divided by the radius of the arc

OK, now what?

[BrianW]

Re: Golf Physics 101

Better the NASA site Slats, than the Royal Society Of Gynecologists Site that cmays took us to last week...



Cheers

They have people there than can wallpaper the hallway through their letterbox

[edshaw]

Re: Golf Physics 101

The thing that caught my attention the reason
I posted a reply is that the erroneous idea that
clubhead acceleration is the key to distance
could cause some real problems. One of the
most common faults in golf is to try to rip
into the ball at the last second, the golfer
thinking of gaining a few yards that way.
If a golfer can pour it on, fine; but beware
the dreaded lunge.

Adding to this post: I just went to the
site C May linked to, the Bradenton
Sports and Medicine web site. Now, according
to that writer, I may well be wrong about the
role of acceleration in getting distance. If so,
I sure admit it. One quote from the site, though,
causes me to look into this a little further
before conceding the point, and it is this
quote:
"Acceleration is the key point of impact
that allows for maximal ball strike."

[jambalaya]

Re: Golf Physics 101

The thing that caught my attention the reason
I posted a reply is that the erroneous idea that
clubhead acceleration is the key to distance
could cause some real problems. One of the
most common faults in golf is to try to rip
into the ball at the last second, the golfer
thinking of gaining a few yards that way.
If a golfer can pour it on, fine; but beware
the dreaded lunge.

Adding to this post: I just went to the
site C May linked to, the Bradenton
Sports and Medicine web site. Now, according
to that writer, I may well be wrong about the
role of acceleration in getting distance. If so,
I sure admit it. One quote from the site, though,
causes me to look into this a little further
before conceding the point, and it is this
quote:
"Acceleration is the key point of impact
that allows for maximal ball strike."

Acceleration just determines at what speed the clubhead will be traveling when it impacts the ball. A constant speed has no acceleration. When we get to the top of our backswing, at the moment where we are reversing the direction of the swing, clubhead speed is at zero. We then accelerate increasing the club head speed hopefully to the point of impact or very nearly so. This impact speed or velocity determines the force imparted to the ball.

[Scragger63]

Re: Golf Physics 101

By Definition, Acceleration: The rate of change of the velocity of a moving body.

Acceleration, like velocity, is a vector quantity, so any change in the direction of a moving body is also an acceleration.

A moving body that follows a curved path, even when its speed remains constant, is undergoing acceleration.

OK, that said, I think the drkochno site that cmays posted is a great read.

The golf swing should be a muscle memory thing that almost happens subconciously. Here we go back to the Self 1/Self 2 (paralysis by analysis) threads and for me, I know next time out I'll be thinking about anything but my swing...

Cheers

[BrianW]

Re: Golf Physics 101

Hold your hand out flat, thumb upwards. Now, slap yourself in the face with your hand moving at 1 mph, did it hurt much? Can you slap yourself in the face at 1 mph with more force using the same hand?

Now slap yourself in the face at 20 mph, Wow! that hurt. Was it accelerating when it hit me? Don't know but it still hurt.

Now place a ball on a tee and twat it up the fairway, how did that feel? better than the slap eh!

Now Newton said:

"The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma. Acceleration and force are vectors; in this law the direction of the force vector is the same as the direction of the acceleration vector. "


But then again he probably never hit 5 shanks in a row

[Started2k3]

Re: Golf Physics 101

Hold your hand out flat, thumb upwards. Now, slap yourself in the face with your hand moving at 1 mph, did it hurt much? Can you slap yourself in the face at 1 mph with more force using the same hand?

Now slap yourself in the face at 20 mph, Wow! that hurt. Was it accelerating when it hit me? Don't know but it still hurt.

Now place a ball on a tee and twat it up the fairway, how did that feel? better than the slap eh!

Now Newton said:

"The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma. Acceleration and force are vectors; in this law the direction of the force vector is the same as the direction of the acceleration vector. "


But then again he probably never hit 5 shanks in a row

LMFAO

[Neil18]

Re: Golf Physics 101

OMFG.

None of this helps anybody hit the ball better.

This section is a golf instruction forum isn't it?!

Who said golfers think too much about sh*t that doesn't matter?!

Just hit it!

You all belong on a Loreal advert!

[bdbl]

Re: Golf Physics 101

I've read this thread with a mixture of fascination at people's knowledge and horror at the fact that it's physics - good god I thought I left Boyle's Law & Mr. Fenn behind me 40 years ago.

One thing still puzzles me though and that's how does the ball know that you're accelerating*?

I'm fairly sure that if you hit the ball at 100 mph it doesn't matter whether to the ball if you are slowing down from 120 or speeding up to 120 the ball will still go the same distance - and to be perfectly honest if I could hit it at 100mph consistently I wouldn't care either.


* Ok I know that acceleration is actually a change in velocity - in either "direction" - but most people mean "go faster".

[Neil18]

Re: Golf Physics 101

If I've offended anyone by my comments, then I apologise, but I maintain that this thread has no place in learning how to play golf. Call me ignorant if you like, but I don't understand how anyone can find this information useful in learing how to swing a golf club effectively. No golfer needs to know this stuff. Unless you're pre-shot routine involves a white-board and a calculator, it's wasted brain space. To be physically competent in anything, be prepared to ditch the text-book.

I like to know my engine and I'm a great advocate of golfers knowing their swing. But knowing the mathematical equations involved in propelling the ball is second to last on my knowledge list, only beaten by how many coke cans you would need to stack on top of one another to reach the moon with them.

I know I need to accelerate through the ball to hit it with gusto, and on target. How to move my body to provide that acceleration in the correct direction is something else I need to know.

And speaking of uncalled for comments, writing in a polite manner that I should bugger off if I don't like it smells of pot, kettle and black. I came, I read, I communicated my honest feelings.............................Sorry.

[Martin Levac]

Re: Golf Physics 101

OMFG.

None of this helps anybody hit the ball better.

This section is a golf instruction forum isn't it?!

Who said golfers think too much about sh*t that doesn't matter?!

Just hit it!

You all belong on a Loreal advert!

I'm sorry Neil18 if you missed the point, here's some clarification:

This:

"You all belong on a Loreal advert!"

Is a judgement call on our persons. In other words, it's a personal attack on a group of people. Furthermore it doesn't address the subject of this thread in the least.

Which makes this:

"I came, I read, I communicated my honest feelings..."

All the more insulting.

If it is indeed your opinion of us and if it is indeed your honest feelings, please refrain from ever mentioning them in this forum. Thank you.

Back to the subject.

I want to read about the physics of golf. I find it useful to know these things as I practice sending a ball to a target using a club. It doesn't confuse me to know these things, on the contrary it helps me understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it this way or that way.

[kbp]

Re: Golf Physics 101

I find the information useful and the discussion entertaining. I also find that honesty can be expressed either politely or rudely, depending on whether the intent is to be helpful or to be insulting.