Swing Forces

[robbyvegas]

*Caution.... Possible Science/Physics Content*

Here is the question:

What forces does a clubhead experience?

Not including impact with a ball or the ground... If I were a clubhead, what kind of force would I experience during a swing? Is it all centrifugal acceleration? Is all of the force that I experience, downward pressure? As swing speed increases, do I simply feel pulled more strongly away from the shaft?

Thanks,
Rob

[MBuckler]

you make mongo head hurt...

mongo no thinky...mongo smash :clapping:

[brooky333]

Why?

[robbyvegas]

Because I'm thinking about what force generates clubhead speed. Not what muscles or movements generate clubhead speed, but what forces. Think about it like a physics problem. Anyone want a free-body diagram?

[MBuckler]

Because I'm thinking about what force generates clubhead speed. Not what muscles or movements generate clubhead speed, but what forces. Think about it like a physics problem. Anyone want a free-body diagram? :clapping:

 

god...freshman year physics...

[robbyvegas]

Yeah. Freshman year physics.

 

Anyone know if I've left out any significant forces here?

 

Also, I wonder what we are talking about when we mention swing speed. Is that 109 mph swing speed of mine just a one dimensional swing speed, or is it swing speed on an arc?

 

Am I posting this on the wrong forum? Where should I ask?

[ezra76]

IMO it is mostly about torque. When I stay connected with my arms and body I feel I am esentially lengthening my lever arm. Disconnect and get handsy and I've only got from my hands to the end of the shaft as a lever arm.

[hoganfan924]

Yeah. Freshman year physics.

 

Anyone know if I've left out any significant forces here?

 

Also, I wonder what we are talking about when we mention swing speed. Is that 109 mph swing speed of mine just a one dimensional swing speed, or is it swing speed on an arc?

 

Am I posting this on the wrong forum? Where should I ask?

 

Remember, speed is a scalar not a vector quantity so it has no direction (unlike velocity). One force you must consider is the moment about the hosel.

 

There is an angular acceleration (aka "centrifugal") which can be applied through the Cg of the clubhead (creating a force F which equals the Mass of the clubhead X the angular acceleration, F=MA or MVsquared/r) which is couteracted by the centripetal pulling force of the shaft (from the clubhead's perspective). Since the sum of the forces in any direction equals zero in the Free body diagram, and because these forces are not in line (because shaft is not in line with the Cg) it creates a moment which wants to "toe down" the clubhead and which therefore (because the sum of the moments equals zero) creates a reaction moment at the connection of the shaft to the hosel (assuming the Free body diagram is of the clubhead only)

[jaridyard]

Tangential?

[Shaitan]

Multiple forces act on a clubhead to make it move at the speed it does - swingweight, momentum, gravity, torque (creating from both lack of movement and coil affect), lever creation with arms, centripetal forces, wrist **** and lag to the ball, size of the head and its drag coefficient (aerodynamics), maybe a reason why people can hit the Burner so much further - shaft flex and its torque and weight. There are so many variables its not funny. Don't do it as an assignment! Do F1 racing or something with less variables . Formula One racing is interesting, I just did it for centripetal forces, downforce, g-force and linear acceleration, really interesting and fun.

[jcjr34]

Yes, the clubhead will experience centrifugal force. You are correct in your assumption that the head will feel more pull away from the shaft as swingspeed increases. Think of the club head like the astronauts training in a centrifuge(?). As the swingspeed increases, the club head will experience more and more G's.