What Mass is involved in the strike?

[George_Connor]

Brian and Staff,
What mass is involved in striking a golf ball? Certainly the weight of the golf club but what about the player's weight. From your studies, does a heavier golfer have the ability to put more mass onto the golf ball than a lighter one? Are there traits to a golf swing that allows more mass to be involved or traits that will apply less? I learned a lot about the golf swing from David Lee who always proclaimed that this was possible. Knowing the research that you have done I would be interested if you have looked at this specifically.

Thanks,
George

 

[hp12c]

Im not a staff member but if what you're asking if a heavier golfer will hit the ball farther and a lighther golfer. I would say if all things being equal, meaning skill level, swing speed etc. I would say no.

 

[magicmarker]

Again, not on staff, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once. The mass that is involved would be the club head. The ball gets its flight program from a lot of different variables but I am nearly positive that the weight of the golfer would not be one of them.

Your question shifts back and forth between mass and weight, which are different units of measurement btw.

The shaft is NOT a magical force transmission wand to transfer energy and effort into the collision. I think the intent of the full golf swing is to build up club head speed and NOT transmit force by way of the shaft.

 

[dschultz6072]

Another unsolicited response:

It's all the clubhead. All you are doing is making the clubhead work properly and achieve the right speed and angle through impact for the desired shot. Strength and speed, that's it.

How much does a PINGMan or Iron Byron weigh? Does that have anything to do with programming the club to be swung faster through impact?

 

[rogue]

not a staff member, but I attended the anti summit ...
wasn't it mentioned somewhere, possible on a video, that it is the clubhead plus about 6 inches or so of the shaft

 

[magicmarker]

I believe that is what is involved in determining the center of gravity of the club head but I could be wrong.

 

[magicmarker]

I think I have seen Brian post that for all the ball knows the club head and the last few inches of the shaft could've been thrown at the ball by Nolan Ryan. So it sounds like whatever is going on at the other end of the shaft simply doesn't matter as far as the ball is concerned, it can't matter, because at that point in time it's behavior acts as though it is completely disconnected from the rest of the shaft, golfer etc.

 

[ZAP]

No such thing as a heavy hit. Pun intended. Clubhead is basically a free body down by the ball.

As I understand it that is.

 

[Brian Manzella]

(Ed) Rogue nailed it.

 

[dbl]

A related question is whether a heavier golfer (or one with longer arms) would be able to use his leverage or mass to sling the shaft/clubhead faster than a pipsqueak? 2) The heavier golfer DOES have greater ground reaction forces, doesn't he, and couldn't those be utilized?

 

[hp12c]

A related question is whether a heavier golfer (or one with longer arms) would be able to use his leverage or mass to sling the shaft/clubhead faster than a pipsqueak? 2) The heavier golfer DOES have greater ground reaction forces, doesn't he, and couldn't those be utilized?

All thing being equal I would say no.

 

[lia41985]

Take a golf ball.

Suspend a free golf club.

Fire the ball at the club.

What happens?

Life...complicated collisions!

 

[hp12c]

Take a golf ball.

Suspend a free golf club.

Fire the ball at the club.

What happens?

Life...complicated collisions!

what happens? get the hell out of the way!!!

 

[ZAP]

Would it not make more sense to fire the club at the stationary ball?
Big difference between being hit by a car and running into a parked car when playing street football.

 

[Brian Manzella]

If you fire the ball at the "hanging" club it moves the club backward in the frame of reference of the club.

Just like in a real golf swing.

 

[tongzilla]

Can someone tell me the effect of say an extra 30g in the clubhead on driving distance, keeping everything else (clubhead speed and speetspot 3D path) the same?

 

[Michael Jacobs]

Can someone tell me the effect of say an extra 30g in the clubhead on driving distance, keeping everything else (clubhead speed and speetspot 3D path) the same?

Search for the perfect swing

 

[lia41985]

What happens when the same ball, fired at the same speed, is shot at the same club if we clamp the club (or, rather, have a human hold it)...

Calling all collision experts

 

[lia41985]

If you fire the ball at the "hanging" club it moves the club backward in the frame of reference of the club.

Anyone else find this oddly self-referential or unclear? I'm sorry but I do not understand this, Brian. I apologize for my lack of acuity.

 

[Brian Manzella]

So you have a balloon hanging from the headliner of a car you are sitting in.

You are in the front passenger seat, and the balloon is hanging down directly over the center of the center console.

You throw a hard right hook at the balloon toward the back of the car. The balloon goes backward to you, the balloon, the driver of the car, and any passengers. Also to the officer in the Florida State Police Helicopter flying over you at the same speed as your car.

But, to the guy standing on the side of the road with his thumb out, trying to hitchhike, your ballon still went forward....but somewhat slower than the car.