Fri, April 9, 2010
FOR THOSE WANTING TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, PLEASE SKIP THIS ARTICLE!
For those interested in the complicated and technical aspects of maximizing force through better utilization of the laws of physics, this reading is for you. It contains thorough explanations of certain scientific functions the golf clubhead or a baseball bat undertake. These factors, along with equipment, are massively important to how far and what direction the ball travels. These factors effect the athletes success in hitting a ball with the best possible outcome they desire.
The Ball Flight Laws as printed in the PGA Teaching Manual -
The Art and Science of Teaching
Published by the PGA of America and copyrighted by the PGA of America in 1990.
1. SPEED
The velocity with which the clubhead is traveling. Speed influences the distance the ball will be propelled, as well as the trajectory and shape of the resulting shot. (Illus 3-6, 3-7)
2. CENTEREDNESS
The exactness with which the ball makes contact on the face of the club relative to the percussion point or "sweet spot ." Contact could be either on the center, fore (toe), aft heel, above or below the sweet spot. (Illus 3-8)
3. PATH
The direction of the arc described by the clubhead in its travel away from and then back toward the target. It's line of travel at impact is one of the primary factors influencing direction for a full shot. Illus 3-9)
4. FACE
The angle at which the leading edge of the clubface is at right angles to the swing path. It will determine the accuracy of the ball's flight along that line, or produce a left or right curve away from that line.
5. ANGLE OF APPROACH
The angle formed by the descending or ascending arc of the clubhead on the forward swing in relation to the slope of the ground. Due to its influence on the ball's spin rate, the trajectory and distance the ball travels will be affected. (Illus 3-10)
Published by the PGA of America and copyrighted by the PGA of America in 1990.
DEFINITIONS OF SPECIFIC INTEREST
LEVER - A lever consists of a beam, stick or rod. In our golf situation, a shaft, a players arm (both arms in straight position and both upper and lower arms), a clubface
FULCRUM - The support about which a lever turns
PPSI - Pounds per square inch of pressure
LAG
A) to fail to keep a desired pace or to keep up; such as falling or staying behind
B) to delay or fail in the reaching of full development:
C) to hang back; procrastinate
CAST-CASTING - to cause to move or send forth by throwing
CENTER OF GRAVITY - COG -that point in a body or system around which its mass or weight is evenly distributed or balanced and through which the force of gravity acts
FINISH - to be done, completed
FOLLOW THROUGH - to continue working
TORQUE - is a force that tends to rotate or turn things, such a wrench on a lug nut or bolt. Informally, torque can be thought of as "rotational force". You generate a torque any time you apply a force using a wrench. In golf, it is the pressure our hands exert on the grip and therefore the rotation of the shaft and clubhead.
OTHER THINGS WE LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOL THAT WE CAN ALL USE IN SPORTS MOTION!
ALBERT EINSTIEN
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another or transferred.
ISSAC NEWTON - NEWTONS THREE LAWS OF MOTION
I - An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an equal or greater outside force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an equal or greater outside force
II.- Force - Force =Mass x Acceleration
III - For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.
BALL FLIGHT LAWS and MARK EGLY'S ADDITIONS and DISCUSSION
1) SPEED (AS COPYRIGHTED BY THE PGA OF AMERICA)
The velocity with which the clubhead is traveling. Speed influences the distance the ball will be propelled, as well as the trajectory and shape of the resulting shot. (Illus 3-6, 3-7)
Mark Egly Additions
Speed and acceleration are two different entities. Parts of the clubhead and clubface are moving at different speeds and different levels of acceleration during the course of the swing, and most importantly, the impact zone.
2) CENTEREDNESS (AS COPYRIGHTED BY THE PGA OF AMERICA)
The exactness with which the ball makes contact on the face of the club relative to the percussion point or "sweet spot ." Contact could be either on the center, fore (toe), aft heel, above or below the sweet spot. (Illus 3-8)
Mark Egly Additions
The percussion/sweet spot of the golf club is constantly changing. Factors affecting this are attached in the other additions and discussion effects of the COG (center of gravity), PPSI (pounds per square inch of pressure), torque, fulcrums, levers, acceleration and deceleration along with their effects on the hitting surface we call the clubface. Why? The clubface in the hitting zone is in a constant state of change for virtually all players from A to Z.
3) PATH (AS COPYRIGHTED BY THE PGA OF AMERICA)
The direction of the arc describe by the clubhead in its travel away from and then back toward the target. It's line of travel at impact is one of the primary factors influencing direction for a full shot. Illus 3-9)
OUTSIDE CRITICS OF OUR BALL FLIGHT LAWS- Still pictures and measuring devices, such as Trackman, have not shown this author, a differential in speed or more importantly Acceleration or Deceleration into their conclusions of the golf ball going a different direction than what was previously thought. In their conclusions, I fail to see evidence that would substantially support the conclusions that the DPlane Factor and Resulted Plane theorists conclude. These factors, I believe, assume results without completeness of evidence that as of yet cannot strongly convince me of their validity!
4) FACE (AS COPYRIGHTED BY THE PGA OF AMERICA)
The angle at which the leading edge of the clubface is at right angles to the swing path. It will determine the accuracy of the ball's flight along that line, or produce a left or right curve away from that line.
Mark Egly Additions
My discussions attached relating to the effect of the heel or toe of the clubface has an incredible function in determining the flight and the curvature of the golf ball. Our mission is to show the club face and clubface angle is most often in a state of movement and changing angles. The ball is on the clubface for such a short period of time, but scientifically it can be shown as an eternity with all the change that goes on in that blink of an eye. The application of where the pounds per square inch of pressure are being exerted on the ball has a significant effect on spin, direction and distance. Where the leading edge is at in relation to the COG (center of gravity) of the golf ball affects all spin and rotation possibilities as is stated within the current PGA Ball Flight Laws section of ANGLE OF APPROACH.
5) ANGLE OF APPROACH (AS COPYRIGHTED BY THE PGA OF AMERICA)
The angle formed by the descending or ascending arc of the clubhead of the forward swing in relation to the slope of the ground. Due to its influence on the ball's spin rate, the trajectory and distance the ball travels will be affected. (Illus 3-10)
Mark Egly Additions
The greatest addition to this law is the effect the COG of the golf ball in its relationship with the COG of the golf club on the golf balls flight. Their relationship will have an effect on the golf balls spin, the golf balls trajectory, the effect backspin or over spin will have on left or right curvature of the golf ball and the PPSI (pounds per square inch of pressure) will affect the trajectory and the distance the ball will fly, as well the left or right direction it will fly. Because of the angle of approach, along with when and where the golf club face is at before the point in time of contact, the point of impact will be affecting factors. (side note) Whether the club meets the golf ball in a very lofted position or an extremely delofted clubhead position or somewhere in between, all will impact golf ball flight in some manner .
OUTSIDE CRITICS OF OUR BALL FLIGHT LAWS- Still pictures and measuring devices such as Trackman have not shown this author the ability that they have factored in all variables. A differential in speed and not factoring in Acceleration or Deceleration into their conclusions of the golf ball traveling a different direction than what was previously thought or expected. In their conclusions, I fail to see evidence that would substantially support the conclusions that the DPlane Factor and Resulted Plane theorists conclude. These factors, I believe assume results without evidence that yet can strongly convince me of their validity! Many DPlane theorist have extremely overrated the "Trackman Effect" or" DPlane Resulted Plane" as major effect on direction. The owners of (circa2007) Stack and Tilt, have gone on National TV Programs, such as the national "Charlie Rose Show" and condemned PGA Ball Flight Law. I see their criticism to be on a very shaky ground and someday reconsider their comments and re-evaluate their future comments.
6) The Mark Egly, PGA Member, Factor of Internal Clubhead Speed
Overall club speed, club acceleration, club deceleration, linear momentum and angular momentum affect the INTERNAL CLUBFACE SPEED
A) Affects the amount of potential energy that is transferred to kinetic energy
B) Affects the where and how much PPSI is transferred to the ball by the clubface at impact
7) Factor of TORQUE
Hand Pressure (not as a preference, but as a measurable quantity)
A) affects the amount of PPSI applied to ball
B) Affects potential total distance of a shot
C) Affects direction
D) Affects initial velocity of the ball
( Assumes an impact of golf club with golf ball)
(Torque is not limited to the golf shaft nearest the clubhead)
( Where the pressure is applied on the grip of the club)
Hand position is a preference in golf. Hand pressure and where it is applied affects torque and resulting internal clubhead speed and the clubface's positions and therefore the direction the ball will fly as well as the height and distances it achieves.
8) The Mark Egly, PGA Member, Factor of the previously UNRECOGNIZED FULCRUMS and LEVERS (with Identification of Accelerants and Decelerating Factors)
Encompass all Levers and Fulcrums involved in a single swing. This will determine the significance of each lever and fulcrum and the significance in the amount of potential energy transferred to kinetic energy onto the golf ball and therefore the ball flight for each individual shot. Previously unnoticed/overlooked fulcrums need to be included in the mechanical mechanism called the golf swing.
Those potentially overlooked locations are;
1) The hosel of the golf club as the fulcrum and recognizing its roll in force while striking the shot. It must be determined where the pounds per square inch of pressure is being exerted onto a specific location on the golf ball. Also of significance in this relationship is, at what speed is the toe moving in relation to all other parts of the clubface at the moment of impact! This motion will transfer more potential energy into kinetic energy onto the ball than the opposite motion listed in #2 of this section
2) The toe of the golf club as the fulcrum and recognizing its roll in force while striking the shot. It must be determined where the pounds per square inch of pressure is being exerted onto a specific location on the golf ball. Also of significance in the relationship is, at what speed is the toe moving in relation to all other parts of the clubface at the moment of impact! This motion will transfer less kinetic energy onto the ball than the opposite motion listed in #1 of this section.
Item to be determined before declaring ball flight height and direction ;
Which fulcrums are the functioning fulcrums for each specific golfer and golf swing in use during each specific swing? Teachers then determine if the fulcrum is proximal or distal from the athlete to the impact position on the clubface. This will determine which direction the angular momentum is moving and the effects of torque that will influence the players shot. ( Working with students and being aware of this factor can become the most important and determining factor in reducing and eliminating unwanted slicing of the golf ball and a major reduction factor in injuries to backs, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips and necks for participants in the history of the game of golf!)
How?
Examine to see which of these potential fulcrums each player has in use during each swing and subsequent shot
A) Examine the hosel of the clubface before impact, at impact and the moment after impact
B) Examine the toe of the clubface before impact, at impact and the moment after impact
C) Examine the see if the hosel and toe of the club are working together in a linear motion fashion before impact, at impact and the moment after impact, therefore producing a near straight shot on the path of the clubface plus or minus any torque at the moment of impact
D) All these factors in this section and Mark Egly's New Ball Flight Laws take into account other Principles discovered by Daniel Bernoulli. Dutch-Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli who published his principle in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.
Effects of the hosel of the clubhead as the fulcrum on the through swing:
A) Affects angular momentum of the different parts of the clubface.
B) Affects faster acceleration of the toe of the golf club when it is the hosell that is the fulcrum and therefore;
1) affecting a higher rate of acceleration of the distal part (the toe)of the clubface to travel at a faster rate of speed than the heel/hosel
2) affecting and reducing the loft of the clubface
3)affecting the potential increase in the amount of pounds per square inch of pressure to the golf ball at impact
4)affecting a greater amount of potential energy to be transferred to kinetic energy to the golf ball
5) affecting where on the equator of the ball contact is made (north/south and left, center or right) based on the path of the clubhead as a component of the formula (The center of the ball in a dynamic swing can be figured by the parallel angle of the shoulder direction to the ball)
6) As well, in most situations and swings, producing a shot or impact with the clubface making impact on the center or distal side of the back of the ball. In turn producing draws, hooks, lower lofted shots that fly potentially longer distances
Effects of the toe of the clubhead as the fulcrum on the through swing:
A) Affects angular momentum of the different parts of the clubface.
B) Affects faster acceleration of the hosel of the golf club when the toe is the fulcrum and therefore:
1) affecting a higher rate of acceleration of the proximal part (the hosel of the clubface to travel at a faster rate of speed than the toe)
2) affecting and adding to the loft of the clubface
3)affecting the potential decrease in amount of pounds per square of pressure on the golf ball at impact
4)affecting a lesser amount of potential energy to be transferred to kinetic energy to the golf ball
5) affecting where on the equator of the ball contact is made (north/south and left, center or right)based on the path of the clubhead as a component of the formula . (The center of the ball in a dynamic swing can be figured by the parallel angle of the shoulder direction to the ball)
6) As well, in most situations and swings, producing a shot or impact with the clubface making impact on the center or proximal side of the back of the ball. In turn, producing skulls, whiffs, lofted slices that fly shorter total distances
Effects of Center of Gravity
With a changing clubface every millisecond, so does the sweet spot and the percussion point of the clubface therefore affecting distances, directions and every factor involved with the golf ball flight!
Copyright 2010