Conservation of Angular Momentum . . .
 

What is it? How does it function in a golf swing? Is it useful for both methods of accelerating the club (hitting and swinging)?

I think this is an important topic . . . but I'm not really qualified to discuss the physics aspect because of the genetic crap shoot and all.

The short answer is that it is harder to move a long lever than a short one, but a long lever can provide more force for a given amount of speed.

COAM is effectively keeping a long lever, as short as can be while building speed by creating angles, and then as long as can be by releasing those angles at the proper time for the application at hand.

Physics 101 Answer
 

Well, here is what happens when clubhead meets ball. This may not mean much relative to swing, but it will give everyone something to start with.

Mball * Vball_after + Mclub * Vclub_after = Mclub * Vclub_before (the before and after refer to impact)

Basically, since this is an elastic collision, momentum is not strictly conserved, but it is close enough for our purposes. You can also approximate Mclub with the mass of the clubhead alone since the impact interaction occurs over such a short time.

How about this Bosslady . . . So the primary lever assembly moves in a circle regarless of how it is driven huh? what? So that would be the case on the backstroke . . . smell me? So there is a certain amount of inertia of the club moving back. Then the player changes directions . . .

At this point is this where the whole deadweight inertia draggin' lil' bruva of clubhead lag pressure point pressure is loaded?

So then what? You continue to spin the flywheelz (dubz) or do you drive the stump?

Is the swinger manipulating Angular Momentum? While the Hitter is overcoming it by driving in a straight line?

What do the physics types say?

Newton's 1st Law
 

You're killin me. Basically, lag is a consequence of Newton's 1st law: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. As you start the club back (overcoming inertia - bonus points in this discussion and probably a Nobel prize if you can give definitive explanation why mass exhibits inertia :eyes: ) you impart momentum to the club, i.e., put it in motion. When it is time to start the downswing, this motion must be overcome with a force to get the club moving downplane towards our dimpled friend (the ball, not Bucket's Behind). When that force is applied, one feels lag pressure. As long as that force is continually applied, the lag pressure will remain. Lag pressure maintained through impact will result in a collision that is more inelastic (less lossy) than if one had a clubhead moving with a constant velocity (my assertion, et al.).
Once again, I probably am not providing the answers folks are looking for. Sorry if that is the case.

Yo homegirl my butt gettin' big . . .
 

PERFECT! Thus . . . SUSTAIN the the LAG not INCREASE the LAG. Now what do you say about "lag is a consequence of Newton's 1st law: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it." . . . for a Hitter. If we have applied thrust via the turning of our body (phat donkey and all) . . . AND THEN one's Right Tricepts takes over have we annulled "the conservation of angular momentum" as a result? Would you say the Physics are different as a result of the Right Arm supplying the "thrust" or "acceleration" or whatever?

How'd you know my hiney had dimples? Beware "Killing me." Mikey is LURKING. He forgets his medication sometimes.

Tread lightlly
 

Steph can handle herself- but tread lightly BucketHead- there's a lady in the house!

Lag- Resting on a Rock Solid Foundation
 

Ah, Life is good!

Steph, we'll need to get that put in the 8th edition!:)

Force is Force
 

Applied force is applied force. As long as the lag pressure is felt at PP3 throughout the down (out and forward) stroke, then the Hitter is still applying force. However, if one plotted lag pressure vs. time during the down stroke, then one might see variation as different components dominate as the force appliers.

Actually, some of the more advanced swing analysis places measure and plot clubhead acceleration during the golf stroke. It is an eye opening and humble experience. The Titleist Performance Center folks probably do it. Don't forget, acceleration makes the world go round. :-k :toothy1:

Witcha . . . but . . . is the force that the Hitter applies the same as Angular Momentum? Or is he overriding it as a result of trying to thrust in a straight line?

Thanks for bearing with me . . . there were some cousins who "got together" in my lineage.