Real Book Errors
 

The purpose of this thread is to discuss and point out REAL book errors. It's not a thread about application, how useful the book is to golfers, incompatible components, or how well I can hit a golf ball. Just errors from a scientific point of view.

For example, Inertia is a Scaler quantity but labelled as a Vector Symbol in Chapter 2.

Is it the same in the sixth?

Homer clearly states that his Vector Symbols, in 2-C-1, indicate the direction of a Force. That symbol would then indicate the direction of the ball.

You are correct, vectors unlike scalers have a direction. I don’t think Homer was trying to explain that difference to the reader -nor does it change the outcome of occurrence if the legend was modified.
Perhaps the “I” should have been label Inertia Unrested. Either way Newton’s Laws prevail, impact occurs and the ball is launched.

How does this 'mistake' change anything?

Mistakes
 

Tong,
Do you think that he just missed this completely? Do you have any idea how he might have made this mistake? In other words, under what context would Inertia as a vector symbol make sense?

There are several that think Homer was a complete retard when it came to science . . . . whatever write your own book. Like that Jergenson dude or whoever he is talks about the ideal swing bending the left elbow . . . mmmm hmmm ok chalk one up for astro-physics. So you can spend your time listening to people rip dead people who can't defend what they wrote . . . or . . . . the sound of balls being compressed . . .

Tongzilla - can i just confirm the spirit of yor thread - i think i know where you are coming from but just so everybody can confirm.

It seems to me that you are concerned with accuracy and precison of the science contained in the book - not at denigrating the work and effort that Homer put into TGM. In which case i am sure that Homer would not stand in the way of this quest for precision. It would be contrary to the stories that Lynn has told us about Homer!:golf:

If this is continued in a responsible manner i see no reason for there to be a problem. The problems arise when you do not know the credentials of the person who is supposedly "correcting" Homer! We know Homer's credentials and CV.... but if you are to correct Homer in such a way as to convince the audience then your credentials do matter. Not in the sense that credentials make you right... but they do make you convincing!

Homer didn't really have ANY credentials so to speak . . . he wasn't a physicist . . . he wasn't a scientist . . . he wasn't even an engineer . . .

But Homer Kelley had a very very special gift in fact many. And most of all Homer Kelley was a gift to us.

Homer Kelly was a great man. He has made a brilliant contribution to the golfing world. His work has greatly increased my understanding and application of the golf stroke. The errors we are discussing in this thread do not diminish the greatness of The Golfing Machine.

This purpose of this thread is to discuss some of the stuff Homer didn't get right. If you are convinced that Homer got every bit of the science and geometry correct, then this thread is not for you. Or if you don't care about these errors because it doesn't make a difference to your score, please go to the other sections of this site, where professional contributors such as Lynn Blake and Ted Fort are more than happy to help you with your game.

So...pleeeeease get back on topic!

Mike O (surprise surprise) was the only person that bit on the Inertia thing . . . you gonna answer his questions :eyes: ? Looks to me that several folks studying angular motion and moment of inertia have used "inertia vector." So is it really wrong? Why do you think this is an error?

Mistakes
 

Everyone gets things wrong at some point, in some way- Homer Kelley was no different. I'm all for understanding errors. So let's discuss it. (Refer to my original questions)

It is very common to use the term 'vector' when plotting points, which is what Mr. Kelley was doing. Nowhere in the book does he claim that Inertia anything different than how it works under Newton's three laws. That would be a mistake in science- not plotting points in a legend about Horizontal Hinging.

So, is this something you discovered - or read from others still trying to rip HK's use of basic science?

Weak. At least start off with a blockbuster.