To understand a person's viewpoint, I need very simple explanations where every sentence is well-defined in terms of definitions and concepts, and where all the sentences are carefully connected so as to finally produce a coherent storyline.
Here is a photo of a golfer's clubhead swingarc.
One can see that the clubshaft/clubhead moves down-and-out-and forwards along a circular arc in the downswing. Therefore, the forces needed to move the clubhead need to achieve two goals from an energy perspective - i) move the clubshead at a finite speed in space and ii) move the clubhead in a circular arc (which is equivalent to supplying the clubhead with centripetal acceleration while it is traveling at its finite speed).
I would like to see Bernt use that simple model to describe the forces needed, and their mechanism of energy storage and release.
I would like to see Bernt use that simple model to describe the forces needed, and their mechanism of energy storage and release.
Jeff.
First you need tangential forces to make the club move at all. Then you need more of the same to get proper swing speed.
At the same time you need centripetal force to make the club move in a circle instead of flying down the driving range.
You should also be aware that the centripetal force is not a force per se in the golf swing. Because there isn't anything in there that is pulling from the swing center. The centripetal force is merely result of decomposing the total force on the club in a centripetal component and a tangential component - and possibly other components too - that will will reduce the quality of the stroke.