This one has bothered me for some time.

For an object moving in a circle, centripetal force causes an acceleration toward the centre of the circle. It is what causes the object to move in a circle rather than moving in a straight line. It acts at right angles to the path of the object.

How does centripetal force make the club head move faster?

What does it matter? Don’t you just get into a good position and belt hell out of it!

Don’t understand the q.

Centripetal force is what powers the whole swing, everything you do in the swing is to get more centripetal force on the club.

It is like asking, how does the engine make the car go faster…

What am I missing ??

Don’t understand the q.

Centripetal force is what powers the whole swing, everything you do in the swing is to get more centripetal force on the club.

Thanks Virge, it was your comment in another thread that made me ask the question.

It is like asking, how does the engine make the car go faster…

Or pumping up the tyres when the engine won’t start.

Seriously Virge, centripetal force by definition does not add to the speed of an object moving in a circle.

How does a force at right angles to the motion make the clubhead go faster?

What does it matter? Don’t you just get into a good position and belt hell out of it!

Am I to understand that using the term centripetal force is ok, but whether centripetal force really does what people say doesn’t matter?

Using Occam’s Razor if we eliminate the useless babble we’ll get to the fundamentals faster. We might even find out whether there is more to the fundamentals of golf than getting in a good position and belting hell out of it.

Seriously Virge, centripetal force by definition does not add to the speed of an object moving in a circle.

Does not adding centripetal force to golf shaft increase the speed of the clubhead.

Still lost on the Q, my year 12 physics was a long time ago.

For mine, the golf swing is 2 circles working in different directions. The clubhead and shaft is going clockwise, and the pivot is going anticlockwise.

The difference in this action is what creates the power.

Isn’t centripetal force simply what prevents the object from going straight? In that case it wouldn’t be the main force as such. I understand that most speed comes from the straightening of the clubshaft with the left arm. This couldn’t happen without centripetal force acting on the handle. However the accelaration of the club head comes because the hands decelarate and the energy heads outwards into the club head which accelarates.

I suppose alternatively the club head could accelarate due to a twisting force through the wrist but I doubt it would be great enough.

So centripetal force technically doesn’t create the speed so much as what is creating the centripetal force in the first place?

But it’s probably simpler just to say that the centripetal force creates the speed.

What does it matter? Don’t you just get into a good position and belt hell out of it!

Every swing is an 8 iron swing!

x2…. And we wonder why golfers spray shots everywhere with stuff like this going through their heads….....

What does it matter? Don’t you just get into a good position and belt hell out of it!

Every swing is an 8 iron swing!

x2…. And we wonder why golfers spray shots everywhere with stuff like this going through their heads……..

Nike VR Tour Driver 9.5’
Nike VR STR8-FIT 3+ Wood 13’
Nike VR STR8-FIT 4 Wood 17’
Nike VR Pro Combo Forged Irons 3-PW
CG16 Gap Wedge 52/10`
CG15 Sand Wedge 58/12`
Nike Method Core 001 Putter
Taylormade TP Red LDP Ball

We don’t spray shots everywhere. And I am guessing that people clever enough to understand this level and put into practice don’t either.

Just a thought…..

Sometimes I do virge! Sorry! :o)

Practice, I was being a smartarse; Hermit had made that comment elsewhere and then starts on the science. Thought it was a bit ironic.

What does it matter? Don’t you just get into a good position and belt hell out of it!

Every swing is an 8 iron swing!

x2…. And we wonder why golfers spray shots everywhere with stuff like this going through their heads……..

Nike VR Tour Driver 9.5’
Nike VR STR8-FIT 3+ Wood 13’
Nike VR STR8-FIT 4 Wood 17’
Nike VR Pro Combo Forged Irons 3-PW
CG16 Gap Wedge 52/10`
CG15 Sand Wedge 58/12`
Nike Method Core 001 Putter
Taylormade TP Red LDP Ball

We don’t spray shots everywhere. And I am guessing that people clever enough to understand this level and put into practice don’t either.

Just a thought…..

Yep… You is so clever (deliberately bad grammar)

Does not adding centripetal force to golf shaft increase the speed of the clubhead.

No, its the other way around. The faster the speed of the object (clubhead), the more centripetal force is required to make it go in a circle.

You want a smaller circle? It will require more centripetal force. Perhaps that is the basis of the theory. But then again, the radius of the clubhead’s motion at impact is bigger than anywhere else, so maybe not.

For mine, the golf swing is 2 circles working in different directions. The clubhead and shaft is going clockwise, and the pivot is going anticlockwise.

The difference in this action is what creates the power.

I’m definitely going to need pictures of that one!

I’m assuming virge is referring to transition? Pivot starting back while the club head is still going back? Differential is what creates power.

Practice, I was being a smartarse; Hermit had made that comment elsewhere and then starts on the science. Thought it was a bit ironic.

Weetbix, there is a pattern here. Somebody says something pseudo-scientific. I explain why what they say is bollocks.

Not once have I ever said that a golfer needs to understand the science. In fact, I have only ever said the reverse. As I always say, just get into a good position and belt hell out of it.

Still, the snake oil salesman will just keep spruiking their snake oil. Judging by your comment about being simpler just to say centripetal force and clubhead speed, they will do it with your support.

I’m a little surprised that we haven’t had anybody explain how sitting under a pyramid will fix some swing fault or other.

See the irony now?

Oh, and tell us more about this slowing down theory. That’s one of my favourites. Transfer of momentum, isn’t it?

I’ve read a lot of your posts but have yet to see you write a logical fact based refutation of anything. Generally you just say you don’t agree with it as if that is that.

So i won’t bother with talking about how acceleration and deceleration work to create speeds at distal points ina system. You don’t believe it so therefore it doesn’t exist. But I’d love to see you try and crack a 20ft whip without decelerating the handle.

In a golf swing the “body” revolves with a horizontal circular motion about a vertical axis. There are two forces involved which when combined result in centripetal force. The two forces which act in opposite directions are – the weight of the clubhead (vertically downwards); and the tension along the shaft and arms.
Basically centripetal force in the golf swing is an upward and inward force from the inside of the feet up to the hips which helps us to secure our grip on the ground. In the dynamic phase it could be called “ground forces”. In the static phase it relates to where we direct pressure at address and allowing for slopes.

I’ve read a lot of your posts but have yet to see you write a logical fact based refutation of anything. Generally you just say you don’t agree with it as if that is that.

If you don’t understand my explanations then feel free to ask for more detail. Abandoning false notions can only help your golf.

So i won’t bother with talking about how acceleration and deceleration work to create speeds at distal points ina system. You don’t believe it so therefore it doesn’t exist. But I’d love to see you try and crack a 20ft whip without decelerating the handle.

Do you still say that there is such a thing as a centripetal force powered golf swing?

We can deal with the slow down theory later if you like. Abandoning that one can only help your golf too.

I like Razaars explanation

The hands slowing down and the release of the club head is for another days conversation, I think this one is just on powering the golf club…

My two circle explanation has nothing to do with the transition. Pivot spins left, golf club spins right… When worked in a sequence they create a lot of power.

Still lost on what a centripetal golf swing is… I am sorry but I don’t understand the question.

In a golf swing the “body” revolves with a horizontal circular motion about a vertical axis. There are two forces involved which when combined result in centripetal force. The two forces which act in opposite directions are – the weight of the clubhead (vertically downwards); and the tension along the shaft and arms.
Basically centripetal force in the golf swing is an upward and inward force from the inside of the feet up to the hips which helps us to secure our grip on the ground. In the dynamic phase it could be called “ground forces”. In the static phase it relates to where we direct pressure at address and allowing for slopes.

Ekithump. And people say my science discussions complicate things!

Strip it back Razaar. Either your version of centripetal force acts at right angles to the motion or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t then it isn’t centripetal force.

Which is it?

My two circle explanation has nothing to do with the transition. Pivot spins left, golf club spins right… When worked in a sequence they create a lot of power.

Sorry Virge. I still need pictures.

Still lost on what a centripetal golf swing is… I am sorry but I don’t understand the question.

Do you agree with the definition in my first post? Do you agree with the quote below? If so, how does centripetal force make the clubhead go faster?

No, its the other way around. The faster the speed of the object (clubhead), the more centripetal force is required to make it go in a circle.

You want a smaller circle? It will require more centripetal force. Perhaps that is the basis of the theory. But then again, the radius of the clubhead’s motion at impact is bigger than anywhere else, so maybe not.

No, its the other way around. The faster the speed of the object (clubhead), the more centripetal force is required to make it go in a circle.

??? Sorry Hermit, really lost here.

My translation of the above is you need centripetal force to make the object go in a circle.

I haven’t had a drink tonight… can you please talk in one direction and not refer to things backwardly.

How can a force conversation be the wrong way around…

Have no idea what you mean, hermit. Centrpetal force in the golf swing is a component of gravity. How would you describe it?

I am enjoying this… been a good couple of days for golf threads

My two circle explanation has nothing to do with the transition. Pivot spins left, golf club spins right… When worked in a sequence they create a lot of power.

Sorry Virge. I still need pictures.

Fair enough mate – have to do it in person. Or if you look up Martin Ayer’s stuff, he had a good explaination that I related to.

See if I can find some Youtube

My translation of the above is you need centripetal force to make the object go in a circle.

Exactly so.

What is the wrong way around is the cause and effect. The faster clubhead speed requires more centripetal force.

Yet there is an idea that more centripetal force makes the clubhead go faster. I’m asking for a coherent explanation consistent with the laws of physics.