Progress #2

This week, I focused directly on the physics behind the golf swing. The golf swing has physics written all over it and is a great example of angular motion. As Tiger Woods is one of the best golfers to ever live, his swing is the perfect display of how it should look when the physics behind the swing are all correct. Tiger Woods has four major steps to his swing. 

Step 1: At the back of his swing, Woods utilizes his flexibilty to reach far back, extending his range of motion while keeping his rotating torso directly over his right leg.

Step 2: As he begins his swing, Woods builds up club head velocity by turning his torso quickly and pressing his right leg forward. Throughout his swing, Woods wastes little energy by maintaining his position above the ball. 

Step 3: As he drives through the ball, he uses his hips, shoulders, and wrists to concentrate his force and create a very high initial ball speed. Within 2 feet off the tee the ball is traveling at around 180 mph. This is around 20 mph faster than the average tour pro. 

Step 4: Woods allows the club head's momentum to extend his follow-through far around his back, completing a long and smooth clubhead rotation. 

Most club heads weigh about the same, so the key to being able to hit the long ball lies in the club head velocity. The faster your club head is going at the bottom of your swing, the greater the amount of kinetic energy that will be transferred from club head to the ball.

As my presentation is next week, I plan on constructing a PowerPoint including this information as well as evolution of the golf club.