Acceleration of a golf club hitting a ball

[Mike10724]

What will be the difference in distance of the ball if it is hit by a club traveling 120 mph at impact (constant velocity) versus a ball hit by a club traveling at 120 mph but accelerating at the point of initial impact?

 

[Chestermiller]

What will be the difference in distance of the ball if it is hit by a club traveling 120 mph at impact (constant velocity) versus a ball hit by a club traveling at 120 mph but accelerating at the point of initial impact?

Excellent question. I see where you're headed with this. Of course then next question is "what is the contact time between the club head and the ball during impact?"

 

[Mike10724]

I think it is around 0.5 milliseconds. It must be the rate of acceleration that influences distance more than velocity, but I would be interested to see a practical example. Maybe on a robotic swing machine.

 

[Chestermiller]

I think it is around 0.5 milliseconds. It must be the rate of acceleration that influences distance more than velocity, but I would be interested to see a practical example. Maybe on a robotic swing machine.

How much could the ball velocity possibly change over 0.5 milliseconds between a club head traveling at constant velocity and a club heat that is accelerating? What kind of acceleration could the club head realistically have (just prior to making contact) in order for the impact to substantially change?

 

[A.T.]

...club traveling at 120 mph but accelerating at the point of initial impact...

Accelerating how much, and in which diraction? Note that in real life the club is accelerated opposite to its motion during the impact, so it slows down.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

If the club accelerates in the direction of the velocity, contact time will be increased. This will result in a greater impulse and higher resulting velocity for the ball.

 

[russ_watters]

Accelerating how much, and in which diraction? Note that in real life the club is accelerated opposite to its motion during the impact, so it slows down.

While that's true in net, if you're applying a constant torque through impact, the deceleration is lower by whatever that acceleration was...

...If it is possible to apply a torque through impact, which it may not be due to the flexibility of the shaft.

@Mike10724 hopefully you are getting that acceleration is not transferred to the ball, speed (actually, momentum and energy) is. So only the change in speed during the impact will affect the flight, not the acceleration itself.

 

[russ_watters]

Ahh, golf questions - the first sign of springtime!