The Golf Swing

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Torque
As we learned in class, torque equals the Force x Distance. Torque is the rotating force in circular motion as you swing back, coiling your body, and then starting the downswing. Golfers have been taught to twist, rotate and increase their force as they swing since day one of their golf lessons. Weather they heard of the term torque or not, they were applying basic physics while learning the game of golf.

Figure 1 showing center pivot and Torque. (http://www.tutelman.com/golf/swing/leecommotion2.php)

The Double Pendulum Effect
A physical pendulum can be "...a solid object that swings back and forth on a pivot under the influence of gravity"(Physics for Science and Engineers pg. 394)
The arms are the first of the Double pendulum. As you swing, your arms move around your anchored shoulders. The second pendulum is the wrists as they swing around the body holding the club in the backswing, and then pausing and going back into the downswing and the follow through. Combining these two pendulums is the key to optimizing distance and accuracy of the human golf swing.

Figure 2 showing both pendulums. (http://www.tutelman.com/golf/swing/models3.php)

Centripetal Force
Centripal force is created as you pivot your hips during the swing, and on the downswing you pull your wrists inward while the club does the opposite and swing outward through the second pendulum.

Kinetic Energy to Potential Energy
Also in the swing we can see that the Kinetic Energy transforms into Potential Energy as you rotate the club around your center pivot point and then pause for a split second at the top, and then back into Kinetic energy on the downswing until you reach impact with the golf ball. You can see the torque you create with this energy change is a big part in creating the extreme distances the professional golfers make today.