6-C-2-0 Clubhead Lag

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Jim Cook

Originally Posted by Phillygolf Its the same effect as a figure skater. When the arms are extended, it increases the mass, and the figure skater slows down. When the right arm extends in the golf, we are adding effective mass, and the hands slow down. Because the shaft is moving at the same rate, or at least attempting to and the clubhead is seeking to maintain its inline relationship to the hands, or pp#3, it continues regardless of added mass or not. It never actually passes the hands because the hands are still thrusting....but the shaft, due to its whippiness, does bend because it is being overtaken by the clubhead and this is the bow we see. If you were to do the same with a thin iron bar, you most likely wouldnt be able to catch the bowing on camera - because an iron bar most likely could withstand the overtaking motion of the clubhead and the increased mass wouldnt affect it as much. All of this is due to the Conservation of Angular Momentum as explained in 6-C-2-B: "The clubhead 'overtaking' speed is governed by the Law of Conversation of Angular Momentum whereby the increased Mass resulting from any extension of the swing radius decelerates the Hands and unless they are supported by Power Package thrust or throw out action. can result in great loss of clubhead speed." . I don't quite understand how the mass was increased. Nothing was added just the configuration on the arms. In moving the arms outward the moment of inertia of the skater changed but not the mass. No mass was added to the club, no mass was added to the arms, I don't understand??

Jim...

Good point. I misspoke somewhat - what is actually happening is we are increasing the radius. Strictly speaking, we haven't really added mass. However, the term used in the explanation to me was 'effective mass'. I guess what this does is increase the moment of inertia by redistributing the mass of the rotating force.

Does that make more sense? Let me know if I am off in any of this - the purpose is to understand it.

-Patrick

Homer himself used the term 'Effective Mass' and explained how to vary it in 2-M-2 (Power Regulation). Though not explicitly defined, the term is explained in 2-M-1 (Basic Power).

Essentially, Effective Clubhead Mass is the sum of the deadweight of the Clubhead itself, plus Clubshaft Pre-Stress, plus Angular Momentum, plus the sustaining or driving actions of the applied Thrust (Muscular or Centrifugal). This is the "total effective Force that is impinged on the Ball."

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Yoda

The Lag Pressure Feel is good not only at Impact but from Start-Down all the way down to the Both Arms Straight Position (Follow-Through 8-11). And I do mean you should feel like you are going down, down down all the way to Both Arms Straight. On my best Strokes I feel Lag Pressure to the very end of my Finish. Remember, the Clubhead Lag has no release point (6-C-2-A).

I don't clearly understand how one would maintain lag pressure past follow through. Per 6-C-2-0, Clubhead lag "can be any one or any combination of Pressure Points, selected to sense Clubhead Acceleration rate and direction". Per 2-K#3, when the flail "passes it "in-line" relation, it again seeks it "in-line" relation and "Centrifugal Deceleration" sets in...". The only way to maintain the pressure is to maintain a constant acceleration. If the club is not longer accelerating, how can the Lag Pressure point be maintained? Is it the change of direction?

Additionally, (6-F-0), "the Clubhead is not picking up speed during the Overtaking (Release) interval, either when Hitting or Swinging". And then, in 6-F-1, "Acceleration ceases when the speed it has produced equals that of the Thrust, and though the Thrust is still present and able to maintain Velocity, it loses the flexed, stressed Clubshaft (hitters) and wallop of the Centrifugal Force (Swingers)". If the club is not accelerating during release, how does one maintain the lag pressure point?

[Last Paragraph 'bold' by Yoda]

Jaminid,

Much of the Fog here lies in the confusion of Clubhead Speed (Velocity) with Acceleration (a change in the product of Mass times Velocity). The balance is with Mechanical Reality versus Kinesthetic Perception.

It is true that the Clubhead is not 'picking up speed' during release. However, that does not mean that acceleration has ceased. The Kinetic Energy (Power) of the Clubhead is expressed by the formula KE=1/2MV2 (2-M-1), and Acceleration is any change in this product of Mass times Velocity (Glossary). Thus, any change in the Effective Mass of the Clubhead during Release results in Acceleration, even if its Velocity remains constant. Per 2-M-2, this change in the Effective Clubhead Mass could result from (1) an increase in the Acceleration Rate (Lag Pressure); (2) an Increase in the Swing Radius (length of the Primary Lever Assembly); or (3) both.

Effective Clubhead Mass in Non-Wristcock Strokes can be increased by increasing the Lag Pressure. In Wristcock Strokes, it can be additionally increased by lengthening the Swing Radius, i.e., Uncocking the Left Wrist to Extend the Primary Lever Assembly (Left Arm and Club). Using either or both of these techniques, it is possible to produce Acceleration while maintaining a constant Velocity.

Regarding my statement that the Feel of Clubhead Lag Pressure can (and should) be maintainted into the Finish, I meant exactly that. Mechanically, there is never any attempt to Release the Clubhead Lag Pressure, i.e., there is no attempt to relieve the Clubshaft stress at any time, either by 'pushing away' from the #3 Pressure Point or otherwise. Kinesthetically, as you Drive the Lag Pressure Point through Impact to the end of the Follow-Through, you are only a fraction of a second from the Finish. Though the Lag must at some point be lost, there is simply not enough time for that message (of the finally In Line Clubhead ) to travel up the Shaft to the #3 Pressure Point and from there to register as sensory perception via the nevous system and brain. Thus, if you sense Lag Loss at the end of the Follow-Through, you've actually lost it much earlier. Hence, the G.O.L.F. dictum...

Sustain the Lag!

[Yoda]

If one is using angled hinging with a putting stroke what style of putter would be most compatible, i.e. heel shafted, face balanced, center shafted, mallet or blade?

No matter which Hinge Action is employed;

No matter where the Shaft joins the Head;

No matter whether the Putter is Mallet or Blade;

And no matter how the Face is balanced...

The player always feels the Sweetspot. And this Sweetspot Feel is Clubhead Feel. Remember:

Clubhead and its Lag...Right Hand and its #3 Pressure Point.

Clubface and its Alignment...Left Hand and its Hinge Action.

These are two of the Three Major Concepts of The Golfing Machine. Keep their important identities separate.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by larryRSF

"Lag" is created by a full shoulder and hip turn with very loose arm muscles and grip. When the club is swung to the top, its momentum carries it into a deep wrist cock. Then IF your downswing starts with hips turning back which then pulls the shoulders which leave the arms behind and finally pulls the arms around and allows the club to flail-- the lag is actually increased during the downswing and released automatically. Sergio is a great example. I strongly suggest you get Bobby Jones tape "Breaking 90" and watch carefully. Larry

Per Yoda, a G.S.E.M. - "The trailing of the Club behind the Hands is not Clubhead Lag."

The left wrist being in a cocked attitude does not constitute clubhead lag. That consitutes accumulator lag, as Acc. 2 is being loaded and stored.

Also from Yoda - "The Clubhead Lag is indeed the very slight flex in the Shaft that occurs when the Lag (the resistance of the Sweet Spot inertia to a change in its direction) is Loaded (7-19) -- I like to use the term welded -- against the first joint of the Right Forefinger (#3 Pressure Point) during the Start-Down."

So lag may be increased during the downstroke - but not by your reasoning. It is not when you further load Acc. 2, it is when the clubshaft resists the change of direction from the Top or End positions and flexs accordingly.

You nailed it Robot Buddy R2D2! I feel like a proud parent at the graduation ceremony!

And don't forget everybody, unlike Accumulator #2 (the Wristcock 6-B-2-0) which is loaded and released per the [Yoda bolded and enlarged] quote above, the Clubhead Lag has no release point (6-C-2-A).