Golf Swing Cause and Effects

For Every Effect There is a Cause

Golf swing cause and effects are born out a most cherished principle in physics that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, called conservation of energy.  This fundamental law can be seen in all aspects or our lives from the heat one uses to make a pot of coffee, the gas put in our cars to make them run, the food one eats to keep oneself moving, the orbit that the earth takes around the sun and when one makes a golf swing.

The principal of conservation of energy has been validated many time over by scientist, however  it was put on very firm ground some 100 years ago from a German mathematician by the name of Emmy Noether,  who observed that all conservation laws are based on symmetries of nature. Physical laws can be perfectly symmetrical. Example: the passage of time does not change the laws of nature for if one were to repeat an exact experiment over and over again the results would not change.  This is known as time symmetry. The laws of nature do not change depending on where one is. This gives us spatial symmetry. And the (underlying) laws do not change depending on where you look which is rotational symmetry.

What this says is that the fundamental laws of physics are independent on ones time, location or orientation. This means that when a law remains unchanged regardless of the situation it is said to be continuously symmetric not unlike a circle. What she discovered is that whenever nature displays a continuous symmetry, a conservation law exist simultaneously and vice versa, so that with time symmetry energy is conserved,  with spatial symmetry it is dictated that momentum is conserved and with rotational symmetry it ensures that angular momentum is conserved.

Every golf swing possess elements of both symmetry and motion and with motion Issac Newton gives us his three laws: once an object is in motion it stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside agency, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and energy equals mass times velocity squared. Combining these two laws of continuous symmetry and motion gives us the foundation for all cause and effects with all its possible variables both good and bad.

All effects and their associated causes occur within a field: a space or region for a given effect IE Gravity. An apple falls from the tree because of gravity. So the effect of gravity is that the apple falls within it’s field. This shows how every effect has a cause and that all effects exists like this within their given field.

When one looks at the golf swing in this manner, with the two laws of motion and conservation as well as anatomy, the new ball flight laws, the law of levers and geometry one can achieve a very clear view of each and every unique and dynamic golf swing be it efficient or not. This now becomes a most practical application possible because with this one can always fix the cause for a problem, once known, rather than treating the effect.

Here are some examples of golf swing bio-mechanics that have these laws embedded and at work in them.

Form follows function The function of the golf swing is to hit the ball to a chosen target. A square clubface is delivered on a desired path and on an incline plane determined by the lie angle of a chosen club, striking the ball in the center of percussion of the clubface at maximum velocity.

Preparation determines outcome  Each golfer has an individual set up that matches their body and objectives and which facilitates or offsets what the body can and cannot do within the swinging motion.

Mind seeks the target The mind will always seek the target, set up for success.

Body seeks balance One achieves balance in the set and in the swinging motion. Otherwise the energy used is for regaining balance rather than making a golf swing.

The arms seek space This maintains momentum.

The arms swing on the line of the shoulders Coupled arm swing swings very nicely on the line of the shoulders.

The shoulders turn at right angles to the spine Anatomy dictates this.

Arms and legs coordinate as long as the arms swing The arms control the legs resulting in a coordinated motion which is more efficient.

The club always completes a circle Once an object is in motion it stays in motion unless acted upon. This circle can be on plane where the face opens relative to the target line or in a circle outside and shut or inside and open where the face stays square relative to the target line through out.

Hinge joints hinge and ball and socket joints rotate The elbows point down the knees point in the direction of the toes and seek the width of the hips. This puts all body joints in position to move. Efficiency in motion

The law of the levers Simple machine giving mechanical advantage, depending on placement of fulcrum and load, in moving, lifting or accelerating an object by applying force.