Which would hit a golfball the longest distance?

Question

A driver with an impact speed of 110 mph with
a) acceleration > 0
b) acceleration = 0
c) acceleration < 0

Assume the same driver is used on the same golf ball in each event. Also, I know distance is affected by ball spin rate and launch angle. I'm just trying to figure out if acceleration at impact has a significant effect on the distance the ball travels.

Justin: Ok, that makes perfect sense. However, the longer the ball stays on the clubface, the more spin is imparted to the ball due to deformation and rolling on the clubface. More spin from the driver will cause the ball to have more lift (dimples, laminar flow, etc) which, after a certain rpm is exceeded, the ball will balloon thus reducing distance.

Also, your explanation sheds light on why professionals are able to spin the ball so much with short swings. They hit it hard with their hands just before impact thus accelerating the clubhead through impact causing the ball to stick on the face a fraction longer. Now, we must consider ball cover and core materials which optimize this compression/deformation without compromizing driver distance. Thanks for your insight.

Answer 1

from pure mechanics, if the club head and ball were in contact for an infinitely small period of time, there would be no difference (since the speed at time=0 would be the same). However, in the real world, the club head and ball will deform resulting in the objects being in contact for a finite measurable amount of time, resulting in a higher club head speed when the ball leaves the club face.

The points above are from a purist view, but you asked for an engineering answer by asking if there is a significant affect on total distance. This may be, no, since 1-in. for a 300-yd drive may be considered insignificant. To that end, I would say an accelerating club head will result in more distance, but that sufficiently large accelerations may be required to result in distance differences that are considered significant.

That's one of the neat things of engineering, it always depends on the fine print. Until all of the variables/inputs are defined exactly you can't say for certain. But once everything is defined, its no longer engineering, its science.

Answer 2

Since the question states that the head speed is the same at the point of impact, that means that having an acceleration greater than zero (answer A) would give a benefit because of an increased speed immediately after impact and during the follow through while the ball is still in contact with the driver. If Answer B or C were picked, the ball would not have as much time in contact with the driver and less momentum would be transferred.

Answer 3

Greater club head speed at impact is the holy grail of all golfers. The speed that the club head strikes the ball is the greatest determining factor in how far the golf ball goes.

Answer 4

a.