Does the length of a golf club affect how far a golf ball travels?

Question

I have a science fair project to do and i really need to know help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Indirectly, yes.

A longer shaft generates a longer arc which generates a higher swing speed. In theory.

If you took 2 identical drivers with identical shaft types, but with a difference in length, and repeated it with a perfect swing hitting the ball perfectly on the sweetspot, the longer one would hit it farther.

In golf, this change is amplified becuase the longer the club, the closer to the ideal launch angle for a golf ball (15 degrees or so) due to a lower loft the longer the club. Longer clubs are generally harder to control, so some distance is lost.

Yes, length does effect how far a golf ball travels. Shorter clubs travel less distance, and longer clubs more.

Answer 2

Theoretically, yes. Let's work this backwards then look at the math.

It should be obvious that the faster something is thrown the farther it will go. So we look for which produces greater velocity when the club meets the ball. Then we ask ourselves, which is going to produce greater velocity, long clubs or shorter clubs?

Looking at the math. Let's look at the relationship of angular velocity.
v=w*r where
v is the tangential velocity (this will be imparted to the ball)
w is the angular velocity (how fast are we swinging the club)
r is the radius of the circle (assuming that the shoulders of the person are the pivot, center, point, then r will be the length of the person's arms and the length of the club.)

Looking at the equation, we should see that if r increases, then v will also increase. We should also see that since r=arm+club, that if the same arm swung both clubs then r would increase with club length.

That is why I said theoretically. There are a lot of variables. To be proper one must state that longer clubs will produce longer drives, ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. Make sense? If two different people swing the clubs then the length of their arms may make a significant difference.

There are a lot more factors but this is the essence in a nutshell.

Answer 3

A longer shaft will cause you to hit the ball farther than a shorter shaft. BUT 99% of golfers are not good enough to control the clubhead of a longer shafted club, therefore they do not hit the sweet spot as often on the longer club. Missing the sweet spot on the club will cause you to loose more distance than you would have originally gained by using the longer shaft. So in a practical sense, due to better control and more consistency, a shaft that is a little bit shorter will hit the ball farther with more control.

The average driver length of stock driver's in the retail market is currently 45.5" long. The average driver length on the PGA Tour is only 44.5" long. Those guy's make their living on golf and know that with everything factored in, longer is not better and in a lot of cases, a longer shaft will produce shorter drives.

Answer 4

Yes, if clubs are swung at the same speed, the longer ones will travel further because they generate more swing speed. The swing arc is bigger generating more speed and power causing the ball to go further.

Answer 5

Yes, assuming that they are swung with the same force. The head will move faster through the air and cause the ball to travel further.

Answer 6

Yes, If you have a driver thats 46 inches and 50 inches, the exact same club, and swung exactly the same, the one that is 50 will travel further.

Answer 7

A longer shaft generates a longer arc which generates a higher swing speed. Yes.

Answer 8

Yes and no.

A longer club gets more momentum and speed during the swing.

But, if it is too long, it will be too heavy and harder to control and then you'll lose distance.

Answer 9

Yes, directly. It's called leverage.

Answer 10

don't forget the speed and how stiff the shaft is to