ENGINEERING PHYSICS OF THE GOLF SWING

GOALS Learn the meaning of “torque” in physics TASKS • Read and understand the meanings of the given vocabulary words • Watch ’s hole-out from the 2017

VOCABULARY WORDS TO KNOW: Torque: The twisting force that tends to cause rotation| Axis of Rotation: The point where the object rotates is known

WHAT IS THE EQUATION FOR TORQUE? Torque = perpendicular force x lever arm

QUESTION: What does opening a door, playing on a teeter-totter, riding a Ferris wheel, using a wrench or screwdriver or a golf swing have in common?

ANSWER: In all cases forces are applied to rotate an object. In physics the name for this is “turning force” or torque.

Watch the video below to see how Jordan used “turning force” to hole-out and win the Travelers Championship in 2017 ABOUT THE VIDEO: Making his Travelers Championship debut, Jordan Spieth opened the tournament in style, firing a 63 to grab the lead. Spieth held the outright lead after each of the first three rounds (63-69-66), but was caught on Sunday when Daniel Berger pulled even with two late birdies on the back nine. Both players made up-and-down

FOR MORE ACTIVITIES, CHECK OUT PGATOUR.COM/LINKSTOLEARNING saves from the greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to stay at 12-under. For the fifth time since 2007, when Travelers became title sponsor, the Travelers Championship would go into a playoff. On the first extra hole, Spieth’s drive clipped a tree, but the ball bounced into the fairway, while Berger drove into the left rough. Spieth’s approach would land in the same greenside bunker as earlier. Faced with a 20-yard bunker shot, Spieth would claim the Travelers Championship with one unforgettable swing. He holed out from the bunker for birdie and followed with one of the best celebrations in Travelers Championship history, joyously tossing his club and jumping up and chest bumping caddie Michael Greller. Berger’s birdie putt to tie slid past the hole, giving Jordan Spieth his 10th PGA TOUR victory before the age of 24, this one in wire-to-wire fashion.

WATCH VIDEO HERE TRY IT YOURSELF! For Jordan to be able to hole-out with a fantastic shot, he had to learn how to properly use torque, the twisting force that tends to cause rotation. Here are the steps to correctly hit a golf shot with an axis tilt and with the use of torque – 1. Stand straight up, feet should be hip distance apart. 2. Bend from your hips and keep your chest up. 3. At this point you should be in golf posture with your spine straight up and down. 4. Now, keep your weight 50/50 and slightly bump your hips towards the target. 5. If done correctly your entire spinal column should have tilted away from the target and you will look like this.

Now you know what ‘torque’ means and can hit your golf shot correctly!

ENGINEERING: PHYSICS OF THE GOLF SWING 2