A DISCUSSION OF IRON GOLF CLUB HEAD INERTIA TENSORS AND THEIR EFFECTSON THE GOLFER

This paper discusses the inertia tensors of iron golf club heads and t heir influence on the swing of a golfer and the behavior of the golf c lub. Inertia tensors of various five-iron club head configurations wer e determined using solid modeling and were compared with equivalent so lid ellipsoids. A golf swing and club behavior analysis was performed using a computer model comprised of a 3D parametric flexible model of a golf club driven with data from a recorded golf swing, and an impact function. The impact results were verified experimentally. The analys is without impact determined that altering club head inertia had a min or effect on the torque required to swing the club and the deflections of the club head at the time of impact. The analysis with an eccentri c impact found that altering club head inertia had a major effect on t ransmitted forces and torques and a moderate effect on deflection of t he club head.