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The Physics of Golf | 
 enlarge | Author: Theodore P. Jorgensen
Publisher: American Institute of Physics
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $13.00
You Save: $16.95 (57%)
New (24) Used (16) from $5.79
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 41930
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd ed.
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 210
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 038798691X
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352
EAN: 9780387986913
ASIN: 038798691X
Publication Date: March 26, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This book is an revision and expansion of the best selling AIP Press title, Physics of Golf. It includes a new chapter on putting, a new appendix on the fundamental physics covered in the book, increased coverage of modern club design, and an updated reference section. As in the previous book, most of the mathematics is relegated to a technical appendix. The first edition of this book sold 8500 units USP and was reviewed enthusiastically by the both the sciece press in Physics Today, IEEE Spectrum, and Nature and the golf world in American Golf Pro and Golf Week. Excerpts from reviews: "Jorgensen's book may be about the last word on the golf swing... for anyone who has swung a golf club, the book is fun to read." Physics Today, 6/94, by Bob Adair, author of Physics of Baseball."...(book) gives us new insights and precise views into the forces and torques developed in the downswing...Thank you, Dr. Jorgensen. We will all treasure your book." American Golf Pro, winter 1996 "Jorgensen writes for a wide readership ranging from nongolfing fellow physicists... to nonscientific golfers..." Nature, 1994 "Daly's book is in the bucket; my sporting future is assured due to the Physics of Golf". Contemporary Physics, 1994
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Review of The Physics of Golf December 5, 2007
The Physics of Golf I my mind was a very good book, challenging at times, but still a good book. I learned a lot about golf that I didn't know before hand, like how much aerodynamics plays in the final product of the shot. Like if the number of dimples isn't just right, it could change the shot dramatically. Also, being an amateur golfer myself, I know what Jorgensen is talking about when he makes the reference to the double pendulum, because I have been coached to do that and that one could get more power out of the double pendulum method. The pendulum method is simple as Jorgensen states, that what must come up, must come down on the exact path that the golfer came down on, to, as Jorgensen puts it, more torque out of the swing.
One of the biggest flaws I think in this book is that the lack of quality to the illustrations. Most of the illustrations and graphs that the book has doesn't fully explain the detail that the author describes. Another flaw I found within this book was that the author had all this material about the golf swing but he didn't share most of it with his readers. He could have gone about 3-400 pages with all that material but I don't see why he didn't.
But with the negativity that goes with this book comes greater parts about the book that make it insightful and intelligent. Instead of the old fashioned way of saying "Well, this, this, this, and this is wrong with your swing" Jorgensen finds the hidden details written inside of a professionals swing. He tells you what makes a professional swing much greater than your own and what they do that makes them so great. Jorgensen also says in The Physics of Golf that the average tour pro can deliver up to 2 horsepower with just a swing of a club. I now realized this out of the golf course and now shooting much lower that before.
So if your looking for an insightful read that is both intelligent and insightful, get this book. I found it a little tough without a back round in physics, but rest assured I found this book very good
Christian
Doesn't Answer The Big Question November 29, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As a golf instructor with an educational background in Physics, I enjoyed going through the technical aspects of this book. I enjoyed Dr. Jorgenson's take on the game of golf and some of his personal experiences. He has analysed the various levers and moves and reduced everything to mathematical formulas so that presumably quantities could be inserted in the equations to see what effect differences for weight, speed, force, etc. would have on the outcome. As for the outcome everyone is looking for, he never answers the question that I'm sure everybody has, namely, "what do I need to change to get more distance".
 Valid as far as it goes October 10, 2007
What Jorgensen did was concentrate on the easily observed movements of one expert golfer, i.e. the movement of the forearms and upper-arms, leading shoulder, and feet and legs, and presented nothing new or really helpful.
He made no comments on what Sam Snead called "all the swing" -- rhythm and timing, and no observation of the most important parts of the body, the hands. Hand-eye coordination is THE essential element of golfing talent, but even with great hand-eye coordination, you have to know what to do with the hands.
shipping charge July 18, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I ordered two books at a same time to save international shipping charge. As you know, international shipping charge is very expensive. The price of two books was $25, but intenational shipping charge was $22 for two packages.
If you sent books in a package, I could save my money.
Now a bit of why September 26, 2005
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Golf instruction booklets tend to focus on a series of movements that are either "right" or "wrong", and then set you back on track. Few actually even attempt to go in-depth into why or how things work. This also has something to do with the fact that most golf instructors are not physicists.
If you want the physics behind golf, you get it here. Not that this should scare the layman away: the explanations are plain and easy to follow, with appendixes containing the technical details. The main topics covered are the physics of impact and ball aerodynamics, but a small amount of added information on putting is included.
The main gem for some people will be the new method for club matching offered. It will be interesting to see the product of this area of research in the future.
The one thing I wish there had been more detail on is in regards to the physics surrounding how clubheads transfer energy at impact, and how this effects off-center hits. The assumptions made throughout is that the perfect strike is made, which is needed for theoretical exploration, but in terms of understanding more regarding how balls and clubs work in total, this work falls somewhat short.
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