[BerntR]

Assuming these are not "flat-earth" questions, and you know enough physics to answer, does CF add club head speed over and above that provided by the right triceps in Hitting? If so, how?

G.O.L.F: Geometrical Oriented Linear Force.

Centripetal Force creates the geometry of the circle, Linear Force produces the speed.

Centripetal plus Centrifugal Force produces or assists in the release.

Centrifugal Force - that's the CF in TGM: Club head inertia resisting being moved in a circle. I don't have the book with me, but I think this is close. You can look up the definition.... Anyway, CF doesn't produce any swing speed. It isn't even applied on the club head. It is applied on the golfer from the club head.

Before the release, things are moving on a somewhat curved pattern already. Which also means that there is a CF/CF pair alive. You have an inert club head that is "trying" to move straight ahead and pulling and pushing anything that changes it's speed or direction, including the club shaft and the hands holding the shaft. Then you have a Centripetal Force that pulls inward (towards the swing center), adding a curve to the club head travel. Caught in the middle you have a cocked left wrist. The two forces pulling from each side of the hands will cause or contribute to uncocking of the right wrist and release.

The release will effectively increase the swing radius. The club will not pick up speed just because of this swing radius extension. Instead the handle will slow down dramatically unless......

.... unless the golfer resists the hands from slowing down. And in a good golf stroke, the golfer will resist how much CF slows down the hands - by producing a very strong linear force during the release interval. And that's what gives the added swing speed. Always linear force. And only linear force. The only thing that produces swing speed. It's on the front page.

The release works like a gear shift. Hands will move slower, yet the linear force applied is greater, adding leverage to the hitter's driving right arm and the pivot via left arm & extensior action.