At the beginning of 2-E HK states that COR for better golf balls are 80% but it drops below 70% at higher speeds.
Is there a "diminishing return" on higher driver speeds? In other words, if my "controlled" driver spped is 108 mph, but I can get it up to 111 mph (with various results) the extra 3 mph just isn't worth it?
Second, are the 80% and 70% figures valid even with modern balls like Pro V1 or HX Tour?
The coefficient of restitution is actually a function of the two surfaces that are colliding - not just one.
In the case of drivers it is a golf club and a little steel ball. THe USGA and R&A limits this to 0.83 - a persimmon driver would typically come in around 0.78.
There was a time when there was COR limit on golf balls (golf ball and a big/heavy/hard surface) and it was 0.6. I suspect that this has changed, but I am not sure. Regardless, much of what has happened in golf ball technology is related to achieving high spin at lower effective impact speeds (like short irons) and lower spin of drivers.
What I'm trying to figure out is the problem of "diminishing returns" the statement that higher speeds yields lower COR. This gives the impression that striving for more club speed might not produce the towering drives you're (me actually) hoping for. And in conjunction is it this limitation that the Pro V1 type balls have conquered?
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