I'm no physics expert, but I believe that the collision between a golf ball and a clubhead is represented by the conservation of momentum equation (M1V1=M2V2, in a perfect collision with no loss of energy), which is based on mass and velocity, not acceleration. Of course the collision between a golf ball and a clubhead is not a perfect collision, as there are other factors involved (COR of clubhead for example), which makes the equation a bit more complicated (see equation below).
Ted, You're right on!
The way the physics books would figure it out:
* Take the momentum (MV, as you pointed out) of the entire "system" (ball plus clubhead). That momentum must be the same just before and just after impact.
* Take the kinetic energy (1/2MV^2) of the entire system. That must also be conserved -- that is, the same before and after impact.
If you solve the resulting equations, you get:
Vb = Vc * 2 / (1 + Mb/Mc)
That's almost the same as the equation I cited, which has "(1+COR)" instead of "2" -- accounting for the energy loss in the collision.
That's not very complicated, really. It's physics that has been known for at least a century, probably more.
Clubhead acceleration probably is a very important factor to measure to determine proper shaft stiffness (i.e shaft lab), but I believe that Dave T. is correct when he says that acceleration at impact has nothing to do with ball velocity.
Acceleration is all-important to determine the clubhead speed at impact. Without acceleration, there wouldn't be any clubhead speed. But once we get to impact, it's the clubhead speed (and not the clubhead acceleration at the time) that determines the ball speed.
Hope this helps, DaveT
