Why do (golf) drivers have a bulge in there faces? why aren't they cut straight?

Question

totally random question.

Answer 1

The purpose for the bulge is to lessen the severity of mishits. If the players club was coming in either from the left or from the right a squared club face would pull the shot moderately left or right.  The more pronounced outside to in swing would result in a severe push . I don't know the reason for the bulge except it has been part of the " woods" design  from the known inception of golf clubs.

Answer 2

if they were cut straight they would be less aerodynamic  DUH!

Answer 3

Random, but a good question.

Drivers have a bulge for more or less the same reason that flatbed trailers (the big ones pulled by rig cabs) aren't "flat" and have a little bow to them.

In a trailer, it's bent because when you add load to it, it will flex a little and push back against the load, being a more effective and stable base. With a golf club, it makes for a more rigid face and it keeps the face from compressing or denting and transferring maximum energy back to the ball (think of the ball as the "load" and the face as the "trailor". Another thing is it also helps keep the ball on line  if you hit an off-center shot. There's a limit though, which is why drivers and clubs aren't just round.

Even irons have a little bulge and roll to them.

Answer 4

the bulge keeps the face relatively square to the target when your swing is off - a closed/open face is not so severe an angle. Or if you swing with the face 2 degrees open but the bulge/roll is 2 degrees your face would be square.

Hows that? Pretty good guess? NASA engineers may have a better answer.