The center of percussion is the point on an object where a perpendicular impact will produce translational and rotational forces

which perfectly cancel each other out at some given pivot point, so that the pivot will not be moving momentarily after the impulse. The same point is called the center of oscillation for the object suspended from the pivot as a pendulum. This may coincide with the center of Gravity of the object. This is usually calculated for objects that are thin and long. The physical Significance 1. The center of percussion of a sword is the point on the blade where cutting produces the least hand shock. It is also the division between the weak and middle sections of the blade. Like the center of balance of a sword, the center of percussion can be moved by employing a heavier pommel or changing the mass distribution of the blade. 2. The center of percussion of a baseball bat is generally defined as the point at which the impact feels best to the batter (it is also occasionally defined as the point at which the maximum velocity is imparted to the ball). 3. The center of percussion of a racket where when the ball strikes the racket gives no impact at the pivot point that is the players hand. 4. During impact testing of new cars. The car is hit by a massive pendulum to see how well the car performs during accidents. The part of the pendulum that hits the car is the center of percussion of that pendulum. Center of percussion is used instead of the end of the pendulum because it might destroy the pivot point of the pendulum. 5. When using a sledge hammer, the labors do not hold it from the end point of the handle. They normally hold it where the center of percussion of the sledge hammer exists. This is useful when using a sledge hammer and providing high blows to a wall or in a mine to destroy it. The high blows can very well reflect back to the hands of the user making him partially stunned but since the hammer is held from center of percussion the effect of the blow cancel out.