Picture showing clubhead speed at different spots on the face

[nevets88]

Basically the further away from you, the higher the CHS, question is how those particular spots affect ball flight and distance. Heel/toe, high/low, how is CHS/distance affected?

 

[iacas]

Slightly toward the toe is preferred, but obviously as you venture too far out there… good luck, because the gear effect and effective MOI and so on will be off.

[Piz]

An "off-center" hit dissipates energy by deflecting the club, bat, racket, etc.  Granted, an "on-center" hit causes deflection/distortion as well...but not as much.  The further from the sweet spot/center of percussion/fundamental node you get; the greater the effect.  We cannot observe this, in real time, but we can certainly feel it.  That is why those perfect passes feel like the ball wasn't there...it was of course; but the dead center hit allowed it minimum leverage on the passing club.