A Biomechanical Investigation into Weight Distribution and Kinematic Parameters during the Putting Stroke

Abstract

This study examined the set-up position of 30 elite PGA professional golfers (2007 Season), in comparison with 30 amateur golfers (Handicap +3 to 9) while attempting the same putt of 25ft on a flat surface with a stimpmeter reading of 12. Video analysis at 50 frames per second was used to record kinematic parameters of the golfers' set-up and posture. All golfers performed their typical putting action while standing on an RSscan International 1.0 m × 0.4 m pressure platform. The RSscan Footscan® and Quintic Biomechanics 9.03 v14 software were synchronised to enable key positions of the putting stroke to be identified. Each golfer used their own personal putter. The main difference between the amateur and professional golfers was in set-up. This was found to be significant with amateurs' weight distribution 59.60% Right and 40.40% Left while the Professional Group was 48.34% Left and 51.66% Right, much closer to a balanced set-up. Students' t-test was used to compare the group means for each parameter with a level of significance set at p < 0.05. There is a trend to suggest that the wider the stance, the smaller the centre of pressure movement during the putting stroke. Although there was no significant difference in stance width, there was a significant difference in the total amount of centre of pressure movement (p < 0.05) between the two groups of golfers.