GOLF SWING VARIABILITY IN ELITE FEMALE JUNIOR GOLFERS

Tomáš Gryc,Matěj Brožka,Jitka Marenčáková,František Zahálka

doi:10.14311/ctj.2019.3.03

Tomáš Gryc, Matěj Brožka + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14311/ctj.2019.3.03

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the variability of golf swing execution in lower and upper body parameters for two golf clubs. Eleven elite female golfers of junior age volunteered in the study and performed 10 trials with mid-iron and with driver at laboratory conditions. A 3D motion capture system was used to measure the lower and upper body movement parameters and club head speed. To assess variability, the coefficient of variation (CV%) and biological coefficient of variation (BCV%) were calculated. Two-tailed t test was used to identify differences between mid-iron and driver variability for each selected kinematic parameter. Any significant difference in variability of kinematics parameters was found between mid-iron club and driver club. However, for both clubs, we found high stability of performance in timing parameters and of lower limbs kinematic parameters at three selected moments of the golf swing. We conclude that timing stability may be the key to achieve the effective and repeatable golf swing in both golf clubs types and that high intra-individual variability of performance may be due to large age range in the study group.

Highlights

Golf swing is complex motion with all body segments involved and one of its goals is to generate high club head velocity to reach maximum ball flight distances
No significant differences in kinematic parameters were found at intitial position (Table 2)
In kinematic parameters we found low variability of performance in kneess flexion for both sides in each of the golf swing moment (Tables 2, 3 and 4), in X-Factor and shoulders rotation parameters at the top of the backswing (Table 3) and in club head speed parameter at Impact (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

Golf swing is complex motion with all body segments involved and one of its goals is to generate high club head velocity to reach maximum ball flight distances. Stability of the club head velocity, path-to-face angle and centeredness of contact at impact (moment of contact between the club head and the ball) leads to repeatable ball flight distance and accuracy. There are different conditions on the course (slope of the terrain influence mutual position of the body, the golf club and the ball) that influence the golf swing kinematics when reaching intended ball flight, players first goal should to repeatable golf swing and ball flight in ideal conditions (driving range). Studies dealing with golf swing kinematics observed parameters of the upper body movement (shoulders rotation, hips rotation and X-factor—angular difference between shoulders and hips at top of the backswing) and describe its influence on club head velocity [6,7,8]. Execution of the golf swing with driver and long irons requires higher accuracy in ball contact to achieve intended trajectory of the ball flight than with mid and short irons

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