International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching

In this article, we reflect on what we consider to be an over-reliance among many in golf – including coaches, sport psychologists, and governing bodies – on a training-dominated vocabulary. To do so, we adopt a narrative approach to explore: I) the kinds of stories which circulate in golf; and ii) the stories women professional golfers told of their development and progression during life history interviews. By analysing these stories, we hope to provide a contrasting perspective on golfers' long-term needs and show that alternatives to a training-dominated vocabulary are both possible and desirable. Through these reflections, we aim to present some more general insights concerning how to negotiate the fuzzy line between what “we” (as coaches, psychologists, governing body officials, performance directors, etc.) want and what “they” (players) might need in development terms. We conclude by suggesting an education-based alternative to the current training-dominated discourse which offers a healthier path to player retention, well-being, development, and progression in golf.

This article is primarily concerned with issues raised by the “Stack and Tilt” method of teaching the golf swing and recent scientific research on weight transfer. Concepts related to weight transfer are discussed in the context of golf swing theory and the art of golf coaching. An explanation for the paradoxical success of “Stack and Tilt” is proposed along with a future agenda for scientific research on weight transfer. Both golf coaches and sports scientists should understand the importance of Ben Hogan's golf swing and instructional book, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, as an exemplar for golf swing theory. In addition, the role of qualitative analysis of human movement in facilitating quantitative biomechanics is emphasized.

The purpose was to quantify how important green reading, technique and green surface inconsistencies were for distance variability in putting among highly skilled players. Forty-three players (mean handicap = 2.8, s = 2.2) participated in the study. Their average relative distance variability (expressed as standard deviation) was s = 10.6% on a test including 40 different putts from 2.2 to 19.3 m, and s = 6.8% on the last 15 putts in a test with 30 repeated 6 m putts in the same direction. Relative distance variability caused by green surface inconsistency was s = 2.5%. A variance analysis of the putt data, based on assumptitions which lead to a conservative estimate of the importance of green reading, revealed that the relative importance of the determining factors for distance variability was: Green reading (60%); technique (34%); and green inconsistency (6%). In conclusion, it seems beneficial for highly skilled players to put higher emphasis on green reading in distance control practice, and that coaches and researchers should focus more on developing methods and training programs for improving the green reading skill.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected physical tests and clubhead speed, and whether body mass should be considered when presenting the test results. Thirty-three male elite golfers (estimated skill range: Hcp +5 to 0, age 18–30 years) participated in the study. The following test categories were measured and compared to clubhead speed with Pearson r correlation: vertical jumps (squat jump, counter movement jump, and counter movement jumps with arm swing); body mass strength (bar dips, pull-ups and vertical sit-ups); one repetition maximal strength (1-RM) (left grip, right grip and squat); and sprint (10 and 20 m). The tests and measures significantly (p < 0.05) related to clubhead speed were body mass, all vertical jumps (peak power and jump height), sprint (mean power), right grip (mass), squat (mass), bar dips (repetitions x body mass), and vertical sit-ups (repetitions x body mass). These tests may be selected when players and coaches wish to analyse physical test results associated to clubhead speed. Peak power in vertical jumps is more strongly related to clubhead speed than jump height, but jump height may be used too. In sprint, mean power should be used for feedback instead of sprint time. Strength test results should be presented in absolute values (kg), not as relative strength. Body mass should be considered in vertical jumps, sprints, and body mass strength tests, but not in 1RM strength tests with external resistance.

While the use of custom-fitted equipment is on the rise in the game of golf, empirical data as to its benefits and/or pitfalls is lacking. The current study sought to determine the effectiveness of custom-fitted clubs in the golf swing performance of both novice and experienced golfers. A launch monitor system was used to obtain measures of clubhead speed, clubface angle, and tempo to quantify baseline performance and any subsequent change in performance following the experimental procedures. Following a pre-test, which involved recording 12 swings with a standard 6-iron, participants were custom fit for club length, shaft flex, and lie angle according to the Henry-Griffitts TotalTest® system. Post-tests were administered following a 10-minute break. During the post-test, participants unknowingly used either a properly fitted club, a purposely ill-fitted (i.e., ‘placebo’ club), or the same standard club used in the pre-test. Our data suggest that custom club fitting does improve the characteristics of the golf swing, although often in different ways depending upon the skill level of the player.

A sample of 25 golfers, 12 professionals and 13 amateurs, ages 23 to 63 years, were measured for transverse plane pelvic rotation using light electrodes positioned bilaterally on the iliac crests. Transverse plane pelvic rotation was present in all of the golfers measured. All subjects were measured from a shoulder width stance, two inches wider and two inches narrower than shoulder width in a standing, erect posture and a golf set-up posture without a club. Transverse plane pelvic rotation in the 25 subjects ranged from 1 inch to 4 inches as recorded by stance correction with an average of 2.25 inches of rotation at a shoulder width stance. A dowel pole bar with light electrodes fixed to the bar was attached to the transverse pelvic plane 3 inches below the iliac crest for the purpose of validation of a measurement instrument in the field. The pelvic rotation was temporarily corrected through a simple three minute exercise program

Nineteen of the 25 subjects were seen in follow-up in the field where the dowel bar was used and they had each returned to their measured baseline pelvic rotation. Again, their measured pelvic rotation was corrected via a simple three minute exercise program The authors discuss the use of the exercise program for both golf coaching and research, and also present the validation of a simple instrument that could be used in the field to measure transverse pelvic plane rotation

An experiment was designed to demonstrate the strength of habitual movements in golf putting and examined the immediate effect of instructing elite tournament professional golfers to execute a golf putt using different muscles than they normally do in order to prevent the movement of certain joints. In a study involving fifteen players on the PGA European Tour, it was found that players who usually use shoulder movement in their putting action were not able to prevent such movement when instructed to do so. Also, players who usually use wrist and hands movement in their putting action were not able to prevent such movement when instructed to do so Results were explained using notions about rigid coupling of degrees of freedom

The putting patterns of five expert and 11 less-skilled golfers were examined to understand the nature of head movement that occurred during the putting stroke. As expected, the less-skilled golfers moved their heads in the direction of the backswing, then reversed and moved it in the direction of the downstroke during the putt. In contrast, and contrary to expectations, the experts did the reverse – they moved their head in a direction that was opposite to the direction of the putter. The strokes of both the experts and less-skilled golfers revealed closely matched timing constraints, indicating a strong preference to organize these actions as a single coordination pattern

Composite measures of golf performance, such as ‘greens in regulation,’ need to be improved upon as they cannot distinguish whether a player was good, bad or indifferent on each individual aspect of the performance, in this instance, driving and approach shots. Consequently, approach shot accuracy was assessed in terms of the distance that shots into the green finished in relation to the pin. Approach shot data (starting position, finishing position and lie) were collected from the PGA TourCast web site for 14 PGA Tour players, playing in randomly selected tournaments during 2006. Median approach shot errors (finishing distance as a percentage of starting distance) of 4.6% to 5.3% were found for fairway shots between 100 and 200 yards, rising to 6.2% to 9.6% for distances over 200 yards, suggesting some increased difficulty at longer distances. Errors tended to increase (5.2% to 6.5%) for fairway shots between 50 and 100 yards, thought to be due to the increased use of less-than-full swing shots at these distances. Shots from the rough increased the error by an average of 4.3%. It is suggested that approach shot accuracy is a viable performance indicator as it correlated strongly with World Ranking and clear individual differences allowed specific strengths and weaknesses to be ascertained. Future research should consider analysing shots from closer to the green.

Motion capture has been used extensively to study the golf swing in the laboratory. As motion capture technology has become more sophisticated and less expensive, the number of research studies has increased as has the scope of these research studies. Motion capture technology has become so accessible that it is now being used outside of the laboratory for golf instruction, coaching and club fitting. The use of this technology can enhance the teaching or club fitting experience, and will likely lead to increased understanding of the biomechanics of the golf swing

The purpose of this article was to review and summarize the biomechanical research literature comparing golfers of different skill levels. A golfer's skill will influence their success in being able to consistently and predictably hit the ball in the desired direction for the proper distance. By scientifically investigating the differences in swing technique between players of different abilities, golfers and golf educators should gain a better understanding of how to improve performance. Analyses of the kinetic forces, kinematic timing and sequence of the various body segments, as well as the muscle activity patterns that generate movements revealed that skilled players exhibit increased force production, efficiency and consistency relative to less skilled players. However, the variability in assorted measures even amongst skilled players, raises the question of whether there is only one ideal swing method for all individuals

Current demographic trends in countries where golf is popular indicate that the number of senior golfers will increase significantly in the coming decades. Thus golf coaches and teaching professionals benefit from having a working knowledge about the aging process and how this will affect the older golfer's performance and participation level. Playing golf can promote health benefits such as from the walking exercise, but it can also lead to injury concerns; e.g., musculoskeletal problems from repetitive strain of excessive practice. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review literature pertinent to the key performance and health issues that should be considered when dealing with the older golfer. Some strategies for targeted management of the senior golfer's typical health concerns such as osteoarthritis are provided, along with a call for further research on how best to disseminate such information widely to the large and growing population of seniors who enjoy this activity

Sport psychology has been influenced by Zen Buddhism as can be seen by the way in which ideas from Zen were used by Timothy Gallwey in his popular Inner Game series. The root of this Zen influence is Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery. Herrigel was influenced by D.T. Suzuki, who popularised Zen Buddhism in the West. Zen has generally been adopted in an instrumental manner by sport psychology and is stripped of its metaphysical context. Drawing on Zen and other Eastern disciplines such as Yoga, however, Michael Murphy's Golf in the Kingdom has spurned a large following. Jeff Wallach's Beyond the Fairwayis noteworthy in its use of Zen not only for performance enhancement, but also for matters of life meaning such as the father-son relationship.

It is commonly believed that psychology plays an important role in golf. The aims of this article are: I) to highlight and consolidate the intuitive link between psychology and golf; and ii) to provide an overview of mental skills which players, coaches and club professionals can use on a day-to-day basis to enhance performance in golf. Specifically this article will focus on the mental skills of imagery self-talk, relaxation and goal setting; and demonstrate how these mental skills can impact on concentration, anxiety, confidence and motivation