An Insight into the Importance of Wrist Torque in Driving the Golfball: A Simulation Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether, in theory, the clubhead speed at impact could be increased by an optimally timed wrist torque, without jeopardizing the desired club position at impact. A 2-D, three-segment model comprising torso, left arm, and golfclub was used to model the downward phase of the golf swing. Torque generators that adhered to the activation and force-velocity properties of muscle were inserted at the proximal end of each segment. Separate simulations were performed, with the wrist joint generator enabled then disabled. The results from these simulations showed that significant gains in clubhead speed (≈9 %) could be achieved if an active wrist torque was applied to the club during the latter stages of the downswing. For a swing that produced a clubhead speed of 44 m/s (≈99 mph), the optimal timing for the activation of wrist torque occurred when the arm segment was approximately 30° below a horizontal line through the shoulder joint. The optimal activation time for the joint generators was very much dependant on the shape of the torque profiles. The optimization process confirmed that maximum clubhead speed was achieved when the torque generators commenced in sequential order from proximal to distal.

Relationships Between Field-Based Measures of Strength and Power and Golf Club Head Speed

“…An established method of measuring golf driving performance has been to determine the magnitude of club head speed (8,10,14,19,20),which is dependent on many factors including the amount and direction of ground reaction force produced (1), and the use of the kinetic chain sequencing (34).…”

Evidence for biomechanics and motor learning research improving golf performance

“…These studies have shown that reducing the radius path of the hands during the downswing (Nesbit, 2005a), increasing wrist torque (Nesbit, 2005a;Sprigings & Mackenzie, 2002a;Sprigings & Neal, 2000), increasing wrist range of motion (Nesbit, 2005a) and delaying relative wrist motion to late in the downswing (Nesbit, 2005a) all increase ball displacement or clubhead velocity.…”

“…Simulation studies utilsing 2-D, three segment models with joint torque generators (Sprigings & Mackenzie, 2002b;Sprigings & Neal, 2000) or 3-D, full body models (Nesbit, 2005a) have demonstrated the important role of the wrist in the golf swing.…”

“…Simulation studies have provided an insight into the role of the kinetic link principle in the golf swing (Nesbit, 2005a(Nesbit, , 2005bSprigings & Neal, 2000). Delaying the uncocking of the wrists to when the lead arm is about 30° below the horizontal takes advantage of the kinetic link principle which results in a greater summation of angular velocities, and likely more linear clubhead velocity at ball impact and ball displacement (Sprigings & Neal, 2000).…”

“…Delaying the uncocking of the wrists to when the lead arm is about 30° below the horizontal takes advantage of the kinetic link principle which results in a greater summation of angular velocities, and likely more linear clubhead velocity at ball impact and ball displacement (Sprigings & Neal, 2000). Nesbit (2005a) provided a full-body model of the swing, correlations for golf swing mechanical variables and clubhead velocity, and comparisons between four subjects for swing mechanics.…”