Body Segment Sequencing and Timing in Golf

Abstract

Hitting great golf shots requires, in coaching terms, exquisite “timing” Despite this criterion, few people have tried to quantify this phenomenon and distinguish between well-timed (WT) and mistimed (MT) shots. The purpose of this paper was to present a way of describing the timing in the golf downswing and investigate whether biomechanical variables could be used to evaluate the sequencing of movement during the swing. Three-dimensional kinematics for a five segment model of the body and shot distance and lateral error were collected as highly skilled players hit approximately 20 driver shots. Players rated each shot as being WT or MT. A method of describing sequencing was presented and average values for the body segment speeds were presented. Comparisons of the timing lags (i.e., the times between peak angular speeds of contiguous body segments) showed no significant differences between the WT and MT shots. It seems as though golfers are much more sensitive to the “centredness” of contact than they are to subtle differences in the timing of peak body segment speeds.

A three-dimensional forward dynamic model of the golf swing optimized for ball carry distance

“…At t = 0, the torso starts its forward motion, followed by the shoulder around t = 0.05, the wrist at t = 0.1 and finally the forearm around t = 0.15. This progression from the proximal to distal joints is similar to those found in experimental results [25] and previous modeling results [16]. The motion of the forearm degree of freedom is interesting and worth discussing further.…”

“…This torque remains active until t = 0.17. The sequence of these timings match the experimental timings found in [25].…”

Current golf performance literature and application to training

“…34 The timing or sequence in which the body segments move is an essential part of the golf swing and produces the high club head speed required for an effective golf shot. 58 In order to achieve maximal angular velocity of the club head at ball contact, the downswing needs to utilize the summation of velocity principle, where the transfer of energy takes place from the larger proximal segments to the smaller distal segments, i.e. the hips, torso, arms and club head.…”

Evidence for biomechanics and motor learning research improving golf performance

“…An early exception was Burden, Grimshaw and Wallace (1998) who measured both golf ball displacement and driver clubhead velocity for eight sub 10-hcp golfers completing 20 shots off a tee towards a playing field. The over-emphasis of laboratory-based studies may change with recent advances in technology allowing comparable levels of analysis to be conducted on the golf course (Neal, Lumsden, Holland, & Mason, 2007), leading to greater ecological validity of these studies.…”