Test-retest reliability of segment kinetic energy measures in the golf swing

Abstract

OUTRAM, Tom and WHEAT, Jonathan (2019). Test-retest reliability of segment kinetic energy measures in the golf swing. Sports Biomechanics.

Test–Retest Reliability of Task Performance for Golf Swings of Medium- to High-Handicap Players

“…This hypothesis was confirmed by our results, since seven to ten trials were required to reliably measure swing performance in high-handicap players. These numbers of trials were higher than those recommended for low-handicap players (i.e., three to five trials) [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 20 ] and similar to those found for medium-handicap players (i.e., ten trials) [ 9 ]. Finally, Severin et al recommended between 4 and 12 trials for low-handicap players to measure kinematic and kinetic variables during swing performance [ 22 ].…”

“…For example, although carry distance could be measured with a single swing for the six iron according to the ICC value (i.e., 0.88), the MDC varied from 31.53 m for one trial to 17.97 m for the mean value of six trials. This study recommends more trials than the five trials used by Outram and Wheat in their reliability study [ 20 ]. These differences could have been due to the disparity in the skill levels between the golfers in the two studies.…”

“…Moreover, only one study provided reliability data for an assessment protocol of five shots considering a wide variety of performance variables (i.e., club head speed, face angle, club path, attack angle, ball speed, carry, side carry and spin rate). In this study with low- to medium-handicap (i.e., 9.3 ± 8) players, Outram and Wheat found that, using five good shots with a driver, five iron and nine iron, the ICC was between 0.64 and 0.97 for all the performance variables [ 20 ]. It should be noted that the reliability data for ball and club performance variables during swing were obtained with low- to medium-handicap players and it is possible that higher handicap players would require a different number of strokes to obtain reliable results.…”

“…As far as the authors are aware, only one study has examined the effect of the number of shots used to compute biomechanical variables related to golf performance on reliability [ 20 , 22 ]. Severin et al performed a reliability study that established the number of trials required to achieve good reliability based on the ICC, standard error of the measurement and sequential averaging analysis in low- to medium-handicap players (i.e., 7.8 ± 4.7) using a six iron and a driver [ 22 ].…”

Competitive Golf: How Longer Courses Are Changing Athletes and Their Approach to the Game

“…The athlete's contribution was measured by two studies varying either club choice or the athlete's experience. Outram and Wheat, using similar IMU technology to measure the total work required to swing the club, varied between 223 to 269 joules depending on the club used [19]. Nesbit and Serrano used a computer model of 4 different golfers with varying handicaps and work varied between 235 and 355 Nm with the higher work observed with the scratch golfer [20].…”