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Biomechanics is the study of body mechanics utilizing the physic laws
of motion that describe human body position and displacement regarding to
time, velocity, acceleration, forces, torque, inertia, and impulse.
However, it is not always necessary to use all the above variables to
define the main factors that contribute to a particular motion.
The biomechanics of the golf swing aim is to provide evidence that
helps the golf player execute a golf swing to produce maximum distance,
accuracy, control, and consistency in each shot. Mostly, it is
difficult to be consistent with each golf swing sequence,
but when you start understanding and improving your golf swing
technique,
consistency will come and you will perform well like a natural.
Research on the biomechanics of the golf swing has found three major
factors that distinguish between expert and novice golfers. These factors
are:
The club head velocity during impact with the golf ball.
Sequence of limb segments and club.
Six key angles formed by body segments and the club head.
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The club head velocity during impact with the golf ball.
Club head velocity is the velocity with which the club head is travelling. The
speed at impact influences the distance the ball will be propelled, as well as the trajectory and shape of the resulting shot. It can be assumed; therefore, that greater club velocity closer to the time of impact leads to greater ball distance.
Research showed that high skill level players in comparison to leaser-skilled have greater acceleration during the downswing and the club head achieve greater
velocity closer to the time of impact. Data obtained from several studies showed that at ball impact
PGA players reach ~50 m/s, low handicap
35-45 m/s, and high handicap less then 33
m/s.
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Sequence of limb segments and club.
The complex system of the
downswing in golf is approximated by the motion of a double-pendulum
consisting of an upper segment (the arm and the shoulder) pivoted at the
shoulder and hinged at the wrist to the lower segment (the club). For a
normal right-handed golfer, the left arm sets the plane of the swing and
reproduces the action of the two-segment model.
Shoulder (blue)
and wrist (red) angular,
displacement, velocity, and acceleration during the downswing are
presented in the graphs on the left. It can be seen that at initial
movement (0.075s) the angle at the wrist remain constant, while the angle
at the shoulder joint increases. During the transition stage (initiation
of wrist uncock, ~0.125s) the angle at the wrist increases at a greater
rate than the angle at the shoulder until it brings the club in line with
the hands.
Angular velocity graphs shows
that after uncock (~0.125s) angular velocity at the shoulder decreases while angular
velocity at the wrist rapidly increases. This creates a greater linear
velocity of the club head before ball impact.
The delay in the uncocking of
the wrist towards the transition phase would be advantageous to produce
maximum segmental velocity. Failure to initially resist this uncocking
force would allow the transition stage to begin too early and result in a
loss of clubhead speed.
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