Kinematic Analysis of the Golf Swing in Men and Women Experienced Golfers

Abstract

Golf has become an increasingly popular sport, which is enjoyed by both men and women. This paper addresses the question what differences may exist between men and women golfers. The purpose of this study is to analyze the kinematic pattern of the golf swing in both men and women experienced golfers. Seven male and five female golfers participated in the study. The measurements of kinematic data during swing were obtained with the optoelectronic system VICON™ (Oxford's Metrics™, Oxford, UK) with five cameras operating at 50 frames per second. Clubhead speed was measured using a radar system (Bell-Tronics, Ltd, Covington, USA). A Mann-Whitney test (p = 0.05) showed that the women seem to produce a wide swing with larger hip and shoulder joint rotation angles at the top of the backswing. Men flexed their left knee more during the backswing, this may promote a greater weight transfer to the right side. Nevertheless, these two kinematic patterns showed no significant differences in the clubhead speed. Men probably used their increased knee flexion to compensate for their muscular and articular suppleness which is less than that of the women. The results of this study show that there is a specific swing for women.

Key words

Golf swing - kinematic - men - women - driver

References

• 1 Bechler J R, Jobe F W, Pink M, Perry J, Ruwe P. Electromyographic analysis of the hip and knee during the golf swing.  Clin J Sports Med. 1995;  5 162-166
• 2 Budney D R, Bellow D G. On the swing mechanics of a matched set of golf clubs.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1982;  53 185-192
• 3 Bulbulian R, Ball K A, Seaman D R. The short golf backswing: effects on performance and spinal health implications.  J Manipul Phys Ther. 2001;  24 569-575
• 4 Burden A M, Grimshaw P N, Wallace E S. Hip and shoulder rotations during the golf swing of sub-10 handicap players.  J Sports Sci. 1998;  16 165-176
• 5 Cochran A, Stobbs J. The Search for the Perfect Swing. Philadelphia; JB Lippincott Co 1968
• 6 Dowlan S, Brown D, Ball K, Best R, Wrigley T. Intra-subject variability in the golf swing: a comparison of low and high handicap players. Blackwell JR Proceedings of XIX International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports. San Francisco; Exercise of Sport Science Department 2001
• 7 Egret C I, Vincent O, Weber J, Dujardin F H, Chollet D. Analysis of 3 D Kinematics concerning three different clubs in golf swing.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 465-469
• 8 Gatt C J, Pavol M J, Parker R D, Grabiner M D. Three-dimensional knee joint kinetics during a golf swing, influences of skill level and footwear.  Am J Sports Med. 1998;  26 285-294
• 9 Hetu F E, Christie C A, Faigenbaum A D. Effects of conditioning on physical fitness and clubhead speed in mature golfers.  Percept Mot Skills. 1998;  86 811-815
• 10 Jobe F W, Perry J, Pink M. Electromyographic shoulder activity in men and women professional golfers.  Am J Sports Med. 1989;  17 782-787
• 11 Jorgensen T. On the dynamics of the swing of a golf club.  Am J Phys. 1970;  38 644-651
• 12 Kao J T, Pink M, Jobe F W, Perry J. Electromyographic analysis of the scapular muscles during a golf swing.  Am J Sports Med. 1995;  23 19-23
• 13 Milburn P D. Summation of segmental velocities in the golf swing.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 60-64
• 14 Nagao N, Sawada Y. A kinematic analysis in golf swing concerning driver shot and n°9 iron shot.  J Sports Med. 1973;  13 4-16
• 15 Neal R J, Abernethy B, Moran M J. The influence of club length and shot distance on the temporal characteristics of the swings of expert and novice golfers. Cochran AJ Science and Golf: Proceedings of the First World Scientific Congress of Golf. London; E and FN Spon 1990: 36-42
• 16 Pink M, Frank W J, Perry J. Electromyographic analysis of the shoulder during the golf swing.  Am J Sports Med. 1990;  18 137-140
• 17 Richards J, Farrell M, Kent J, Kraft R. Weight transfer patterns during the golf swing.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1985;  4 361-365
• 18 Sanders R H, Owens P C. Hub movement during the swing of elite and novice golfers.  Int J Sports Biomech. 1992;  8 320-330
• 19 Wallace E S, Graham D, Bleakley E W. Foot to ground pressure patterns during the golf drive: a case study involving a low handicap player and a high handicap player. Cochran AJ Science and Golf: Proceedings of the First World Scientific Congress of Golf. London; E and FN Spon 1990: 25-29
• 20 Watkins R G, Uppal G S, Perry J, Pink M, Dinsay J M. Dynamic electromyographic analysis of trunk musculature in professional golfers.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 535-538
• 21 Williams K R, Jones J, Snow B. Ground reaction forces during the golf swing in relation to hitting performance.  J Biomech. 1988;  21 869