Biomechanics in Golf

In order to improve the golf swing, it can be more specifically divided into 5 movements;

1. Set up and Posture
2. Backswing
3. Downswing
4. Impact
5. Follow-through

 

The set up and posture is vital where the player must be in the right position and a centre of balance is established prior to beginning the swing. The backswing is where the potential energy is stored and the kinetic chain, torque, and some other biomechanical principles come into effect (Bourgain et al., 2022). The downswing phase occurs shortly after where some more biomechanical factors are required, and the energy is transferred from the body into the club (Marson et al., 20219). The impact phase is vital as various biomechanical principles like impulse and momentum effect the transfer of the energy from the club to the ball on impact (Izumoto et al, 2019). The follow-through phase may not seem overwhelmingly important, however, maintaining balance in this phase is crucial to complete the movement effectively and reduce risk of injury (Kim et al., 2019).  These phases of the golf swing are shown in figure 1.

 

Figure 1, 5 phases of the golf swing.

Source: (Parikh et al, 2023)

 

Golf biomechanics combines technical skills with a player's structural and functional abilities to enhance golf technique and efficiency during a swing. To improve clubhead speed, common biomechanical concepts such as Newton's Laws, kinetic chain, kinematic sequence, angular velocity and momentum, torque, ground reaction forces (GRF), Impulse, Momentum, Moment of Inertia (MOI), balance, and stability (Bourgain et al., 2022). The kinetic chain, for instance, can be shown through the way energy passes through the body from the lower limbs to the upper body and then the club (Fuyu et al, 2019). This is known as the kinematic sequence, enabling golfers to produce maximum club speed with minimal effort when timed correctly. These biomechanical principles are equally important for various other sports like baseball, hockey, and tennis, where balance, torque, the kinetic chain, and others are all equally important. It is important to concentrate on core strength, flexibility, and mobility; use drills that improve rotation, force, and timing. Additionally, a workout program can be designed to tailor the needs to improve driving performance and lower injury rates. Optimal clubhead speed shaped by these various biomechanics’ factors.