ANALYSIS OF THE MOTION PLANES OF THE ‘FUNCTIONAL DOUBLE-PENDULUM’ POINTS IN GOLF

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the swing characteristics of the skilled and less skilled golfers by comparing the properties of the functional swing plane (FSP) and motion planes (MPs) formed by the clubhead and key functional double-pendulum points. Twenty-seven male golfers were recruited: skilled (n = 15; handicap ? 3) and less skilled (n = 12; 12-18 handicap). The slopes and direction angles of the FSP and MPs were quantified. The skilled group was characterized by steeper MPs than the less skilled (p < 0.05). The skilled group also revealed more closed (or less open) FSP and MPs than the less skilled with an exception: the left shoulder plane. The skilled group aligned the left hand plane with the FSP closely, whereas the less skilled group aligned the left shoulder plane with the FSP.