Regulation of reaction forces during the golf swing

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Kinetics

Background:

• The golf swing involves complex body-club dynamics controlled by foot reaction forces.
• Understanding how golfers modulate these forces for shot control is crucial for performance enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if skilled golfers regulate shot distance by altering the magnitude or direction of horizontal foot reaction forces.
• To examine the relationship between force regulation and kinematic parameters during the golf swing.

Main Methods:

• Twelve skilled golfers performed golf swings with a 6-iron at normal and reduced shot distances.
• Dual force plates and 3D kinematics captured ground reaction forces and body movements at high frequencies.
• Analysis focused on peak resultant horizontal forces and their orientation on the target and rear legs.

Main Results:

• Peak resultant horizontal forces on the target leg were significantly reduced (5%) when decreasing shot distance.
• No significant changes were observed in the direction (orientation) of these peak forces.
• Force-angle and temporal leg coordination patterns remained consistent across shot conditions for individual players.

Conclusions:

• Skilled golfers primarily adjust shot distance by scaling the magnitude of horizontal foot forces, maintaining force direction.
• This force modulation strategy is likely advantageous for muscle activation, coordination, and overall performance.
• Findings provide biomechanical insights into efficient golf swing control.