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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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KINEMATIC ANALYSES OF THE GOLF SWING HUB PATH AND ITS ROLE IN GOLFER/CLUB KINETIC TRANSFERS |
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Steven M. Nesbit 
and Ryan McGinnis |
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Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, USA |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2009) 8, 235 - 246 Search Google Scholar for Citing Articles |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| This study analyzed the fundamental geometric and kinematic characteristics
of the swing hub path of the golf shot for four diverse subjects. In addition,
the role of the hub path geometry in transferring the kinetic quantities
from the golfer to the club were investigated. The hub path was found to
have a complex geometry with significantly changing radii, and a constantly
moving center-of-curvature during the downswing for all subjects. While
the size and shape of the hub path differed considerably among the subjects,
a three phase radius-based pattern was revealed that aligned with distinct
stages of the downswing. Artificially controlling and optimizing the hub
path of the better golfer in the group indicated that a non-circular hub
path was superior to a constant radius path in minimizing the kinetic loading
while generating the highest possible club head velocity. The shape and
purpose of the hub path geometry appears to result from a complex combination
of achieving equilibrium between the golfer and the club, and a purposeful
configuring of the path to control the outward movement of the club while
minimizing the kinetic loading on the golfer yet transferring the maximum
kinetic quantities to the club. Describing the downswing relative to the
hub path phasing is presented and was found to be informative since the
phases align with significant swing, kinetic and kinematic markers. These
findings challenge golf swing modeling methodologies which fix the center-of-curvature
of the hub path thus constraining it to constant radius motion.
Key words: Golf biomechanics, golf swing kinematics, golf swing kinetics. |
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