Chatchai Traithong. The study of movement control in golf putting : empirical test in Thailand. Master's Degree(Sports Science). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
The study of movement control in golf putting : empirical test in Thailand
Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to study the movement control in golf putting by
comparing the movement of golfers for various distances. The golfers were divided
into two groups (Expert and Novice) depending on their capability, which was
mainly based on handicap. Each group consisted of eight persons. The expert
group’s handicaps ranged between 0-5 while those of the novices were between 18-
24. The target putting distances were 1, 2 and 3 meters respectively.
The recording instrument was the JVC two-dimension high-speed video
camera (1000 Hz). The golfers were allowed to execute a putt as accurately as
possible, in order to reach an accuracy zone for each target distance. The experiment
ended when the subjects achieved three successful putting shots for each distance.
The main variables for this study were movement amplitude (horizontal
displacement), movement time and velocity of hand at the ball impact.
The result showed that there was no significant difference of movement
amplitude of hand between experts and novices for any putting distances. Both
groups presented a similar putting movement pattern of which the follow-through
(phase 2) was larger than the downswing (phase 1). Besides this, the expert group
tended to execute a larger follow-through than the novices. Interestingly, the ball
impact point occurred roughly at the end of the first-third of the whole downswing
movement (phase 1 and 2) which is in line with the results from previous studies.
Moreover, for the experts, movement amplitude increased according to the increase
of target distance whereas that of the novices was inconsistently observed.
Considering movement time, it was found that the movement time was constant
even though the putting distance increased. Furthermore, comparing the impact
velocity of hand for both expert and novice groups, there was no significant
difference in impact velocity for any putting distance.
Consequently, it could be concluded that a new technique of putting movement
pattern with a larger follow-through would replace the pendulum technique for both
experimental groups. When the putting distance increased, the golfers tended to
increase the amplitude and maintain movement time to increase force and velocity at
the moment of impact. Additionally, the result of insignificant impact velocity for
each distance between two groups implies that proper movement control in putting
contributes the appropriate force and velocity which are the significant fundamental
of successful putting