Table Of ContentROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL
HANDBOOK OF GOLF SCIENCE
Golf is one of the world’s major sports and consequently the focus of world-class scientific
research. This landmark publication is the most comprehensive book ever published on the sci-
ence of golf, covering every sub-discipline from physiology, biomechanics and psychology to
strength and conditioning, youth development and equipment design.
Showcasing original research from leading golf scientists across the globe, it examines
the fundamental science underpinning the game and demonstrates how it can be applied in
practice to improve and develop players. Each chapter provides a definitive account of the
current state of knowledge in a particular area of golf science, addressing the limitations of
existing research, presenting new areas for development and discussing the implications for
coaches, players, scientists and the wider golfing public. Truly international in scope, the
variety of topics explored include:
• biomechanics and equipment
• skill learning and technology
• performance development
• psychological techniques for success
• the golfing body.
This is an essential reference for any student or researcher with an interest in the game, or any
coach or professional looking to improve their knowledge.
Martin Toms is a senior lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at the
University of Birmingham, UK. He has a PhD in Youth Sport and Developmental Socialisation
from Loughborough University and focuses upon the youth sport and talent experience. In golf,
he has worked across the world in golf education and has been involved in European projects
exploring occupational standards within the golf industry, as well as teaching and researching tal-
ent development in the game. He has been working with the PGA (GB&I) since 2000 on their
education programmes, and currently has over a dozen postgraduate students researching social
scientific aspects of golf. Martin is a board member of the World Scientific Congress of Golf and
a regular speaker at academic and golf-related conferences. He is also involved with universities
across the world in the development of academic content and golf-related courses linked to PGA
programmes. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Golf Science. His PhD
(Loughborough University) is in the field of youth sport.
Section Editors:
Sasho MacKenzie is an associate professor in the Department of Human Kinetics at St.
Francis Xavier University, Canada. He holds a PhD in biomechanics from the University of
Saskatchewan, which focused on 3D forward dynamics simulation of the golf swing. His research
focuses on golf biomechanics, equipment optimisation and the most advantageous training tech-
niques. He consults for several entities in the golf industry, including Ping and FootJoy.
Sam Robertson is head of research and innovation for the Western Bulldogs Australian Football
Club and an associate professor in sport science at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia.
He is also the leader of the Analytics and Technology research group within the Institute of
Sport, Exercise and Active Living.
Marc Lochbaum is a professor of sport and exercise psychology at Texas Tech University, USA,
and studies elementary school physical activity programming, achievement goals in sport and
physical activity, and meta-analyses in sport and exercise psychology. He maintains a visiting
position at the Olympic Research Institute in Jyväskylä, Finland. To date, his research funding
totals over four million USD. He is an avid golfer.
Kieran Kingston is a senior lecturer in sport psychology and research methods in the Cardiff
School of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. His interests in teaching and research
are in the development and maintenance of confidence and motivation in sport and their links
with psychological well-being and performance. He has worked as a consultant with team and
individual athletes; and as a category 1 golfer for the past 30 years, he has a particular interest in
the psychology of golf.
Andrea Fradkin is an associate professor at Bloomsburg University, USA, and has been research-
ing golf for 18 years. She received her PhD in epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash
University in Melbourne, Australia, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University
of Pittsburgh. Her research is an amalgamation of epidemiology, injury prevention, performance
improvement and biomechanics.
‘Over the last 20 years, golf at the highest level has moved from a game to a sport. The high-
est standards of preparation and the professionalism of the athlete have become increasingly
important determinants of success. Today you hear far more emphasis on preparing to succeed
and performance development than technical coaching. This is more apparent now than at any
time in the history of the sport. The margins between success and failure are becoming finer
and so understanding the “science” of golf is key to anyone involved in playing or developing
players – as this outstanding book explains.’ – Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive, The R&A
‘The Routledge International Handbook of Golf Science provides an extraordinary perspective
on our sport through 39 separate research papers. By covering biomechanics, participation,
skill acquisition, performance and the health benefits of golf, this is a valuable, data-driven
resource.’ – Steve Mona, CEO, World Golf Foundation
ROUTLEDGE
INTERNATIONAL
HANDBOOK OF GOLF
SCIENCE
Edited by Martin Toms
Part editors:
Sasho MacKenzie
Sam Robertson
Marc Lochbaum
Kieran Kingston
Andrea Fradkin
First published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2018 selection and editorial matter, Martin Toms; individual
chapters, the contributors
The right of Martin Toms to be identified as the author of the
editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters,
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-18912-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-64178-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo and Minion
by Book Now Ltd, London
CONTENTS
List of figures xiii
List of tables xv
Notes on contributors xvii
Editor’s introduction xxi
Acknowledgements xxiii
PART I
Biomechanics and equipment 1
Part introduction 1
Sasho MacKenzie
1 The golf coaching–biomechanics interface 5
Andrew Morrison and Eric S. Wallace
2 The use of ground reaction forces and pressures in golf
swing instruction 15
Scott K. Lynn and Will Wu
3 The sequence of body segment interactions in the golf swing 26
Peter F. Lamb and Paul S. Glazier
4 The kinematic sequence: achieving an efficient downswing 35
Robert J. Neal
5 Inter- and intra-individual movement variability in the golf swing 49
Paul S. Glazier and Peter F. Lamb
vii
Contents
6 How the shaft of a golf club influences performance 64
Sasho MacKenzie
PART II
Skill learning and technology 75
Part introduction 75
Sam Robertson
7 Is technology the saviour or the downfall of modern
golf instruction? 79
Aaron L. Pauls, Christopher P. Bertram and Mark A. Guadagnoli
8 Optimizing golf skill learning 88
Gabriele Wulf, Steven Orr and Guillaume Chauvel
9 Putting implicit motor learning into golf practice 98
Jamie Poolton and Rich Masters
10 Factors influencing the effectiveness of modelling
golf technique 109
Bob Christina and Eric Alpenfels
11 The stages of learning and implications for optimized
learning environments 119
Christopher P. Bertram, Mark A. Guadagnoli and Ronald G. Marteniuk
12 Skill assessment in golf 129
Sam Robertson
13 Designing optimal golf practice environments 139
Sam Robertson and Damian Farrow
PART III
Performance development 149
Part introduction 149
Marc Lochbaum
14 Putting: a direction–distance problem 151
Matthew W. Bridge and Nicholas Middleton
viii
Contents
15 The beginning golfer: psychological techniques and constructs
affecting putting performance 161
Marc Lochbaum, Zişan Kazak Çetinkalp and Landry Actkinson
16 Perceptual-cognitive expertise in golf putting 173
Laura M. Carey, Robin C. Jackson, Malcolm M. Fairweather,
Joe Causer and A. Mark Williams
17 Positive psychology and golf 183
Sandy Gordon and Jay-Lee Nair
18 Refining motor skills in golf: a biopsychosocial perspective 196
Howie J. Carson and Dave Collins
19 Golf analytics 207
Richard J. Rendleman, Jr.
PART IV
Psychological techniques for success 217
Part introduction 217
Kieran Kingston
20 The quiet eye in golf putting 221
Sam Vine and Mark Wilson
21 Golfers’ imagery use 233
Jennifer Cumming, Elliott Newell and Fredrik Weibull
22 Developing and maintaining motivation in golf 244
Kieran Kingston
23 Masters of the game: goal orientations of recreational golfers 257
Daniel Sachau, Luke Simmering, Amy Harris, Max Adler
and Warren Ryan
24 Individual differences in cognitive processes and golf performance 268
Patrick R. Thomas, Andrea J. Furst and Gerard J. Fogarty
25 Golf and the promise of mental health and well-being for
the elite and professional player 279
Kitrina Douglas and David Carless
ix
