The effect of joint angles on shot performance during the swing with different clubs among female professional golfers

Objective This study aimed to investigate the differences in body joint angles during driver, 5-iron, and 7-iron swings in female professional golfers and their relationships with shot performance, providing a biomechanical basis for technical training. Methods Twelve female professional golfers were recruited. A Qualisys three-dimensional motion capture system (250 Hz) and a FlightScope Xi launch monitor were used to collect data at four key swing phases: half backswing (HB), top of backswing (TOP), half downswing (HD), and impact (IMP). Joint angles of the head, neck, torso, pelvis, elbow, wrist, and knee were measured, along with performance parameters including carry, clubhead speed (CHS), smash factor, vertical angle, axis, and backspin rate (RPM). One-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare differences among clubs, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between joint angles and shot performance. Results The driver produced significantly greater carry, CHS, and smash factor than the irons ( p 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that lead forearm pronation at TOP was negatively correlated with CHS during the driver swing ( r = −0.789), lead knee external rotation at IMP was positively correlated with smash factor ( r = 0.652), torso forward tilt at IMP was negatively correlated with carry distance during the 5-iron swing ( r = −0.653), and lead knee flexion at HD was positively correlated with smash factor during 7-iron ( r = 0.799). Conclusions Female professional golfers adapt to club-specific hitting demands primarily through adjustments in head, torso, and knee joint angles, while maintaining a relatively stable upper limb control pattern across club types. From a practical standpoint, driver training should emphasize lead forearm supination and lead knee external rotation braking at IMP; 5-iron training should prioritize control of torso forward tilt and head side tilt; and 7-iron training should focus on maintaining lead knee flexion and promoting sequential separation between pelvis and torso rotation

Elbow · Forearm · Joint (building) · Motion analysis · Rotation (mathematics) · Swing · Tilt (camera) · Torso · Wrist · Mechanics and Biomechanics Studies · Shoulder Injury and Treatment · Sports Dynamics and Biomechanics

• The swing performance Index

  Open Access•Joanne Zhou, Alexander Richards et al.•Frontiers in Sports and Active…•2022

  Add to list