Driving off the tee

The golf swing is a complex whole body movement that uses the summation of momentum principle, to create high endpoint velocity and maximum distance. (Bradshaw, Keogh, Hume, Maulder, & Nortje, 2009) Although golf is played by players with large variances in physical characteristics and technical ability the biomechanical principals behind the optimisation of distance and accuracy remain the same. Biomechanics has a role in maximising the distance and accuracy of golf shots by providing both qualitative and quantitative evidence of body angles, joint forces and muscle activity patterns. ( Hume, Keogh, & Reid, 2005) The golf swing is an example of a throw-like pattern where the kinetic chain incorporates most segments of the body; with the rotation of the body preceding rapid arm swing. (Blazevich, 2007)

Significant biomechanical principals discussed include: newtons three laws, inertia, velocity, angular and linear velocity, torque, summation of forces, projectile momentum and the kinetic chain.