Dissertation: The Relationship of Club Handle Twist Velocity to Selected Biomechanical Characteristics of the Golf Drive

[nevets88]

http://www.philcheetham.com/phd-dissertation-and-presentation/

http://www.philcheetham.com/media/Phillip-Cheetham-Doctoral-Dissertation-2014.pdf

Quote:

Abstract

During the downswing all golfers must roll their forearms and twist the club handle in order to square the club face into impact. Anecdotally some instructors say that rapidly twisting the handle and quickly closing the club face is the best technique while others disagree and suggest the opposite. World class golfers have swings with a range of club handle twist velocities (HTV) from very slow to very fast and either method appears to create a successful swing. The purpose of this research was to discover the relationship between HTV at impact and selected body and club biomechanical characteristics during a driver swing. Three-dimensional motion analysis methods were used to capture the swings of 94 tour professionals. Pearson product-moment correlation was used to determine if a correlation existed between HTV and selected biomechanical characteristics.

This was the part I skipped to, part 3 of a 3 part conclusion, I'm still reading the pdf:

[boogielicious]

Thorax?  What am I a bug?

[dchoye]

Interesting PhD thesis I would be a "roller" stand too upright at impact Trying to develop more side bend and "pusher" style One of the things that help promote that style for me is the stronger left grip I tend to have more stable clubface closure that way

[acerimusdux]

Interesting. Three diffferent studies, really, all involving Handle Twist Velocity (HTV) . Main conclusions:

Study 1:

• Golfers with high HTV DO NOT have significantly higher clubhead speed at impact than low HTV golfers. (Hi-HTV group mean was faster than Lo-HTV group 48.9 m/s to 48.0 m/s)
• Golfers with low HTV DO NOT have significantly better driving accuracy than high HTV golfers. (Lo-HTV group had slightly higher mean accuracy than Lo-HTV group 63.9% to 62.2%)

Study 2:

• Hi-HTV group Lead Wrist Supination Velocity at Impact IS significantly faster than Lo-HTV group
• Lead Wrist Extension Velocity at Impact, Lead Wrist Ulnar Deviation Velocity at Maximum, Lead Wrist Release Velocity at Maximum, Trail Elbow Extension Velocity at Maximum, all show NO significant difference between groups

Study 3:

• Pelvis and Thorax Rotation at Impact : Lo-HTV group is significantly more rotated open than Hi-HTV group
• Pelvis and Thorax Side Bend at Impact: Lo-HTV group is significantly more side bent to trail side than Hi-HTV group
• Correlations were moderate for Thorax, weaker for Pelvis.

Bottom line seems to be that there is no advantage to one over the other, a golfer can be a "roller" (high-HTV) or a "pusher" (low-HTV). But an instructor should be aware of the difference and not for example, try to force a high HTV golfer to be more open and side bent at impact (unless also changing their arm and club twist).