SCIENCE AIDS ELITE SQUAD DEVELOPMENT
The English Golf Union has introduced scientific assessments
into the World Class Performance Programme.
The English Golf Union’s Elite and Potential A Squad
have both been assessed bio-mechanically at recent training
sessions.
Through a relationship with Marlbrook, a Worcestershire based
company, the EGU have been able to access state of the art
motion capture equipment and expert biomechanical services.
The process involves each player having his movements captured
during his swing by 12 highly specialised cameras, which operate
at up to 240 frames a second. Computer software then analyses
the data and reproduces a skeletal image of the golfer, which
accurately shows the movements made by the player. The images
are in full 3D and can be viewed from any angle and at any
speed. Each player has to wear a special Lycra suit with markers
strategically located on anatomical landmarks, which enables
accurate and quantitative data to be collected and analysed
for each individual player.
The information is then stored onto a CD, which can be assessed
by the EGU coaching team, National Coach Keith Williams, Technical
Coaches David Ridley and Gary Smith along with Physiotherapist
Paul Darby. The relevant information is then passed on to
the player and the player’s personal coach.
Keith Williams, EGU National Coach commented, “These
assessments form part of an extremely holistic training programme
which we are developing through the World Class Performance
Programme. The information and data we gather about each player
is most important in helping to direct their individual training
programmes. The process is designed to increase our understanding
of the complexities of each players’ golf swing so that
we are able to improve their techniques and ultimately increase
the level of performance.”
The sport science practitioners in consultation with EGU
coaching personnel then produce an integrated development
programme for each player. These programmes are delivered
by the EGU coaching staff who monitor each player throughout
the year specifically at training, practice or competitions.
Nigel Furniss, Performance Director at the EGU, said, “The
relationship we have developed with Marlbrook is very important
to the future development of our training and coaching programmes.
The data we are beginning to gather from the assessments provides
valuable information which can be used to assist our players
with the future direction of their training programmes in
the quest to become World Class golfers.”
|