Monitoring Performance in Golf: More Than Just Clubhead Speed

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the golfing literature, clubhead speed is the most commonly reported metric to assess golf performance. However, a rise in the availability and use of launch monitor technologies in recent years has gathered a wide range of metrics for any given golf shot. In addition, with distance and dispersion (accuracy) being the outcome measures of any given shot and of utmost importance in golf, launch monitors can provide an in-depth understanding of how a golf shot has been achieved. To date, very limited information offers practitioners working in golf an understanding of how these metrics interlink and relate to the outcomes of any given shot. Thus, we have created a deterministic model for the golf shot and provided an overview of the relationship between these launch monitor metrics and the outcome measures of distance and accuracy. This information will give practitioners a more detailed understanding of how golf shots have been achieved and help provide more methodical means of monitoring golf performance and providing feedback to players.