title: Development and measurement properties of a putting skill test for high-level golf.
abstract: Despite a recent increase in the amount of research investigating performance in golf, a comprehensive putting skill test has not been reported in the peer-reviewed literature. In this study, the Golf Australia Putting Test (GAPT) was developed and a series of measurement properties were assessed. Elite (n = 18) and high-level amateur (HLA; n = 22) participants completed six single putts from various areas on six concentric circles (circle radii = 0.9, 1.5, 3.0, 4.6, 6.1 and 7.6 m). Using a scoring system that rewarded participants for holing putts from longer distances, the maximum score from a single round of the test (i.e. 36 putts) was 27 points. After two rounds of the test were completed by all players, a subsample of participants (elite, n = 15; HLA, n = 7) had their putting performance recorded during tournament play for a period of 90 days to assess criterion (predictive) validity of the test. The reliability, sensitivity and discriminative validity of the GAPT were also assessed. Better agreement between Rounds 1 and 2 scores was noted in the elite group, whilst reliability values were similar for both groups. Further, the GAPT scores were shown to predict players from the elite and high-ability groups with a low classification error. An equation for predicting on-course performance from GAPT scores was also developed. Findings from this study indicate that the GAPT is a valid and reliable tool for high-level players and the GAPT may be used for player evaluation in the field.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Exercise and Sports Science , School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University , Burwood , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Angus F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000592:standards*; D001315:Australia; D006055:Golf; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Assessment; performance; prediction; talent