title: Reliability of an experimental method to analyse the impact point on a golf ball during putting.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the reliability of an experimental method identifying the location of the impact point on a golf ball during putting. Forty trials were completed using a mechanical putting robot set to reproduce a putt of 3.2 m, with four different putter-ball combinations. After locating the centre of the dimple pattern (centroid) the following variables were tested; distance of the impact point from the centroid, angle of the impact point from the centroid and distance of the impact point from the centroid derived from the X, Y coordinates. Good to excellent reliability was demonstrated in all impact variables reflected in very strong relative (ICC = 0.98-1.00) and absolute reliability (SEM% = 0.9-4.3%). The highest SEM% observed was 7% for the angle of the impact point from the centroid. In conclusion, the experimental method was shown to be reliable at locating the centroid location of a golf ball, therefore allowing for the identification of the point of impact with the putter head and is suitable for use in subsequent studies.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Social and Health Sciences, Abertay University , Dundee , UK.
authors.forename: Ashley K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Andrew C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Gerwyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006055:Golf / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009039:Motion Perception; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Biomechanics; golf putting; kinematics; reliability