Development of a full-body computer model for golf biomechanics

METHODS Experimental data were collected in a laboratory for an elite male golfer (25 yrs, +1 handicap) who hit 24 shots, comprising of 8 trials using each of three drivers of different shaft length (46′′/1.17m, 48′′/1.22m & 50′′/1.27m). The subject signed an informed consent and protocols followed guidelines approved by the University of Ulster Research Ethics Committee. A 5-camera MACTM system operating at 240Hz collected kinematic data (Mitchell et al., 2003), which was subsequently used to drive the model utilising ADAMS software. Additional skin markers were used for model validation. A large-scale musculoskeletal human model and parametric model of a driver were constructed (figure 1). Forward dynamics simulations were repeated 8 times for each of the 24 trials. Two commercially available launch monitors recorded experimental clubhead and launch conditions.