Affiliations: [a] Department of Sports Medicine and Science, Taereung National Training Centre of the Korean Olympic Committee, Seoul, Korea | [b] Sports and Health Care Major, College of Humanities and Arts, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju-si, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Wi-Young So, Sports and Health Care Major, College of Humanities and Arts, Korea National University of Transportation, 50 Daehak-ro, Chungju-si, Chungbuk 27469, Korea. Tel.: +82 43 841 5993; Fax: +82 43 841 5990; E-mail:wowso@ut.ac.kr
Abstract: Evaluating the biomechanical and performance factors of the knee joint
during golf swing can provide objective and quantitative information about
improving the performance and development of efficient physical training, as
the legs are important for achieving an efficient swing and maximum speed of
the club head in golf. In the present study, kinematic movements of the knee
joint were identified during the downswing by using 3-dimensional motion
analysis, and isokinetic strength was measured with driver and 5-iron clubs
in 15 professional (PRO) golfers and 10 amateur (AMA) golfers. Results
showed that PRO golfers had a narrower minimal angle between the thigh and
lower leg in the trail knee than the AMA golfers, regardless of the club
used, and the angular velocity of the lead knee was faster during the
downswing with a 5-iron club in the AMA golfers than in the PRO golfers. The
PRO and AMA golfers had a wider minimal angle between the thigh and lower
leg, smaller total range of movement, and slower angular velocity of the
trail knee when swinging a 5-iron club than when swinging a driver club.
These results are expected to provide useful information to prevent
golf-related injuries that usually arise in the knee joint and help improve
the golf performance of amateur golfers.
Keywords: Downswing, golf, knee joint, isokinetic strength, kinematic movement
