Coaches' perceptions of golf swing kinematics

Using a computer-based videotape analysis system, a randomized series of golf swings was presented to 10 professional and 10 amateur golf coaches in an attempt to determine differences m their internal model of golf swing kinematics. A global measure was obtained by having coaches independently inspect the swings of eight golfers and estimate their golf handicaps. A micro level of analysis was undertaken by requiring participants to indicate what they considered to be 'ideal' swing characteristics using 17 predetermined limb, club, and body position angles for various phases of the swing Videotaped swings for a highly skilled and beginner level golfer were used for this task. Although the training requirements for professional coaches are much more demanding and their playing ability higher, evidence of internal model differences was not found in the handicap estimation task. It was also established that a golfer's swing may be perceived to have deficiencies but still produce sufficient accuracy to engender a low handicap On the second task, only one of the 17 estimated swing angles showed a significant difference between the coach groups. When, however, the two coach groups indicated their preferred angles for the highly skilled golfer and the beginner, 6 of the 17 angles were significantly different. The implications of these findings are that the two coach groups had similar ability to identify fundamental characteristics of the golf swing, but their model of the ideal swing was influenced by the observed golfer's skill level.