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THE NEW SCIENCE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS (Part 1)

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David F. Wright, Ph.D., PGA

The research project at Dr. Frank Jobe's Biomechanics Lab, Centinela Hospital, is complete and the preliminary findings are in. Planning Meetings, protocol drafts, The Institutional Review Board, project funding, research measurement equipment acquisition, co-ordination of 4 consultants, 3 biomedical technical staff, pilot studies, and a total of 25 subjects took over 3 years to complete the research project.

The research subjects were 25 Tour Professionals and Amateurs. The preliminary findings show that the fundamentals of set up are different for every individual. In particular, there are no "gold standards" for posture, grip, aim, spine angle, foot flare, or stance width. Every one of us has a personal biomechanical signature based upon a few very precise but simple body measurements.

(Left image - Click to enlarge) Players had a paper thin plastic insole cut precisely to fit in each shoe by a biomedical technician. This insole had 1,000 sensors to measure force (balance.)

Light electrodes were placed on precise anatomical landmarks by the Lab Director, Karen Mohr. (Right image - Click to enlarge)

Two light electrodes were placed on the floor of the lab. These floor sensors defined a target line to which all the measurements were taken. A lined set up template on which each player stood during the static set up phase was set parallel to that target line with a laser.

All data capture from the orientation of the player's feet, their hips and shoulders to club face and shaft angle was done relative to that target line.

Dowel poles with light electrode tape on the ends were attached to the player's hips and shoulders for the first part of the protocol and again at the end. These dowel poles are a third generation measurement system. The poles were used in this study to compare the recorded rotation of the player's hips to the rotation recorded by the light electrodes placed on the player's body.

The research protocol called for 75 different set up positions with and without a golf club.

Each player hit 20 balls and 20 putts with 4 different grip sizes. A Vector launch monitor was used to capture data during the ball striking phase.

An optics study was done to determine how players perceived lines from various set up positions.

A variation of a 3 minute back exercise program taken from the Spine Consultant to the PGA Tour Dr. Robert Watkins' trunk stabilization program was tested. The dowel poles were used to record upper and lower core (hips and shoulders) rotation before and after the exercise program.

Each subject was scheduled for a 3 hour session from set up to removal of electrodes. In the July Newsletter, I will begin highlighting our results and show you some of the "NEW SCIENCE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS."

Announcement:

- The Relaxation and Concentration Books are now available at Roger Dunn Golf Shops.

- "Full Day Putting School July 28, 2007"
Click here for Full Day Putting School Itinerary

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