An examination of the planar nature of golf club motion in the swings of experienced players

The golf swing has been modelled as a planar movement, but recent findings suggest that the upper limbs and golf club do not move in a single plane. However, the idea that the club alone can be swung in a single inclined plane has not been investigated mathematically. The aims of this study were to determine whether a single plane could be fitted to club motion, and if this plane varied for different clubs. Ten golfers ( handicap 1 - 5) performed repeated, consistent swings with three clubs ( driver, 5- iron, and pitching wedge). The motion of each club during the downswing was fitted to a single plane. The fit of the plane varied between golfers and clubs ( r(2) = 0.871 - 0.995, root mean square residual 44.9 - 166.2 mm). Mean angles of the plane to the reference horizontal Z axis ( driver: 125.58, s = 3.0; 5- iron: 117.18, s = 3.0; wedge: 113.68, s = 2.7) and target line axis ( driver: 77.88, s = 5.9; 5- iron: 74.98, s = 5.7; wedge: 75.98, s = 6.0) were significantly ( P < 0.05) different. Further analysis revealed a single plane was more appropriate for some participants than others, but that it might be neither desirable nor possible in some cases.