England’s Elite Golf Squad Access The Latest Bio-Technology

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19th November 2004

As part of the World Class Performance Programme, England’s Elite Squad members have received a state of the art scientific biomechanical assessment as part of their training schedule.

The assessment was delivered by Australian company ‘The Golf Athlete’. It utilises cutting edge technology to analyse a golfer’s swing and involves a musculo-skeletal evaluation and a strength & conditioning assessment before providing detailed scientific feedback to coaching staff to enhance the development of players on the Elite Squad.

Once the assessments are complete the English Golf Union’s (EGU) coaching team are provided with a programme of exercise, specific to each player, identifying areas where each squad member needs to work to develop their games to a higher level.

The biomechanical assessment was delivered by Dr Rob Neal who has developed specific software to compliment the technology along with colleague Ryan Lumsden.

Dr Neal explained, “We are delighted to have been able to continue our working relationship with the English Golf Union and their Elite Squad training programme. It has been an interesting exercise to work with the best amateur golfers in England and help develop their individual programmes. We are looking forward to building on our relationship and continuing to work with their World Class Performance Programme.”

The musculo-skeletal profiles were carried out by Michael Dalgleish and provided additional information and support to previous assessments already carried out by EGU physiotherapist Paul Darby. The strength and conditioning assessment was delivered by David Chettle.

The whole assessment process involves computer software capturing the movements of each player’s swing. This software then analyses the player’s swing and produces data that precisely tracks each movement made by the player.

Once copied and stored on CD, the information can be reviewed by the EGU coaching team -National Coach Keith Williams, Technical Coaches David Ridley and Gary Smith and EGU physiotherapist Paul Darby. The integrated development programme produced for each player by the EGU coaching staff is then passed to the player and the player’s personal coach and allows each golfer to be monitored throughout the year at training sessions, practice or competitions.

Keith Williams, EGU National Coach commented, “These assessments form part of a holistic training programme which we are developing through the World Class Performance Programme. The data we gather about each player is extremely important to help to manage their individual training schedules. The process allows us to increase our understanding of the complexities of each player’s golf swing and in turn we are able to improve their techniques and ultimately their level of performance.”

In addition to working with the Elite Squad the Golf Athlete team presented a one-day seminar on the importance of scientific assessment to elite player development. The seminar was attended by all EGU & ELGA (English Ladies Golf Association) physiotherapy and technical coaching staff as well as leading bio-mechanist Dr Paul Hurrion, strength & conditioning staff from the English Institute of Sport and David Colclough, Training Executive at the Professional Golfers Association. The seminar formed part of the World Class Performance Programme development initiative for EGU and ELGA staff, which is funded and supported by the Sport England Lottery Fund.

Nigel Furniss, Performance Director at the EGU, said: “Following our recent 8th place performance in the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Golf Team Championships) it is imperative we explore every opportunity to progress the development of our top players to improve on this position in South Africa in 2006. The relationship we have developed with the Golf Athlete is very important to the future of our training and coaching programmes. The data provides valuable information which can be used to assist our players in their quest to become World Class golfers.”