Rinker’s Golf Tips Dr. Rob Neal 3D Expert Biodynamics is from Australia and decided to get his Masters degree at the University of Queensland. One of the first studies that he did was in biomechanics with forces and torques and measuring movement in 3D for golf. Dr. Rob Neal wanted to develop 3D motion capture technology to help coaches and their golfers. He has measured over 500 Tour players and not every one of them has a perfect kinematic sequence. “Have to say it’s not an absolute requirement to get on the PGA Tour, but they do many other things well, and while it may not be perfect, it’s still efficient enough, to give them sufficient club head speed to play at that level,” he said.
I asked Dr. Rob Neal, why do good putters not accelerate through impact? He said, “If you are trying to accelerate through impact, you’re going to have trouble controlling speed. Ideal is “0” acceleration and putter transfers’ energy to the ball and the putter would slow down afterwards. What we have measured with very good putters is a slight, very small deceleration of the putter just before impact. Not something we would pick up with the eye at all. Just about 20-30 milliseconds before impact where the putter has slightly slowed down. Players have no sense of that but we can have them feel the putter head is coasting through impact. Good putter typically have a shorter follow through than amateurs or poor putters. Good putters definitely keep the body still better, making impact on the putter face more consistent. A quarter inch off center can change the start direction. Putting is extremely precise and a demanding part of the game. Everyone has a little flexion or bowing of the lead hand on the back stroke and a little flexion extension or cupping in the lead wrist on the follow through. Using the hands gives a sense of feel and touch.” He has not measured anyone in putting who did not have some hand and wrist action.
In regard to wedges or pitch shots from around the green, I asked Dr. Neal about what the club face does past impact. Many good players feel and think that they keep the club face open, “but once we get a little speed and movement of the club, it’s not going to stay open. It will close as a function of its inertia. I would say it’s almost impossible, while hitting a perfect pitch shot, to keep the club face from closing or a rotation fashion. Now it might not close as rapidly as a full shot, but it is going to be closing to the target line. It might be a feel they are working on, but it’s not a reality and not staying open.” Dr. Rob Neal can be reached at his web site www.golfbiodynamics.com