摘要
Assessing a coach's technical knowledge of a sporting technique can reveal measureable biomechanical parameters associated with successful performance. This assessment can provide new insights into technique, enhance a coach's technical knowledge or assist in optimising performance. Despite numerous golf instructional books, no scientific study has assessed a golf coach's technical knowledge of the golf swing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the key technical parameters that professional golf coaches associate with a top level golf swing; with the intention of using the results to guide future golf biomechanics research and coaching technologies. Initially, sixteen professional golf coaches were individually observed coaching a highly skilled golfer after which they participated in a semi-structured interview regarding their technical analysis of the golf swing. QSR-NVivo analysis software was used to inductively analyse the data using the grounded theory approach. Line-by-line coding was followed by comparison of 鈥榤eaning units鈥?to form a coding hierarchy with several key technical parameters identified. A successful golf swing was defined through three elements, with 鈥渂ody motion鈥?affecting 鈥渃lub motion鈥?and resulting 鈥渂all flight鈥? Several terms described these parameters including 鈥渃onsistent鈥? 鈥減owerful鈥? 鈥渁ccurate鈥? 鈥渟imple鈥?and 鈥渃ontrolled鈥?with the most prevalent being 鈥渞epeatable鈥? 鈥淏ody motion鈥?was influenced by five intrinsically linked key technical parameters: 鈥減osture鈥? 鈥渂ody rotation鈥? 鈥渟equential movement鈥? 鈥渉and and arm action鈥?and 鈥渃lub parameters鈥?which were further sub categorised. To conclude, the key technical parameters have been identified which will be used to support future biomechanical research in this area and to be used to direct new technologies to aid golf coaching.