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A golf balance plate, also known as a pressure plate, can offer critical data towards improving your swing that you cannot find elsewhere. As golfing technology continuously evolves, precision and technique are paramount. Every golfer who strives to improve their game can optimize their interaction with the ground, which will ultimately result in hitting the ball with greater accuracy and distance.   When you stand on a balance plate, it captures the following unique data points: – Accurate heat mapping, representing the foot pressure distribution data– Real-time Center of Pressure (CoP)– Stance Width– Calculated Vertical force Working on a balance plate gives...

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I began doing golf biomechanics research in 1999 when I signed up for an independent study project as part of an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. For this project I attempted to quantify the 3D kinematics of the lumbar spine during the golf swing using an electromagnetic motion capture system. I’ve been working on measuring the biomechanics of human beings ever since then and all my research has led me to one indisputable conclusion: Human Beings are Messy! The variability we find in the biomechanics of different golfers of all skill levels continues to amaze me. Whether you’re looking at a...

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There has been much talk about vertical forces recently in golf instruction. Many players such as Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Lexi Thompson use these forces to literally jump off the ground, and all of them are extremely long hitters. So, does this mean that all golfers should aim to maximize their vertical forces? The most vertical forces I have ever measured on the Swing Catalyst 3D Motion plate happened just recently in my visit to Stillwater, Oklahoma to visit with coach Alan Bratton and his staff/players at their amazing facility. Freshman Matthew Wolff is one of the longest hitters...

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In my recent work with 2016 PGA teacher of the year Mike Adams, we’ve discovered the importance of large vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) in the late downswing in increasing club head velocities and optimizing launch conditions (especially for the driver swings). Dr. Sasho Mackenzie’s recent work in calculating the forces the golfer applies to the grip end of the club seems to support these findings. An example of this is in the late downswing when the forces on the handle are shown in the animation below for a driver swing (that was graciously provided by Dr. Mackenzie): Screenshot of...

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There has been great interest lately in the forces created between the golfer’s feet and the ground. This is mainly due to the fact that products like Swing Catalyst now give golfers and golf teachers the ability to measure and visualize these forces. Previously, these forces could only be quantified in high tech biomechanics labs; therefore, information related to the effective use of ground forces was limited to a selected few who had access to these facilities.  I run one of these biomechanics labs in the United States at California State University, Fullerton in Orange County, California.  I have always...

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