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The focus on ground reaction force (GRF) is continually increasing in golf, but we experience that there is still some confusion as to what it actually means. Considering the GRF is the basis of the force the golfer is able to utilize during the swing, understanding how it works is important when analyzing the swing. The basic principle behind GRF is fairly straightforward: the laws of motion dictate that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Throughout the swing, a force is exerted on the ground by the golfer. In response, the ground exerts a force of...

The Swing Catalyst Force Factor is a measure of a golfer’s potential for producing torque, but what does it really mean? In short, the Force Factor is the maximum torque produced in the swing normalized by body mass, meaning the maximum torque is divided by body mass (in kilograms) to allow for even comparisons between golfers. Generally, a golfer with a greater body mass will produce larger forces than a golfer with a lesser body mass, simply due to the added mass (since force is the product of mass and acceleration). By removing this effect, the Force Factor indicates the degree to which the golfer is...

Most golfers have some abstract notion of using the ground to generate force in the golf swing, but why are the ground reaction forces so important? When we talk about using the ground in the golf swing, we’re referring to the golfer’s ability to use vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces to produce rotational force, or torque. With the Swing Catalyst 3D Motion Plate, a unique combination of pressure plate and force plate technology, the exact amount of force the golfer generates through the ground is measured, making this knowledge concrete. At the core of many training sessions is the desire...

Rarely do you hear golfers and instructors talk about pressure shift when studying a golf swing. Rather, you are more likely to hear them say weight shift. To understand the difference between the two, let us take a closer look at what pressure really is. The Swing Catalyst Balance Plate consists of more than 2000 high-resolution sensors that measure the exact amount of pressure applied to the ground. In short, pressure is force working over an area. In our case we are talking about the force the golfer is exerting on the ground and the area of the two golf shoes touching...

When studying Kevin Streelman’s transition from backswing to downswing, why does Swing Catalyst software show that most of the pressure is on his trail foot while most of his body mass is placed over his lead foot? When analyzing the golf swing in the Swing Catalyst software, the seemingly independent actions of body mass and pressure can be confusing. Nowhere in the swing is this more apparent than in the transition from backswing to downswing, illustrated here with PGA Tour player Kevin Streelman. When studying this transition, why does the Swing Catalyst software show that most of the pressure is on the trail foot (R) while most...