| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to determine whether a significant relationship existed between the
skill level of golfers and the weight distribution patterns exhibited during the putting stroke. A
differential research design was utilized to place thirty six male subjects into groups of low
(0-5), medium (6-14), and high (15-25) handicap (hdp) levels. Subjects performed ten trials over
ten and fifteen foot putting distances. A 3 X 2 (groups by distances) analysis of variance with
repeated measures on the second factor was used to determine whether kinetic measures and total
putting accuracy scores were different across groups. The normalized vertical force F(l,33)=9.03,
p=.005, and the final ball position (degrees) were found to be significantly different for each
putting distance, F(l,33)=27.31, p<.001. The effect of skill level on the final ball position
(degrees) was dependent upon the distance of the putt, F(2,33)=6.83, p=.003. The low and medium hdp
groups were successful with a significantly greater number of putts than the high hdp group,
F(2,33)=6.67, p=.004. All groups made more putts from the ten foot distance than the fifteen foot
distance, F(l,33)=67.94, p<.001. No significant relation existed between the total excursion,
r=.005, and the normalized vertical force, r=-.022 with the putting accuracy scores. Similarly,
there was no significant relation between the total excursion, r =.004, and the normalized vertical
force, K =.096 with the skill level of subjects. A stepwise multiple regression analysis determined
that
no dependent measure was a significant predictor of skill level at
a critical level of .05. The hdp groups were significantly
different with regard to the age at which they started playing
golf, F(2,33)=5.723, p=.007, the average number of three putt
greens per game, F(2,33)=3.488, p=.042, and the number of
tournaments entered each year, F(2,33)=4.318, p=.022. All other
kinetic measures were nonsignificant. | |
