December 2002
Volume 43, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   December 2002
Effect of Putting Grip on Eye and Head Movements During the Golf Putting Stroke
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • GK Hung
    Biomedical Engineering Rutgers University Piscataway NJ
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships    G.K. Hung, Self P.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 2002, Vol.43, 4670. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      GK Hung; Effect of Putting Grip on Eye and Head Movements During the Golf Putting Stroke . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2002;43(13):4670.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine the effect of three different putting grips: conventional, cross-hand, and one-handed, on variations in eye and head movements during the putting stroke. Methods: Seven volunteer novice players, ranging in age from 21 to 22 years, participated in the study. During each experimental session, the subject stood on a specially-designed platform covered with artificial turf and putted golf balls towards a standard golf hole. The three different types of grips were tested at two distances: 3 ft and 9 ft. For each condition, 20 putts were attempted. For each putt, data were recorded over a 3 sec interval at a sampling rate of 100 Hz. Eye movements were recorded using a helmet-mounted eye movement monitor. Head rotation about the spine axis was measured by means of a potentiometer mounted on a fixed frame and coupled to the helmet. Putter-head motion was measured using a linear array of infrared phototransistors embedded in the platform. The standard deviation (std, relative to the initial level) was calculated for eye and head movements over the duration of the putt (i.e., from the beginning of the backstroke, through the forward stroke, to impact). The averaged std for the attempted putts was calculated for each subject. Then, the averaged stds and other data for the seven subjects were statistically compared across the three grip conditions. Results: The std of eye movements were significantly greater (p < 0.1) for conventional than cross-hand (9 ft) and one-handed (3 and 9 ft) grips. Also, the std of head movements was significantly greater (p < 0.1; 3 ft) for conventional than cross-hand and one-handed grips. Vestibulo-ocular responses associated with head rotations could be observed in many 9 ft and some 3 ft putts. The duration of the putt was significantly longer (p < 0.05; 3 and 9 ft) for the one-handed than conventional and cross-hand grips. Finally, performance, or percentage putts made, was significantly better (p < 0.05; 9 ft) for cross-hand than conventional grip. Conclusion: The smaller variations, both in eye movements during longer putts and head movements during shorter putts, using cross-hand and one-handed grips may explain why some golfers, based on their playing experience, prefer these over the conventional grip. Also, the longer duration for the one-handed grip, which improves tempo, may explain why some senior players prefer the long-shaft (effectively one-handed grip) putter.

Keywords: 619 vision and action • 406 eye movements • 618 vestibulo-ocular reflex 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×