ABOUT THIS BOOK

Golf is perhaps the most complicated simple game ever invented. Golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods make the sport look easy, but anyone who has ever picked up a club knows how truly frustrating golf can be. The success of each shot depends on a diverse range of factors, from the club you choose and the speed with which you swing it, to your mood, the weather, and even the type and cut of the grass. Science plays a crucial role in most, if not all, of these factors, and in Golf Science, sports science expert Mark F. Smith investigates the cutting-edge scientific wonders that take the ball from tee to hole.

Each chapter explores a different facet of the game—mind and body, the swing, the equipment, the environment, coaching with technology, the practice process, and the score—and is organized around a series of questions. What happens in the brain during the preshot routine? Does head movement hinder swing performance? Will I hit the ball farther with a longer driver? Why do I lose distance into the wind? What can I learn from watching my ball in flight? How should practice be structured? What are the key stats in golf that I need to know? Each question is examined with the aid of explanatory diagrams and illustrations, and the book can be used to search for particular topics, or read straight through for a comprehensive overview of how golfer and equipment work together.

A must-have for anyone who delights in the spirit of the game, Golf Science will be enjoyed not only by professionals and coaches but also by spectators of the PGA Tour and anyone who enjoys a round of eighteen holes on the weekend.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Mark F. Smith is a sports science expert, researcher, and avid golf enthusiast. With more than fifteen years of experience in sports performance research, he has published in a range of leading international scientific publications, has worked as a scientific advisor for leading organizations, and is on the International Editorial Board for the World Scientific Congress of Golf Science. He lives in the UK, where he is a principal lecturer in sport and exercise science at the University of Lincoln.

REVIEWS

“UK-based exercise physiology researcher Mark F. Smith comfortably fits his vast knowledge of the game and its intricacies into 192 pages of diagrams, photos, and text. Each section details an aspect of the game, including the mind and body, the swing, equipment, and practice. Perhaps its greatest strength is that it’s more informational than instructional. Smith, a member of the International Editorial Board for the World Scientific Congress of Golf, relays his knowledge in an unimposing manner, allowing the reader to pick and choose what to apply. Valuable to players of any level.”

— Brendan Mohler, Golf Digestix

“I love Golf Science. . . . It is not light reading by any means, but it is enlightening.”

— Bill Pennington, New York Times

“An informative, scientific approach to golf, in a series of common questions with some surprising and helpful answers.”

— Shelf Awareness

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One. Mind and Body

Chapter Two. The Swing

Chapter Three. The Equipment

Chapter Four. The Environment

Chapter Five. Coaching with Technology

Chapter Six. The Practice Process

Chapter Seven. The Score

Notes

Table Of Measurements

Glossary

Notes On Contributors

Index

Acknowledgments

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