Shrink Wrap - views from inside a psychologist's head

Will Driver Heads Come in Different Weights? - Research from Ping Might Suggest So  Stephen Smith - 'The Fairway Physician ' Investigates  The world of golf is awash with stories of all the latest product releases after the annual product jamboree that is the PGA show in Florida. As tired and emotional golf hacks return to their natural habitat their heads are full of the ideas that they have come across - and can still actually remember - from the show. Not that I would dare to suggest the odd libation was enjoyed of an evening. However, one really interesting piece of scientific research by the engineers at Ping may have got drowned out by all the Orlando hoo ha. Just before the show they released some very interesting research on the impact that driver head mass - weight -  has on swing speed and distance. A standard 95 mph swing speed was optimised at the industry standard driver head weight of 206 grams but those with faster swing speeds (115mph) were optimised at a...

  How You Carry Your Golf Bag Impacts Swing Speed Golf Science Report From Neuroscientist Stephen Smith- 'The Fairway Physician' Contact: Info@Psyenz.org Phone  UK + 44 (0)7806 794 527 For Publication It seems to make sense that the more tired you are or feel on the course the less able you will be  to generate your maximum power and swing speed. Now researchers in America have shown that to be true and that the way you transport your bag around the course directly affects this important element of game success. A group of scientists from a number of universities in the southern states of the USA have collaborated to investigate this phenomena. They looked at: Walking with no bag Carrying a bag with a single strap Carrying a bag with a double strap Using a push cart/trolley They found that using a double strap and carrying the bag low on the back was the most positive impact on actual swing speed  but that those without the bag or using a push cart 'believed' they ha...

  YIPS - The Fairway Physician Investigates  Inclusivity - the word that captures the zeitgeist of the moment. Nothing can be exclusive, everyone should be given the opportunity to become part of the group. Golf, in particular, has been accused of being less than open and welcoming especially towards women. So it can be surprising to find an element of golf that afflicts mainly males and that females want to stay well clear of - the dreaded 'Yips'. For those that do not know 'Yips' are defined as an involuntary jerky movement when the required movement is a smooth action. It is particularly noticeable in golf in putting and chipping. In a recent study (presented at the World Scientific Congress of Golf) Dutch researchers looked at the prevalence of this issue. They sampled golfers at a Dutch golf club and 234 golfers responded. A whopping 22% indicated that they suffered from the yips. However the researchers noted that the majority of the club did NOT respond and, assu...