ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the knowledge levels and opinions of coaches on the role of sports science, with a focus on biomechanics, the barriers to the application of biomechanics in golf coaching, and the communication process among coach, player, and biomechanist. A theory–practice divide is perceived to exist between sport science, in general, and coaching. Nevertheless, several studies have investigated the preferred sources of coaches' knowledge of the sports sciences across a range of sports, which provide useful background and context to the topic of interfacing biomechanics and golf coaching. The biomechanical analysis of movement has been depicted to exist on a continuum from quantitative to qualitative. Available models and guidelines for the successful application of biomechanics in golf coaching are presented, leading to implications for the game. Technique analysis in coaching is still dominated by a qualitative approach, and this is said to have been derived from a need for the coach to rationalise the advice given to players.
