Author(s): MORRISSEY, B., BYRNE, P., DOWLING, M., Institution: SOUTH EAST TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Country: IRELAND, Abstract-ID: 2072

INTRODUCTION:
Launch monitor systems such as Trackman are used in golf to measure golf swing variables to gain an insight into a golfer's swing, however research into the reliability of these systems is limited in elite junior golfers. The study aim was to establish the within and between session reliability of Trackman 3 launch monitor metrics in elite junior golfers. A novel aspect of this study was to also establish the reliability of the best shot.
METHODS:
Twenty-one participants (age = 15.52 +/- 1.12 years, height = 169.52 +/- 12.92cm, weight = 63.53 +/- 11.78kg) were recruited voluntarily through their involvement with Golf Ireland national and provincial panels and completed a test-retest experimental design, with sessions separated by over 3.5 weeks (3.6 +/- 1.5 weeks). The first three driver shots with a total side distance of less than 20 yards from ten total shots were included for average shot analysis. Best shot analysis is a novel aspect and was analysed as the trial with the fastest club head speed (CHS) from the three shots used in average shot analysis for each test session.
RESULTS:
Within session average measures of CHS, ball speed (BS), carry distance (CD), and total distance (TD) displayed excellent relative reliability (ICC: 0.93 - 1) and acceptable random variation (CV%: 0.52% - 5.19%). Between session average measures of CHS, BS, CD and TD displayed excellent relative reliability (ICC: 0.98 - 0.99) and acceptable random variation (CV%: 0.48% - 3.74). Between session best trial analysis of CHS, BS, CD, and TD displayed excellent relative reliability (ICC: 0.98 - 0.99) and acceptable random variation (CV%: 0.52% - 1.55%).
CONCLUSION:
The results of the current study demonstrate that CHS, BS, CD, and TD are reliable Trackman metrics for average measures within and between sessions, as well as for between best shot measures, thus allowing confident use for coaches and practitioners to reliably monitor and assess golf swing performance following interventions in this population, which reinforces the findings of previous research in this area (Shaw et al,. 2023; Bishop et al., 2024: Brennan et al., 2024).

References:
Bishop, C., Wells, J., Ehlert, A., Turner, A., Coughlan, D., Sachs, N. and Murray, A. (2024) 'Trackman 4: Within and between-session reliability and inter-relationships of launch monitor metrics during indoor testing in high-level golfers', Journal of Sports Sciences, 41(23), 2138-2143.

Brennan, A., Murray, A., Coughlan, D., Mountjoy, M., Wells, J., Ehlert, A., Xu, J., Broadie, M., Turner, A. and Bishop, C. (2024) 'Validity and Reliability of the FlightScope Mevo+ Launch Monitor for Assessing Golf Performance', J Strength Cond Res, 38(4), e174-e181, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004685.

Shaw, J., Gould, Z.I., Oliver, J.L. and Lloyd, R.S. (2023) 'Within- and Between-Session Reliability of Golf Swing Variables Using the TrackMan Launch Monitor in Talented Golfers', The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 37(12), 2431-2437.