'An effective golf swing will produce a thousand correct positions - but a thousand correct positions won’t produce an effective golf swing'.
Using a thorough analysis of more than 200 research articles, author Chris Riddoch - a scratch golfer in his teens and one of the UK’s leading sports scientists – explains why this statement is true. In The Golf Swing, he describes why we must avoid the endless technical complexities of the ‘swing theory quagmire’. He explains how dissecting the swing into countless angles and positions and trying to recombine them actually stifles our best learning weapon – our powerful, innate skill-learning mechanisms, which thrive on simplicity.
The Golf Swing combines two sciences: golf swing mechanics and human skill learning. The result is an approach to swing development based on just four movement skills - key skills - each of which can be learnt using the simplest of swing thoughts. In contrast to other books - which merely describe the swing - The Golf Swing explains the best way to learn it.
Grounded firmly in high-quality science, yet written in a non-scientific, entertaining style, The Golf Swing cuts through the buzzing bewilderment that surrounds the golf swing. All golfers - from beginners to tournament professionals - will benefit.
'For any other human skill, we know we can do it, but we don’t know how we do it. In the golf swing, it's the opposite - we know everything about how to do it, but we can’t DO it'.
Professor Chris Riddoch is a sport scientist who has been a teacher, coach, and researcher for more than 30 years. He has worked at the universities of Bath, Bristol, Middlesex, and Queen's (Belfast) and has degrees in both Physical Education and Sports Science. He has a PhD in Sport Physiology. Over his career he has published more than 200 research articles on sport and exercise science.
Chris has top-level competitive experience in amateur golf, having achieved a scratch handicap at the age of 17. He represented his county (Cheshire) at junior and senior levels, and took part in two international trials (unfairly 'overlooked' both times, he explains!). He is a trained Physical Educator specialising in motor skill development, a qualified coach specialising in coaching children, and a researcher in the field of children and exercise.
He is now retired from academic life and writes sport performance books to help players of all abilities to achieve their full potential. He lives in the beautiful city of Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife Maya.
