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Britain's Putting Guru Helps Pros

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Britain's Putting Guru Helps Pros 4 • PLAYINGAROUND July 2008 Hur Lee thi pla you wi As om sui wa id, xx “Th flo roo all We tha Hurrion bringing science to golf. Th it i ers Britain’s putting guru helps pros hig est qui era sur use hu get their strokes right act add r Paul Hurrion is a leading biomechanist camera, computer and analysis software, • What is the best run-up for a high jumper? who has helped many golf tour profes- together with Paul’s knowledge, will dem- • How should the knee angle be modified sionals and teaching pros understand onstrate to you things the human eye miss- for the delivery stride of a fast bowler in and modify their putting strokes. With es,” Harrington said. cricket? DHurrion’s guidance, the pros managed In an extensive interview with Roger Rod- • What is the velocity of the swimmer after to improve their scores while the coaches rigo, the Briton explains what is biomechan- the tumble turn? came away with better teaching abilities. ics, speaks of his efforts in the GEL putter These questions are of the forms: What Hurrion’s expertise in golf has been ac- design, and shares his views on golf tech- has been done? How is it done? Why does it knowledged with membership into the Ad- nology and where it is headed. work? The answers to what, how, and why visory Board for Biomechanics at the elite are important to the athlete, coach and sci- Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) in San As an expert in biomechanics working in entist, respectively. This is the key role of Diego, USA. consultation with British athletics, crick- biomechanics and how they can influence He also maintains a working relationship et, diving and golf what is your take on performance. with the Biomechanics Department of the biomechanics in sport in general and in The biomechanics of golf is no different. University of Chichester through various re- particular, how it can impact golfers? (It is about) how can the science of human search and consultancy projects. Hurrion: Sports biomechanics uses the sci- movement improve performance (power, Hurrion has become identifiable with entific methods of mechanics to study the consistency and accuracy) and reduce the such illustrious players like Open champi- effects of various forces on the sports per- risk of injury. on Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Dav- former. It is concerned, in particular, with id Howell and a string of well-known Euro- the forces that act on the human neuromus- Give us an insight into your work with pean players for helping them improve the culoskeletal system, velocities, accelerations, Harrington who seemed very pleased most important stroke in the game. torque, momentum and inertia. It also con- with your contributions. Recognition was forthcoming as players siders aspects of the behaviour of sports im- Padraig Harrington leaves no stone unturned noticed the difference he brought to their plements, for example footwear and surfac- in his quest to improve his golf. It is an ab- game. “If you take your putting seriously, es, where they affect athletic performance or solute pleasure to work with such an athlete. then a visit to the Quintic Putting Laborato- injury prevention. Sports biomechanics can Over the number of years we have worked ry is a must. Dr Paul Hurrion’s biomechani- be divided up into two main sections: together, he is always asking questions re- cal and hi-tech approach to this ‘game with- Performance Improvement and Injury garding the biomechanics of golf and how Open champion Harrington with Hurrion. in a game’ is unique. The use of the lab’s Prevention he can improve. PLAYINGAROUND July 2008 • 5 formation instantly appears on the compu- centre, the grooves still create a forward ter screen. It is that simple. For details, vis- roll on the golf ball. it www.quinticballroll.com. The software In addition, the complete range has a has copyright protection and is based on True Temper S400 iron shaft to... our automatic tracking within the Quintic 1. Spread the weight of the putter from the Biomechanics v14. head to the grip to create stability. 2. To eliminate torque in the putter. One of your most significant contributions “For me personally, it is extremely ex- has been your work with GEL and your citing to be designing my own range of namesake putting line — Paul Hurrion putters under the GEL umbrella as the Signature series was launched recently. GEL putters are not only technological- Give us the inside on this development ly innovative but also they look modern, and is there more to come? colourful and striking.” The GEL Golf putter range has been de- signed to create a balanced and weighted In line with the above, do you think head that will encourage the ball to roll fast- groove-faced putters will become more er and straighter. The major advantages of popular? groove technology are: Yes, I do. Technology moves on. Just look 1. Putts staying on line — as the ball has im at equipment now compared to 10 years mediate roll, there is less chance of the ago. Everybody is looking for an edge imperfections in the green knocking the that can be the difference between win- ball off line. ning and losing. 2. Better distance control — as the ball is rolling straight off the putter head, it is As an industry practitioner where do you more in contact with the ground and will see the golf technology drift, where is it decelerate as opposed to when hit by a heading and what innovation could be Hurrion explains certain points about the putter. flat faced putter which skids the ball or coming on next? makes it hop. Because of the ball hop- Golf technology is getting to the limit of Lee Westwood, who recently finished quinticballroll.com) is used to determine ping, there is inconsistent friction with the R&A and USGA rules. The next innova- third and one stroke from the US Open the effect on the ball, post impact. I also ground, resulting in loss of distance control. tion in golf is the body and optimising its play-off, has also been seeing you. Can have an outdoor putting green which I use The 2008 Paul Hurrion Signature Range in- potential, just look at what Tiger (Woods) you tell us something about your work for green reading skills and further assess- corporates the very latest groove technol- has done in this field, there are lots more to with him? ment of the individuals stroke. ogy using a multilayer grooved aluminum come in the science of optimising the hu- As with all my clients, we tailor-make a bi- The question I always ask my pupils is: insert with a larger grooved face than ear- man body for golf. I believe we are only just omechanical and technical programme to “Can you consistently hit the ball on the line lier models that delivers even greater feel getting to understand the science of the golf suit the individual. The key focus with Lee that you have read without manipulation of and exceptional feedback. (www.gelgolf. swing. The body swings the club, not the was balance and rhythm, the key to a sol- the club head? Manipulation does not stand com). I have incorporated my teaching other way round. id, repeatable putting stoke. up to pressure.” philosophy into the putter designs for the benefit of all individuals. You also sit on the advisory board of Ti- “The laboratory is a room with a hard You have also developed the Quintic Ball GEL has improved on Groove Technol- tleist, what kind of inputs do you deliv- floor, green carpet, cameras all over the Roll software, please elaborate on this in- ogy by adding an aluminium insert. This er there? room and mirrors — it’s a bit kinky re- novation? Is the patent pending? provides improved feel for the putter, I was asked to join the TPI Biomechanics ally.” That statement is attributed to Lee Quintic Ball Roll software is the equivalent along with horizontal grooves, which un- advisory board back in 2006. I have just Westwood, could you tell us more about of a launch monitor for putting. It instantly like some grooved putters, do not put side- returned from San Diego where we had a that ‘kinky’ Quintic putting lab? shows you skid, backspin and roll, bounce, spin on the ball when hit off centre. GEL board meeting. It is not often I get to sit in The Quintic Putting Laboratory is my office; ball speed, hook or slice, side, spin and the has also added weight to all the heads to a room full of very intelligent professors, it is where I do my assessment of all golf- point at which true roll occurs. This soft- create a more solid feel in the hands of mathematicians, golf professionals, fitness ers, irrespective of their level. Four multi ware is fast, affordable, easy to use and the golfer. experts and talk about golf. It has been a s high-speed cameras analyse using the lat- the computer does all the work for you. There are a number of technological great few days. (www.mytpi.com) est Quintic Biomechanics software (www. All you need is a computer, video cam- features to my designs: quintic.com), along with two 1000fps cam- era and firewire cable. We use a ball that 1. Perimeter weighting — to balance the To do what you do, it must originate from eras are synchronised with an RSscan Pres- is marked with three dots. You can mark putter.
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