'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'.
Chris Riddoch was born in Chester, UK, in 1949. At age 12, he received his first golf handicap - 12. By age 17, he'd reduced it to scratch. He represented his college (Borough Road) and his county (Cheshire), captaining the junior team at age 17. He had trials for England and was selected as reserve - unfortunately, no-one was sick on the day. His current handicap is six.
On leaving school, Chris dabbled with professional golf, but decided instead on an academic career. He obtained degrees in physical education and sports science, including a PhD in sports performance. Chris has been a teacher and research professor at four UK universities: Bath, Bristol, Middlesex, and Queen's (Belfast). He's one of the UK's top sports scientists, with more than 200 research articles on sport and exercise science to his name.
He's married to Maya and they live in Stockholm.
