Bridging science and practice: key insights from the 2024 World Scientific Congress of Golf

02/08/2024

The World Scientific Congress of Golf concluded the 3-day conference at The PGA National Training Academy, The Belfry, connecting PGA Members with industry leaders and researchers to discuss all things golf science.

The event was a great opportunity for those working in golf to gain more understanding around the latest research, new technologies and methods, the challenges they see, the needs and perspectives of those involved in the game and generally meet new people in the industry.

The conference opened with a tribute to Dr Alastair Cochran, the founder of the World Scientific Congress of Golf and his life in golf.

Dr Steve Otto (R&A), Dr Paul Wood (Ping) and Dr Alan Hocknell (Titleist) as well as a contribution from The PGA, chronicled Alastair’s life from author of the ‘Search for the Perfect Swing’ in the 1960’s through to his years of supporting the PGA’s coaching and equipment technology syllabus even into his late 80’s.

Dr Alan, VP of Advanced Research and Innovation at Titleist, also discussed new-found golf knowledge and how he explores product design and manufacturing methods to improve performance.

Attendees also enjoyed an array of panel discussions and workshops. Thursday was met with conversations with esteemed professionals to discuss topics surrounding women in golf and golf for the disabled.

Collectively, these conversations highlighted the importance of scientific research, physical training, and inclusivity in advancing the sport of golf.

Luke Robinson, PGA Lecturer in Golf Coaching, and PhD Student in Sport & Exercise Science at Middlesex University, presented on the Practices and Perceptions of S&C in Female Tour Professionals.

“I was delighted to see the interest and interaction at the conference surrounding female golf, not only from a high-performance point of view, but on a wider scale in terms of elevating female golf.”

“I think the main challenge with conferences is bridging the gap between research and applied work, but from having conversations both during and post conference, the feedback has been extremely positive, and it’s certainly an exciting time for golf moving forward”.

Players at this level have previous experience of training, and demonstrated a desire to continue to do so, however it was evident that players are lacking understanding regarding what best practice looks like.

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“My presentation was centred around research we carried out on practices and perceptions of S&C training in tour professionals. For example, misconceptions around replicating the golf swing in the gym environment, adding too much muscle mass, and fear of injury, however it is encouraging that education on best practice is now available at some tour events and through social media”.

On Friday, Dr. Sasho Mackenzie, a Sports Biomechanics Professor at St. Francis Xavier University, led a workshop discussing face-to-path variability, and how factors such as swing mechanics, methods of practice, psychological training and mentality can influence this.

With six WSCG appearances under his belt, conveying his research in practical ways that can be learned from is essential for Dr. Sasho. He said, “This is my sixth time at the World Scientific Congress of Golf since 2008, I might be considered a veteran.

“You have hard core research, but a lot of that information is also targeted toward practitioners, coaches and everything is very practical. It’s great to see so many PGA Members in the audience learning and for them I think it’s important that the messages are practical.”

When asked about his in-depth Q&A at the conference, Dr Sasho explained, “I like to do research in areas that are controversial. If you are trying to make a change, or you think there may be a better way to do something, to me that’s an interesting area to look at if you’re trying to move forward. And there’s a lot of people that find that more interesting, a lot that find they might have had the wrong ideas for quite a long time and that’s one of the best things about putting research into those areas.”

Dr Karl Steptoe, a Chartered Sports and Exercise Psychologist led a workshop on session design for competitive performance, stressing the importance of the catchphrase “practice is pointless…without context”. Drawing from his team's research, he emphasised incorporating players' psychological experiences during important moments, aiming to enhance performance by working with negative thoughts.

Karl explains not only what he took from the conference but also what he hopes PGA Professionals were able to draw from his workshop too. “This was my first time at this conference, and it was really interesting.

“I think what’s great for me as a psychologist is getting other peoples views on psychology and not the psychologists. It’s great that biomechanics, coaches and sports scientists have all got involved.

“The psychological aspect is becoming more prevalent with PGA Pros, but It’s always been important. Formal training for a PGA Pro has increased over time. Even when I think back to coaching myself, it was always an important part of a player’s development. How they think, how they learn and that type of thing. There’s certainly been an increased interest from PGA Pros, we’ve just got to continue as psychologists to show how we can improve people.”

Dr Jack Wells, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning discussed the use of force plates within golf and how these are used to assess golfers on the DP World Tour and players within the England Golf pathway.

“There’s some really good research that comes out of these conferences. There’s so many fresh ideas and it’s just great to chat with so many people and see what they’re up to.

“My sessions were quite practical which adds a good dynamic, but I wanted to provide something they could go away with. The feedback was really positive. “

Lewis Clarke, PGA Sports Science Lecturer, summarised the conference and explains why the 2026 event is a great chance to learn more about scientific research in golf, if you missed the chance this year.

“The great thing is the mix between applied practitioners and traditional academics doing the research. You get a great sense of both sides of the spectrum and some of the discussions that come up from those two components lead to some really good, applied practice going forward.

“The value for PGA Pros is that it often takes the research elements which often sit in a journal, on a bookshelf, and gives them chance to apply that practice. Because they happen every year, they can keep up with the latest knowledge with industry experts.

The 2026 WSGC is a great opportunity for PGA Pros to learn more about the latest research in golf science. “