Many sports involve a swinging action. Depending on the sport, it may be clubs, bats, rackets, arms, and/or feet which are swung.
Variations in swinging technique lead to massive differences in results. Take a moment to consider the natural swinging motion of a golf club. The following graph is excerpted from Golf Science, Volume 1 from Schottenbauer Publishing.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the maximum and minimum x positions of the club? The y positions? Write these as coordinate pairs (x, y).
- Sketch the real positions of the club, during the first swing back and forth. Does the club begin at the right or left?
- How many times does the club swing in the graph?
- How does an athletic swing of the club differ from the natural swing of the club?
One of the most important techniques for children to learn in physical education class is the concept of follow-through. Hitting a ball effectively requires prolonged contact between the bat/club/racket/foot and the ball. This means that the bat/club/racket/foot must continue through the point of initial contact, following the ball and pushing it as far as possible as it travels away from the player.
The concept of follow-through can be examined using graphs. Consider the graphs below, excerpted from the book Golf Science from Schottenbauer Publishing:
Discussion Questions:
- Which graph above shows backwards rebound of the golf club from the ball?
- Which graph above shows follow-through in the swing?
- Compare the graphs, and describe the difference in the highest pre-swing position of the golf club, including both vertical & horizontal coordinates. Is the highest pre-swing position of the club approximately the same in both graphs?
- Compare the graphs, and describe the difference in velocity (speed and direction) of the golf club at the moment it hits the ball. Is the velocity approximately the same in both graphs?
- Compare the graphs, and describe any differences in the trajectory of the ball.
- Using these graphs, describe the importance of follow-through.
- Are these graphs suitable for assessing the importance of follow-through?
