5. Performance Metrics for the Putting Process

Although most of the traditional research around sport science is centered on the product variables, many researchers have been working toward a better understanding of the process measurements of motor execution. By studying those variables, one may further understand the reasons behind the stability and variability of the final outcome (i.e., the product variables previously presented). In spite of this, several authors, such as Delay et al. (1997), Coello et al. (2000), Hume et al. (2005), Couceiro et al. (2013) and Dias et al. (2013) have proposed methodologies to study process variables in golf putting during each of its phases (cf. Chap. 2), giving particular attention to the position, velocity and acceleration of the putter. Most of the current research on this subject focuses on specific properties of the process variables, such as amplitude, period, maximum or minimum values, etc. This chapter will start by presenting the insights regarding variables provided in the literature. Despite the useful information provided by those process variables, the difficulty remains in proposing an adequate analysis methodology encompassing the overall motor execution of the athlete. This is still considered an open challenge since, as opposed to the product variables previously presented, most of the process variables, either related to golf putting or not, are time-variant, i.e., they are classified as a time series. Those variables are directly related with human movement and, as biological processes, the analysis should consider the overall information over time. However, this sort of tool, mostly of a non-linear nature, requires specialized knowledge on engineering and mathematics. Nevertheless, after introducing the most traditional research around putting process variables, this chapter will delineate a methodology to bring the science of golf to a new level of understanding.