Tomáš Gryc

Windsurfing (WS) and kitesurfing (KS) share the same environment but differ in biomechanics and equipment demands. This cross-sectional study compared physical performance between WS and KS athletes. Twenty-five male recreational athletes participated (WS n = 13, age 27.7 ± 7.0 years; KS n = 12, age 29.0 ± 7.5 years). Body composition, isometric strength (handgrip and back-and-leg dynamometer), dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test: YBT), functional movement quality (FMS), and drop-jump performance (ground contact time, reactive strength index, jump height, take-off time) were assessed. Groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.05), and Cliff’s δ was calculated for significant outcomes. Participant characteristics were similar, although surfing experience was greater in WS. KS showed higher leg strength (p = 0.041; δ = 0.481) with no difference in handgrip strength. KS also demonstrated higher FMS shoulder mobility (p = 0.022; δ = 0.532) and total FMS score (p = 0.014; δ = 0.577). No between-group differences were found for YBT metrics or drop-jump variables (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that KS athletes exhibit greater isometric pulling strength and movement proficiency, whereas balance and reactive jump performance are comparable, supporting discipline-specific conditioning priorities.

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in golf swing execution in terms of the parameters of the pelvis and thorax movement between the sexes in junior golfers and their relation to the golf club velocity. Elite female and male players (age: 15.4 ± 1.0 and 15.8 ± 1.7 years, respectively) performed 10 golf swings with a driver under laboratory conditions. Pelvis and thorax movement parameters and golf club velocities were measured using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Statistical parametric mapping analysis of pelvis–thorax coupling revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between boys and girls during backswing. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of sex on the parameters of maximal pelvic rotation (F = 6.28, p = 0.02), X-factor (F = 5.41, p = 0.03), and golf club velocity (F = 31.98, p < 0.01). No significant relationship was found between pelvis and thorax movement parameters and golf club velocity in the girls. We found a significant negative relationship between the parameters of maximal thorax rotation and golf club velocity (r = −0.941, p < 0.01) and between X-Factor and golf club velocity (r = −0.847, p < 0.05) in the boys. We suggest that these negative relationships in males were caused by the influence of hormones during their maturation and biological development, where there is decreased flexibility (lower shoulders rotation and X-factor) and growth of muscle strength (higher club head velocity).

Background: Previous studies identified a medium/strong relationship between the accuracy of wedge play and performance of professional golf players. However, there is a lack of research studies investigating which distance in wedge play has the strongest relationship to performance. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy with wedges of elite amateur golfers and find out the relationship between accuracy from different distances and short and long-term performance. Methods: Ten elite golf players assessed accuracy across distances (45 – 85 m) with Trackman in a pre-tournament wedge test and afterward attended a three-round tournament. Results: Percentage error rate decreases (19.0% to 8.4%) with increasing distance, in addition, a significant difference in percentage error rate between 45 m distance and 85 m distance (p = 0.02) significant relation between percentage error rate and short term/long term performance indicators at 45 and 55 m. Conclusion: Distance control was significantly more difficult (more variable) than direction control with wedges. Significant difference between distances indicates greater difficulty in controlling distance over shorter distances played with wedges. Results show higher importance of accuracy with wedges on performance in shorter (45 and 55 m) versus longer (65, 75 and 85 m) distances. Players performed the stroke more consistently in terms of controlling key impact factors at longer distances, especially in regards to the club head speed, which, together with the ball speed, is the main determinant of the carry distance.

This study aimed to evaluate the putting skills of amateur players and the relationship between these skills and long-term and actual performance. The participants (n = 34) performed tests from different distances (1 m, 3 m, 5 m) and slopes (uphill, downhill, right-left, left-right). Based on these tests, the accuracy and success of their putting were measured. ANOVA results showed that performance on 1 m putts was more accurate and successful than 3 m and 5 m putts. Furthermore, 3 m putts were more accurate and successful than 5 m putts on all slopes (p < 0.001). The participants with HCP ≤ 5 were more successful than the HCP 5.1–12 and HCP ≥ 12.1 groups, and HCP 5.1–12 players were more successful than HCP ≥ 12.1 players in 1 m and 3 m putts (p = .046). Accuracy did not vary between HCP groups. Initial putt slopes influence accuracy (p < 0.001) and success (p = .0038). Downhill and left–right slopes are associated with lower accuracy than other slopes and downhill slopes provide the best success at all distances. This study showed that putting skills play a crucial role in shaping the golf performance of amateur players.

The purpose of our study was to investigate peak torque (PT) of knee extensors (KE) and knee flexors (KF), bilateral and unilateral strength asymmetries in isokinetic testing and vertical jump height (JH), vertical ground reaction force (VGRF), and force differences (_ΔVGRF) between legs during different jump tests in professional first-line firefighters (n = 15) competing in fire sports disciplines. There was a significant effect of jump type on JH (F_2,44 = 7.23, p < 0.05), VGRF (F_2,44 = 16.03, p < 0.05), and _ΔVGRF (F_2,44 = 3.45, p < 0.05). Professional firefighters achieved a mean JH of 50.17 cm in the countermovement jump free arms and high PT of KEs (3.15 Nm/kg). No significant differences (p > 0.05) and small effect sizes (d < 0.3) were found between the legs when PTs were assessed. We found a slightly higher (d = 0.53) unilateral strength ratio in non-dominant legs (58.12 ± 10.26%) compared to dominant legs (55.31 ± 7.51%). No effect of laterality was found among limb comparisons, but a higher unilateral isokinetic strength ratio was found in non-dominant legs of firefighters. A high level of strength (PT of KEs > 3 times body weight) and vertical jump performance is comparable to the performance of elite athletic populations.

The aim of the study was to determine the variability of golf swing execution in lower and upper body parameters for two golf clubs. Eleven elite female golfers of junior age volunteered in the study and performed 10 trials with mid-iron and with driver at laboratory conditions. A 3D motion capture system was used to measure the lower and upper body movement parameters and club head speed. To assess variability, the coefficient of variation (CV%) and biological coefficient of variation (BCV%) were calculated. Two-tailed t test was used to identify differences between mid-iron and driver variability for each selected kinematic parameter. Any significant difference in variability of kinematics parameters was found between mid-iron club and driver club. However, for both clubs, we found high stability of performance in timing parameters and of lower limbs kinematic parameters at three selected moments of the golf swing. We conclude that timing stability may be the key to achieve the effective and repeatable golf swing in both golf clubs types and that high intra-individual variability of performance may be due to large age range in the study group.

When the golf swing is involving all body segments and is thus considered as one of the most complex of sports motions. The aim of this study was to determine the selected kinematic parameters of movement of pelvic and segments of the upper body (shoulder rotation, hip rotation, X-Factor, stretch X-Factor) that affect the club head speed at ball contact in elite golfers. To build the upper body segment model were used spots and their position during the measurement was scanned by 3D kinematic analyzer CODA Motion System. To determine the interindividual stability of performance the coefficient of variation was used and for statistical analysis of the relationship between kinematic and temporal parameters and the club head speed at ball contact the Pearson's correlation coefficient was used. We found a high interindividual stability in maximized shoulders rotation and club head speed at ball contact parameters. When analyzing relationship between the club head speed at ball contact and the observed kinematic parameters of the movement of the upper body only a high relationship with the stretch X-factor parameter was found.