Abstract
This thesis studied maximizing the swing speed at impact of double pendulum models of the golf swing. We investigated the widely used 2D Planar Double Pendulum Golf Swing and utilized a Lagrangian formulation to derive the new 3D Non-Planar Double Pendulum Golf Swing to create a more realistic model of the golf swing. We employed a new technique called the 4th-Order Yoshida Predictor-Corrector algorithm to numerically solve second-order, coupled differential equations and to conserve the total energy of the systems. We determined how the parameters of the golfer, initial conditions of the downswing, and the swing mechanics of highly-skilled golfers maximized the swing speed at impact. We found that the 3D Non-Planar Double Pendulum Golf swing model more accurately matched the golf swings of low handicap-index golfers. We concluded that the 3D Non-Planar Double Pendulum Golf Swing model not only increased the maximum swing speed but also minimized the difference between the swing speed at impact and the maximum swing speed compared to that of the 2D Planar Double Pendulum Golf Swing.