Learning Resources
What does Six Degrees of Freedom mean in the Sportsbox 3DGolf app?
Six Degrees of Freedom
In the Sportsbox Golf app, we use the “Six Degrees of Freedom” — all motion can be measured in six different ways.
First, there are linear movements: Forward/backward, left/right, up/down — which are measured in feet, inches, meters, etc.
Next, there are angular movements: Turn, bend forward/backward, or side-to-side — which are measured in degrees.
The linear motions apply to the golfer’s position in terms of lift, thrust, and sway. Lift is movement up and down; thrust is forward and backward, and sway is left and right.
Meanwhile, the angular movements measure rotations, like turn, bend, and side bend.
For example, your pelvis (hips) when the golfer is at address will have a certain position and orientation that will change throughout the swing. At the top of the backswing, the golfer’s hips will have turned, tipped sideways, and tilted backward, and they may also have swayed sideways, thrust forward, and lifted up compared to where they were at address.
Coach it next
See this measurement in a coaching context.
Applied Education
Six Degrees of Freedom: A Better Way to Frame a Coaching Question
Use Sportsbox’s six-movement framework to turn a broad visual observation into a smaller, testable 3D coaching question.
Read coaching example →
Applied Education
How to Coach Chest and Pelvis Turn Without Chasing One Number
A practical lesson framework for comparing chest and pelvis rotation through time, choosing useful swing events, and keeping the measurement tied to the golfer’s question.
Read coaching example →
Applied Education
How to Read Sway Through the Swing
Learn how to use chest sway, pelvis sway, and swing events to study lateral movement without turning one position into the whole lesson.
Read coaching example →