Dr Jack Wells

Jack is a Senior Lecturer in biomechanics and strength and conditioning, and has a keen interest in all aspects of golf performance support.

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Background

Jack joined ARU in January 2024 and is a member of the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences (CCSES). Jack has a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science, an MSc in Sports Performance and a PhD in Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning for Golf.

Before working at ARU, Jack spent ten years as a sport scientist at the Professional Golfers’ Association. Alongside Jack’s current role at ARU, he works as a consulting strength and conditioning coach for England Golf, a Scientific Advisor to the DP World Tour and a Scientific Advisor to the European Disabled Golfers’ Association.

During his PhD, Jack developed methods of assessing golfers using force plates which are now being used to physically profile the best golfers in the world. Due to this impact of his research, it was submitted to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (UOA 24) and was rated as internationally impactful/world leading.

Research interests

• Strength and conditioning for golf
• Biomechanics of the golf swing
• Impact of strength and conditioning on sports performance
• Force plate analysis

Areas of research supervision

• Lewis Clarke – Impact of Breast and Bra Support on Elite Female Golfers

Teaching

Jack teaches the following modules at ARU:

• Multidisciplinary Sport and Exercise Science
• Practical Competencies in Biomechanics
• Biomechanics: Analysis of Motion

Qualifications

• PhD Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning for Golf, University of Bedfordshire
• MSc Sports Performance, University of Bedfordshire
• BSc Sport and Exercise Science, De Montfort University

Memberships, editorial boards

• UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• TheraBody: £20,000 (alongside Dr Ben Langdown)
• European Disabled Golfers’ Association: £5,000 (per year for three years supporting research)
• The Royal and Ancient (R&A): £5,000 (per year for three years supporting research)

Selected recent publications

Peer reviewed publications

Watson, A., Murray, A., Coughlan, D., Wells, J., Ehlert, A., Xu, J., Turner, A. and Bishop, C., (2024) Understanding training load in golf: a survey of swing coaches, performance practitioners and medical staff. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Robinson, L., Murray, A., Coughlan, D., Wells, J., Mountjoy, M., Hembrough, R., Glover, D., Scott, F., Turner, A. and Bishop, C., (2024). Relationships and Within-Group Differences in Physical Attributes and Golf Performance in Elite Amateur Female Players. Life, 14(6), p.674.

Brennan, A., Murray, A., Coughlan, D., Wells, J., Xu, J., Turner, A., Brearley, S. and Bishop, C., 2024. Associations and within-group differences in physical characteristics and golf performance data in high-level amateur players. Applied Sciences, 14(5), p.1854.

Brennan, A., Murray, A., Mountjoy, M., Hellstrom, J., Coughlan, D., Wells, J., Brearley, S., Ehlert, A., Jarvis, P., Turner, A., & Bishop, C. (2024). Association Between Physical Characteristics and Clubhead Speed: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, pp. 1-25.

Robinson, L., Murray, A., Wells, J,. Glover, D., Mountjoy, M., Coughlan, D., Hemborough., R., Scott, F., Turner, A. & Bishop, C (2024) Practices and Perceptions of Strength and Conditioning Training in Female Golf: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study of High-Level Amateur Players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 42(3), pp.270-280.

Morrison, A. & Wells, J.E.T. (2024). Evaluation of shaft angle to ball-to-target line as a predictor of horizontal delivery plane angle in the golf swing. Sports Biomechanics, pp. 1-18.

Bishop, C., Wells, J., Ehlert, A., Turner, A., Coughlan, D., Sachs, N. and Murray, A. (2023). Trackman 4: Within and between-session reliability and inter-relationships of launch monitor metrics during indoor testing in high-level golfers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41(23), pp.2138-2143.

Brennan, A., Murray, A., Wells, J., Broadie, M., Mountjoy, M., Turner, A., Coughlan, D. & Bishop, C (2023). Validity and Reliability of the Flightscope Mevo+ Launch Monitor for Assessing Golf Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(4), pp 174-181.

Robinson, L., Murray, A., Ehlert, A., Wells, J., Jarvis, P., Turner, A., Glover, D., Coughlan, D., Hembrough, R. & Bishop, C., (2023). Effects of physical training and associations between physical performance characteristics and golf performance in female players: A systematic review with meta-analysis. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 38(2), pp. 374-383.

Brennan, A., Ehlert, A., Wells, J., Broadie, M., Coughlan, D., Turner, A. & Bishop, C., (2022). Monitoring performance in golf: more than just clubhead speed. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 45(6), pp.631-641.

Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H. & Fletcher, I.M. (2022). Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and kinetic variables during a countermovement jump. Sports Biomechanics, pp.1-13.

Wells, J.E.T. & Langdown, B.L. (2020). Sports science for golf : A survey of high-skilled golfers’ “perceptions” and “practices”. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(8), pp. 918-927.

Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H. & Fletcher, I.M. (2020). Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and vertical ground reaction force asymmetry during vertical jumps and an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(10), pp.2824-2831. 

Brearley, S.L., Coughlan, D.A. & Wells, J.E.T. (2019). Strength and Conditioning in Golf: Probability of Performance Impact. Sport Performance & Science Reports, 61(1), pp.1-3.

Wells, J.E.T., Charalambous, L.H., Mitchell, A.C.S., Coughlan, D., Brearley, S.L., Hawkes, R.A., Murray, A.D., Hillman, R.G., & Fletcher, I.M. (2019). Relationships between Challenge Tour Golfers’ clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(12), pp. 1381-1386.

Langdown, B.L., Wells, J.E.T., Graham, S. & Bridge, M.W. (2018). Acute effects of different warm-up protocols on highly skilled golfers’ drive performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37, (6), pp. 656-664.

Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H. & Fletcher, I.M. (2018). Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during vertical jumps and an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(16), pp. 1847-1851.

Book chapters

Wells, J. & Langdown, B. (2022). Warming-up for Golf. In Bliss, A. (Ed) Strength and Conditioning for Golf (pp. 55-74). Routledge.

Langdown, B. & Wells, J. (2022). Meeting a Golfer's Needs: Needs Analysis, Profiling, and Coaching Considerations in Strength and Conditioning. In Bliss, A. (Ed) Strength and Conditioning for Golf (pp. 11-33). Routledge.

Recent presentations and conferences

Wells, J.E.T. (2024) Workshop: Physical Profiling for Golf. The World Scientific Congress for Golf, Loughborough University, UK.

Wells, J.E.T, Bage, T., Bishop, C., Coughlan, D (2024) Relationships between DP World Tour Golfers’ drive distance and kinetic variables during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull. The World Scientific Congress for Golf, The Belfry, UK.

Wells, J.E.T. (2023). Biomechanics of the Big Hitters: for Strength and Conditioning Coaches. England Golf, The Belfry, UK.

Wells, J.E.T. (2023). Biomechanics of the Big Hitters: for Golf Coaches. England Golf, Woodhall Spa, UK.

Wells, J.E.T.  Impulse or Power? (2020) England Golf, Online CPD event.

Wells, J.E.T. (2019). The effects of an 8-week strength vs. plyometric intervention on clubhead velocity and vertical ground reaction forces. Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research Conference, University of Bedfordshire, UK. Winner: Best oral presentation.

Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H. and Fletcher, I.M. (2019). The Effects of an 8-week Strength vs. Plyometric Intervention on Clubhead Velocity and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces. In Proceedings of the BASES Biomechanics Interest Group, Huddersfield, UK.

Wells, J.E.T. & Langdown, B.L (2018). Warm-up habits of highly-skilled golfers prior to practice and tournament rounds. International Journal of Golf Science, Abbotsford, Canada.

Wells, J.E.T. (2018) Strength and Conditioning and Biomechanics for Golf. England Golf Online CPD event.

Wells, J.E.T. (2017) Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead speed and force producing capabilities during vertical jumps and an isometric mid-thigh pull.  European Tour Medical Advisory Board, The Belfry.

Wells, J.E.T. (2016). Relationships Between Vertical Ground Reaction Force Variables and Clubhead Speed in highly Skilled Golfers and the Effect of an 8-Week Fitness Program on Clubhead Speed and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Highly Skilled Golfers. England Golf Coaching Conference, St. Georges Park, UK.

Wells, J.E.T. (2016). Relationships Between Vertical Ground Reaction Force Variables and Clubhead Speed in highly Skilled Golfers. The Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research Conference, The University of Bedfordshire, UK.

Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H. & Fletcher, I.M. (2016). Relationships Between Vertical Ground Reaction Force Variables and Clubhead Speed in Highly Skilled Golfers. International Journal of Golf Science, 5 (Suppl.), S74, St Andrews, Scotland.

Langdown, B.L. & Wells, J.E.T. (2014). The effects of a golf specific warm up on club and ball parameters. The Titleist Performance Institute World Golf Fitness Summit, San Diego, USA.