Background. The ball traveling a long distance in the correct direction characterizes good driving performance in golf. The displacement of a golf shot is a direct result of the club heads linear velocity when it makes contact with the ball. To increase the distance the ball travels the golfer must increase the linear velocity at the point of impact. Aim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the golf downswing in both elite and non-elite golfers and to determine whether there were any differences in rotational speeds of the pelvis, thorax and lead hand and also club head and ball speeds. A secondary aim was to investigate sex differences between groups. Method. 43 participants took part in the study. 20 elite golfers (13 males and 7 females) and 23 non-elite golfers (15 males and 8 females). 3D motion analysis was used to examine the golf swing and data was collected for peak pelvis rotational speed, peak thorax rotational speed and peak lead hand speed. A golf analysis system was used to collect club head speed and ball speed data. Independent samples t-tests were used to investigate differences between the groups. Results. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing elite and non-elite peak thorax rotational speed (p=0.000), peak lead hand speed (p=0.000), club head speed (p=0.000) and ball speed (p=0.000). However no statistical significant difference (p=0.268) was found in peak pelvis rotational speed between elite and non-elite golfers. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing sex differences between the groups for peak thorax rotational speed (male p=0.000; female p=0.005), peak lead hand speed (male p=0.000; female p=0.000), club head speed (male p=0.000; female p=0.000) and ball speed (male p=0.000; female p=0.000). However no statistical significant difference was found in peak pelvis rotational speed between male golfers (p=0.142) or female golfers (p=0.776). Statistically significant sex differences were found within groups for club head speed (elite p=0.000; non-elite p=0.000) and ball speed (elite p=0.000; non-elite p=0.000). However there were no statistical significant sex differences within groups for peak pelvis rotational speed (elite p=0.296; non-elite p=0.573), peak thorax rotational speed (elite p=0.430; non-elite p=0.828) or peak lead hand speed (elite p=0.058; non-elite p=0.257). Conclusion. This study shows that there are differences in kinematic variables, in the thorax and lead hand speed, between elite and non-elite golfers and may provide the basis for future research and to help develop training programs.