Jon initially studied Mechanical Engineering at Nottingham University, before joining the Sports Technology Research Group in 1998. His early research studied the ‘feel’ of a golf shot and he worked in collaboration with Callaway Golf for 8 years. He completed his PhD in 2002 and started his first academic post in 2006. He has conducted research in collaboration with many leading equipment manufacturers (adidas, HEAD, Callaway Golf, Nike Golf, PING), governing bodies (FIFA, ITF) and national federations (England Hockey). He also teaches on both the Sports Technology and Mechanical Engineering degree programs and performs the role of Admissions Tutor.
Jon has an interest in a broad range of sports. He has played football and golf since a young age but to no great standard. His sole sporting achievement was winning the local cup competition in cricket at the age of 16. He contributed little with either bat or ball, however, and his role in the team was to make up the numbers. More recently he has had a mid-life crisis, revived his enthusiasm for cycling and become a fully-fledged MAMIL.