Are Anthropometric, Flexibility, Muscular Strength, and Endurance Variables Related To Clubhead Velocity in Low- And High-Handicap Golfers?

Abstract

The present study assessed the anthropometric profile (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocol), flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance of 20 male golfers. These data were collected in order to determine: a) the relationship between these kinanthropometric measures and clubhead velocity; and b) if these measures could distinguish low-handicap (LHG) and high-handicap (HHG) golfers. Ten LHG (handicap of 0.3 +/- 0.5) and 10 HHG (handicap of 20.3 +/- 2.4) performed 10 swings for maximum velocity and accuracy with their own 5-iron golf club at a wall-mounted target. LHG hit the target significantly more (115%) and had a 12% faster clubhead velocity than HHG (p < 0.01). The LHG also had significantly (28%) greater golf swing-specific cable woodchop (GSCWC) strength (p < 0.01) and tendencies for greater (30%) bench press strength and longer (5%) upper am and total arm (4%) length and less (24%) right hip internal rotation than HHG (0.01 < p < 0.05). GSCWC strength was significantly correlated to clubhead velocity (p < 0.01), with bench press and hack squat strength as well as upper arm and total arm length also approaching significance (0.01 < p < 0.05). Golfers with high GSCWC strength and perhaps greater bench press strength and longer arms may therefore be at a competitive advantage, as these characteristics allow the production of greater clubhead velocity and resulting ball displacement. Such results have implications for golf talent identification programs and for the prescription and monitoring of golf conditioning programs. While golf conditioning programs may have many aims, specific trunk rotation exercises need to be included if increased clubhead velocity is the goal. Muscular hypertrophy development may not need to be emphasized as it could reduce golf performance by limiting range of motion and/or increasing moment of inertia.

Relationships Between Field-Based Measures of Strength and Power and Golf Club Head Speed

“…The current study reported high reliability in the range of field tests used and statistical significance with CHS in all performance measures apart from LLCMJ. By comparison, lower levels of reliability have been reported in previous work (37) and a range of other studies assessing physical relationships with CHS did not report reliability statistics for the physical performance tests (15,19). The medicine ball rotational throw used in the current study displayed high reliability (ICC = 0.90) and this is comparable to other work using the same test (14).…”

“…An established method of measuring golf driving performance has been to determine the magnitude of club head speed (8,10,14,19,20),which is dependent on many factors including the amount and direction of ground reaction force produced (1), and the use of the kinetic chain sequencing (34).…”

“…Keogh et al, (2009) analyzed a range of anthropometric, flexibility and muscular strength measures of low and high handicap players (0.3 ± 0.5 and 20.3 ± 2.4 respectively), reporting that a golf specific cable wood chop displayed the highest overall association (r = 0.70) with club head speed. Additionally, trends were evident that low handicap players achieved significantly greater (30%), bench press scores (19).…”

“…Keogh et al, (2009) analyzed a range of anthropometric, flexibility and muscular strength measures of low and high handicap players (0.3 ± 0.5 and 20.3 ± 2.4 respectively), reporting that a golf specific cable wood chop displayed the highest overall association (r = 0.70) with club head speed. Additionally, trends were evident that low handicap players achieved significantly greater (30%), bench press scores (19). The impact of chest strength is further evident as Gordon et al (2009) noted increased strength of the chest, measured using an 8-repition maximum on a pec deck machine, as a significant indicator (r = 0.69) of club head speed in low handicap players (4.9 ± 2.9).…”

Evidence for biomechanics and motor learning research improving golf performance

“…Fradkin et al (2004) established that clubhead velocity was correlated (r = 0.950) with golf handicap (clubhead velocity = 4.065 − 0.0214 x hcp) for 45 male golfers (18-80 years, 2-27 hcp). Further, Keogh et al (2009) found that low handicap golfers (hcp = 1.3 ±0.5) had significantly greater 5-iron accuracy and clubhead velocity and were stronger in the golf swing-specific cable woodchop than the high-handicappers (hcp = 20.3 ±2.4).…”