Competitive Elite Golf

Abstract

Elite golfers commonly use fitness and technical training to become more competitive. The aim of this paper was to review the literature regarding the relationships between elite golfers' playing results, technique and physique. The competitive outcome is a direct function of the score. The three golf statistical measures that show the strongest correlations to scoring average are greens in regulation (GIR), scrambling, and putts per GIR. However, more detailed game statistics are needed where the distances to the targets are known before and after the strokes. Players affect ball displacement by controlling clubhead velocity and clubface angle during club and ball impact. X-factor studies have produced ambiguous results, possibly caused by different definitions of upper torso, rotation and top of backswing. Higher clubhead speed is generally associated with larger spinal rotation and shoulder girdle protraction at the top of the backswing. It is also associated with higher ground reaction forces and torques, a bottom-up and sequential increase of body segment angular velocities, a rapid increase of spinal rotation and a late adduction of the wrists during the downswing. Players can increase the clubhead speed generated by a swinging motion by actively adding a force couple. Wrist, elbow and shoulder force couple strategies should be differentiated when investigating the technique. Physical parameters such as anthropometrics, strength and flexibility are associated with skill level and clubhead speed. Current studies have investigated the linear correlation between arm and shaft lengths and clubhead speed, but a quadratic relationship may be stronger due to changes in moment of inertia. Fitness training can increase and perhaps decrease the clubhead speed and striking distance, depending on training methods and the player's fitness and level of skill. Future studies may focus on individual training needs and the relationship between physique, execution and its relation to accuracy of impact and ball displacement.

‘PIM’ Training with e-Putting Imagery Script Helps to Improve Putting Scores and Moods of the Golfers, Is This Really True?

“…The present study also confirmed that the mood of the golfers is unpredictable while performing the task [17,18]. For instance, the effectiveness of PIM training with PETTLEP imagery components helped to control the negative mood and increased the positive mood of the golfers.…”

Quiet Eye Training Facilitates Competitive Putting Performance in Elite Golfers

“…Given its relative importance within the game of golf it is unsurprising that much research has focused on improving accuracy in golf putting (Hellstrom, 2009a). Requiring precise and accurate movements and often performed under conditions of high pressure, the golf putt is a skill particularly susceptible to breakdown (Gucciardi et al, 2010).…”

Effects of nine weeks isokinetic training on power, golf kinematics, and driver performance in pre-elite golfers

“…In competitive golf, the player’s ability to hit the ball a long distance affects the score in a positive way [1], and research highlights the importance of driving distance in relation to golf performance [2]. Initial ball velocity is dependent on centeredness of impact, club head velocity (i.e.…”

“…Only a few studies have included rotational tests or incorporated training exercises aimed to mimic the ballistic movements in the golf swing and they found marginal changes in CHS (1.5–1.6%) and in driving distance (4.3%) [16, 21]. Intervention studies using strength training in golf have received some criticism for a lack of research on skilled golfers and inclusion of control groups [1, 8]. The most common performance variable measured is CHS, however a review [8] found that ball speed was the driver performance variable most likely to increase from a strength training intervention.…”

“…Zheng et al [26], compared swing kinematics between male and female golfers on the PGA and LPGA tour and found differences in particular in maximum velocity of the wrists, right elbow extension, timing of left wrist extension velocity, and club head velocity. A greater X-factor stretch is assumed to make use of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC), where a greater stretch of the torso musculature is assumed to allow for greater forces to be developed [1, 22]. Bulbulian et al [23] reported a reduced electromyography activity in the torso and no change in driver performance after an intervention to shorten the backswing.…”