Effect of a 6-week yoga intervention on swing mechanics during the golf swing: a feasibility study

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that participating in physical conditioning programmes can improve golf performance, however, the effectiveness of a yoga intervention has yet to be investigated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of a six-week yoga intervention on golf swing mechanics. Ten male golfers participated in the laboratory-basedstudy. Golf swing mechanics were collected from two testing sessions, before and after the sixweek yoga intervention, using the Vicon motion capture system. Following the six-week yoga intervention, significant changes were observed between the yoga and control group in X-Factor (P ≤ 0.05) and a medium effect (d ≥ 0.50) observed. No significant changes (P > 0.05) and no effect (d < 0.20) were observed in the X-Factor stretch. Significant changes (P ≤ 0.05) and a medium effect (d > 0.50) were observed for the pelvis rotations following the yoga intervention, however, no differences were observed in torso rotations or hand velocities (P > 0.05). The findings of this feasibility study suggest that yoga may be a promising intervention in helping to improve golf swing mechanics, however, future research is required to confirm the effect of the use of yoga during the golf swing due to the sample size.

An evaluation of temporal and club angle parameters during golf swings using low cost video analyses packages

“…Ugbolue and colleagues have captured and evaluated clinical datasets using both 2D and 3D motion systems 1 , 7 . This has been supported by previous studies on 3D sport related projects in the area of golf swing biomechanics 8 , 9 and 2D golf swing related projects 10 . 2D motion systems are the next best alternative when 3D optical systems, inertial systems and electromagnetic systems which are widely used in golf are unavailable.…”

Golf Swing Biomechanics: A Systematic Review and Methodological Recommendations for Kinematics

“…Thus, warm-up seems to help golfers reach their maximal X factor. Sorbie et al [67] also investigated the influence of yoga training on golf swing parameters and found a significant increase in the X-factor [67]. Some authors, for example Dale et al [62] and Joyce et al [34], have investigated the potential link between X-factor and injury occurrence, particularly low-back pain.…”

“…Sorbie et al [67] measured hand speed during the downswing before and after a yoga training program and showed a slight improvement of approximately 2 m/s for a hand speed of 30 m/s.…”

Efficacy of yoga in facilitating mindfulness among asymptomatic male cricket players

“…Hatha yoga practices have previously proven to have been beneficial in improving sport performance (26) , facilitating secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland, which may be acting as a psycho-sensitive hormone, improvements in the autonomic balance, respiratory performance and well-being (27) . It has also demonstrated to have reduced state anxiety (28) , enhancing mindfulness and decreasing stress (18,29) , greater goal-directed energy (18) , upregulating the antioxidant capacity of cells to combat oxidative stress (30) , and also facilitating self-regulation and mindful awareness by cultivating 'witness consciousness' (31) .…”