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

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2013-10, Vol.27 (10), p.2708-2713
• Main Authors: Read, Paul J., Lloyd, Rhodri S., De Ste Croix, Mark, Oliver, Jon L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Anthropometry; Athletes; Athletic Performance - physiology; Biomechanical Phenomena; Golf; Golf - physiology; Golf equipment; Humans; Male; Motor ability; Movement - physiology; Muscle Strength - physiology; Regression analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Sports Equipment; Velocity; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318280ca00

ABSTRACTRead, PJ, Lloyd, RS, De Ste Croix, M, and Oliver, JL. Relationships between field-based measures of strength and power and golf club head speed. J Strength Cond Res 27(10)2708–2713, 2013—Increased golf club head speed (CHS) has been shown to result in greater driving distances and is also correlated with golf handicap. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between field-based measures of strength and power and golf CHS with a secondary aim to determine the reliability of the selected tests. A correlation design was used to assess the following variablesanthropometrics, squat jump (SJ) height and squat jump peak power (SJPP), unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) heights (right leg countermovement jump and left leg countermovement jump [LLCMJ]), bilateral CMJ heights, countermovement jump peak power (CMJPP), and medicine ball seated throw (MBST) and medicine ball rotational throw (MBRT). Fouty-eight male subjects participated in the study (age20.1 ± 3.2 years, height1.76 ± 0.07 m, mass72.8 ± 7.8 kg, handicap5.8 ± 2.2). Moderate significant correlations were reported between CHS and MBRT (r = 0.67; p < 0.01), MBST (r = 0.63; p < 0.01), CMJPP (r = 0.54; p < 0.01), and SJPP (r = 0.53; p < 0.01). Weak significant correlations (r = 0.3–0.5) were identified between CHS and the other remaining variables excluding LLCMJ. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified that the MBST and SJ were the greatest predictors of CHS, explaining 49% of the variance. Additionally the intraclass correlation coefficients reported for tests of CHS and all performance variables were deemed acceptable (r = 0.7–0.9). The results of this study suggest that the strength and conditioning coach can accurately assess and monitor the physical abilities of golf athletes using the proposed battery of field tests. Additionally, movements that are more concentrically dominant in nature may display stronger relationships with CHS due to MBST and SJ displaying the highest explained variance after a stepwise linear regression.