EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONING ON INTERCOLLEGIATE GOLFER PERFORMANCE

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 62 - 72
• Main Authors: DOAN, BRANDON K, NEWTON, ROBERT U, KWON, YOUNG-HOO, KRAEMER, WILLIAM J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Strength and Conditioning Association 01-02-2006; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Golf - physiology; Humans; Isometric Contraction - physiology; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Physical Education and Training - methods; Space life sciences
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/00124278-200602000-00011

This investigation was conducted to determine the effects of a physical conditioning program on clubhead speed, consistency, and putting distance control in 10 men and 6 women National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I golfers. Supervised strength, power, and flexibility training was performed 3 times per week for 11 weeks. Performance tests were conducted before and after the training period. Significant (p < 0.05) increases were noted for all strength, power, and flexibility tests from preto posttraining of between 7.3 and 19.9%. Clubhead speed increased significantly (1.6%), equating to approximately a 4.9-m increase in driving distance. Putting distance control significantly improved for the men-only group (29.6%), whereas there was no significant difference in putting distance control for the total and women-only groups. Eleven weeks of golf-specific physical conditioning increased clubhead speed without a negative effect on consistency or putting distance control in intercollegiate men and women golfers.