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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Review article
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MUSCLE STRENGTH AND GOLF PERFORMANCE: A CRITICAL REVIEW |
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Lorena Torres-Ronda1,2  ,
Luis Sánchez-Medina3 and Juan J. González-Badillo3 |
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1GIRSANE, Performance and Health Research Group for High-Level Sports, Sant Cugat High Performance Center, Barcelona, Spain, 2National Institute of Physical Education, Barcelona (INEFC), Spain, 3Faculty of Sport, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 9 - 18 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| Golf has become an increasingly popular sport and a growing body
of research trying to identify its main physical requirements is being published.
The aim of this review was twofold: first, to examine the existing scientific
literature regarding strength training and golf in healthy, non-injured,
subjects; and second, to reach conclusions that could provide information
on how to design more effective strength training programs to improve golf
performance as well as directions for future research. Studies which analyzed
the relationship between muscle strength, swing performance variables (club
head speed, driving distance, ball speed) and skill (handicap, score) were
reviewed. Changes in swing performance following different strength training
programs were also investigated. Finally, a critical analysis about the
methodologies used was carried out. The results of the reviewed studies
seem to indicate that: 1) a positive relationship exists between handicap
and swing performance (even though few studies have investigated this issue);
2) there is a positive correlation between skill (handicap and/or score)
and muscle strength; and 3) there is a relationship between driving distance,
swing speed, ball speed and muscle strength. Results suggest that training
leg-hip and trunk power as well as grip strength is especially relevant
for golf performance improvement. Studies that analyzed variations in swing
performance following resistance-only training programs are scarce, thus
it is difficult to prove whether the observed improvements are attributable
to changes in strength levels. Many of the studies reviewed presented some
methodological errors in their design and not all strength assessment protocols
seemed appropriate. Further studies should determine muscle strength needs
in relation to final swing performance, using well designed experiments
and strict isoinertial assessment protocols which adequately relate to specific
golf motion, age and skill level. More studies with elite participants,
either professional or amateur, would be especially desirable.
Key words: Golf swing, driving distance, club head speed, resistance training, strength assessment. |
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