Relationships between Challenge Tour golfers’ clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull

Abstract

21A number of field-based investigations have evidenced practically significant relationships 22 between clubhead velocity (CHV), vertical jump performance and maximum strength. 23Unfortunately, whilst these investigations provide a great deal of external validity, they are 24 unable to ascertain vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) variables that may relate to golfers' 25 CHVs. This investigation aimed to assess if the variance in European Challenge Tour golfers' 26 CHVs could be predicted by countermovement jump (CMJ) positive impulse (PI), isometric 27 mid-thigh pull (IMTP) peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD) from 0-50 ms, 0-28 100 ms, 0-150 ms and 0-200 ms. Thirty-one elite level European Challenge Tour golfers 29 performed a CMJ and IMTP on dual force plates at a tournament venue, with CHV measured 30 on a driving range. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that the variance in CHV 31 was significantly predicted by all four models (model one R 2 = 0.379; model two R 2 = 0.392, 32 model three R 2 = 0.422, model four R 2 = 0.480), with Akaike's information criterion indicating 33 that model one was the best fit. Individual standardised beta coefficients revealed that CMJ PI 34 was the only significant variable, accounting for 37.9% of the variance in European Challenge 35 Tour Golfers' CHVs.36

Positive Relationships Between Golf Performance Variables and Upper Body Power Capabilities

“…During all golf shots, subjects rated each shot 1 to 5; with 5 being the best strike. Any ratings of 1 and 2 were excluded and additional shots were performed, up to a maximum of 12 shots with each golf club (33). All golf shots were struck from a rubber tee placed on an artificial golf mat fixed to the floor in the center of the golf bay.…”

“…During each golf shot, subjects were instructed to perform their standard golf swing with the aim of maximizing distance and accuracy. Subjects were instructed to aim towards a target area in the middle of the range (28,33). All subjects used their own driver and 7-iron for the golf shots during testing and all subjects wore appropriate golf shoes (2).…”

“…In addition to the strength of the muscles activated throughout the golf swing, the power of the activated musculature is also an important factor that affects CHV (10). Previous research has made an attempt to measure the relationship between lower body physical attributes including power and strength, and golf performance measures including CHV (25,33). Wells et al (33) reported that if Challenge Tour golfers are able to improve a countermovement jump positive impulse by one standard deviation (46.85 N•s), it would elicit a likely increase of 6.08 km/h in CHV.…”

“…Previous research has made an attempt to measure the relationship between lower body physical attributes including power and strength, and golf performance measures including CHV (25,33). Wells et al (33) reported that if Challenge Tour golfers are able to improve a countermovement jump positive impulse by one standard deviation (46.85 N•s), it would elicit a likely increase of 6.08 km/h in CHV. However, no relationship was observed between isometric mid-thigh pull, peak force and rate of force development and CHV.…”

Changes in strength and jump performance over a 10 week competitive period in male collegiate golfers

“…This has then resulted in a more thorough analysis of the correlation between CHV and jump performance resulting in stronger relationships such as concentric impulse during the countermovement jump (CMJ) and CHV. 5,6 In a similar manner lower body strength has a wide array of assessment techniques again leading to inconsistent findings as to the strength of the relationship between lower body strength relates to CHV. As the golf swing is performed quickly, especially the downswing which is the phase of the swing where clubhead acceleration occurs, it has been suggested that the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) would provide a more sport-specific assessment over the traditional 1-repetition maximal (1RM) testing.…”