Strength and Flexibility Training
A study performed at the South Shore YMCA evaluated the effect of an 8-week strength and flexibility training program on physical fitness and golf performance in adults.
The Program: Twenty-two golfers were involved in the study: 17 people went through the program and 5 were control subjects. Nobody played golf during the 8-week period. To assess golf performance, everyone was tested for club head speed before and after the conditioning program. Other assessment included body composition, muscle strength, and joint flexibility.
The 17 participants performed 15 standard strength exercises and 6 basic stretches three times a week. One set of 8-12 reps of each of the strength-training exercises was performed. It took about 30 minutes to complete the strength training and 10 minutes for the stretching.
Results: The golfers who trained improved in all of their fitness measurements:
56% improvement in muscle strength
24% increase in hip and shoulder flexibility
4.1-lb. increase in lean weight
3.0-lb. decrease in fat weight
5% increase in club head speed
These golfers confirmed the improvement in their driving power during the following season with consistently longer drives.
The group of 5 control subjects who were tested but did not participate in the program recorded the same mean club head speed before and after the 8-week program.
Strength and Flexibility Training
A study performed at the South Shore YMCA evaluated the effect of an 8-week strength and flexibility training program on physical fitness and golf performance in adults.
The Program: Twenty-two golfers were involved in the study: 17 people went through the program and 5 were control subjects. Nobody played golf during the 8-week period. To assess golf performance, everyone was tested for club head speed before and after the conditioning program. Other assessment included body composition, muscle strength, and joint flexibility.
The 17 participants performed 15 standard strength exercises and 6 basic stretches three times a week. One set of 8-12 reps of each of the strength-training exercises was performed. It took about 30 minutes to complete the strength training and 10 minutes for the stretching.
Results: The golfers who trained improved in all of their fitness measurements:
56% improvement in muscle strength
24% increase in hip and shoulder flexibility
4.1-lb. increase in lean weight
3.0-lb. decrease in fat weight
5% increase in club head speed
These golfers confirmed the improvement in their driving power during the following season with consistently longer drives.
The group of 5 control subjects who were tested but did not participate in the program recorded the same mean club head speed before and after the 8-week program.