ABSTRACT 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 variables; anthropometrics, squat jump height (SJ) and squat jump peak power (SJPP), unilateral countermovement jump heights (RLCMJ and LLCMJ), bilateral countermovement jump heights (CMJ), countermovement jump peak power (CMJPP), and seated (MBST) and rotational (MBRT) medicine ball throws. 48 male subjects participated in the study (age 20.1 ± 3.2 years, height 1.76m ± 0.07m, mass 72.8 kg ± 7.8, handicap 5.8 ± 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 club head speed 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 ICCs 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 following a stepwise linear regression. KEYWORDS: field testing; golf; strength and power, driving performance INTRODUCTION
ABSTRACT 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 variables; anthropometrics, squat jump height (SJ) and squat jump peak power (SJPP), unilateral countermovement jump heights (RLCMJ and LLCMJ), bilateral countermovement jump heights (CMJ), countermovement jump peak power (CMJPP), and seated (MBST) and rotational (MBRT) medicine ball throws. 48 male subjects participated in the study (age 20.1 ± 3.2 years, height 1.76m ± 0.07m, mass 72.8 kg ± 7.8, handicap 5.8 ± 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 club head speed 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 ICCs 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 following a stepwise linear regression. KEYWORDS: field testing; golf; strength and power, driving performance INTRODUCTION