DOES STRENGTH TRAINING IMPROVE CLUBHEAD SPEED IN COLLEGIATE GOLFERS?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a six-week strength training program on golf clubhead speed. Eight male collegiate golfers’ golf swings were analyzed for club head speed and driving distance before and after a 6-week strength training program. Clubhead speed was measured using a sensor, and all golfers hit the same ball three times with speed averaged at the end of the three hits. The control group (n = 4) continued a regular training routine as prescribed by the coach, while the experimental group (n = 4) performed three sessions per week of a researcher-designed strength training program that included 60 minutes of total work three times per week. The exercise sessions included three sets of eight repetitions of the following exercises: bench press, squat, single arm row, lunge, shoulder press, upright row, ab crunch, medicine ball slams, and abdominal twists. Results from a paired t-test indicated that the clubhead speed of the golfers who underwent weight training was significantly different from that of the control group. Golfers with a weight training program had a significant positive relationship between weight training and clubhead speed (p = .01). There is a significant difference in clubhead speed between weight-trained (M = 98.45 mph) and non-weight-trained (M = 86.7 mph) male collegiate golfers. Golfers who completed the 6-week weight training had faster clubhead speed than the non-weight training group. The results demonstrate that incorporating strength training positively impacts clubhead speed in golfers, serving as a reference for designing such training programs