Strength and Power for Better Golf Performance:
With the summer sun soon to start heating things up, golfers are getting ready to hit the greens. If you want to help fire up your game, combine strength training and plyometrics for improved club head speed and driving distance.
Researchers from the University of Luton in the United Kingdom conducted a study on the effects of strength training and plyometrics on club head speed (CS) and driving distance (DD). Eleven male golfers were studied for a period of eight weeks. Both CS and DD were tested before and after the eight-week program. The group was divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group continued normal training, consisting of light resistance training and aerobic exercise. The training program of the experimental group combined resistance exercises with an explosive medicine ball routine that mimicked the golf swing as closely as possible.
Upon analysis of the results of the study, the control group showed no significant changes in club head speed (CS) or driving distance (DD), while the experimental group showed increased CS of between .7 and 2.7 km/h, and an associated DD increase of 5.1 and 17.3 meters. The study also noted that the experimental training method did not alter the golfer’s swing mechanics, often a concern for golfers who are reluctant to participate in a resistance training program.
