A comparative group of five golfers were tested with the training group, but did not participate in the exercise program. As shown in Table 2, the control subjects did not increase their club head speed nor significantly improve any of their fitness assessments.
Table 2. Changes in club head speed and selected fitness measures for the control subjects (N = 5).
| Variable |
Before |
After |
Change |
% Change |
|
| Club Head Speed (mph) |
93.2 |
93.0 |
-0.2 |
0% |
| Bodyweight (lbs.) |
166.5 |
167.0 |
+0.5 |
0% |
| Percent Fat (%) |
19.5 |
19.6 |
+0.1 |
0% |
| Fat Weight (lbs.) |
32.1 |
32.6 |
+0.5 |
+1% |
| Lean Weight (lbs.) |
134.3 |
134.4 |
+0.1 |
0% |
| Muscle Strength (lbs.) |
not assessed in control subjects |
| Shoulder Abduction (Deg.) |
175.8 |
175.8 |
+3.0 |
+2% |
| Hip Flexion (Deg.) |
95.2 |
99.0 |
+3.8 |
+4% |
| Hip Extension (Deg.) |
22.6 |
26.2 |
+3.6 |
+16 % |
| Systolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) |
129.6 |
123.4 |
-6.2 |
-5% |
| Diastolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) |
81.2 |
78.2 |
-3.0 |
-3% |
(None of the control group changes were statistically significant at p<.01)
Study Implications
The results of this study reveal that golfers may benefit in many ways from a simple program of strength and flexibility exercise. The 40-minute training session consisting of 15 Nautilus exercises and 6 StretchMate stretches produced greater strength, greater flexibility, and greater driving power. This makes perfect sense when we consider the power formula. Performance power equals movement force times movement distance divided by movement time. Additional strength increases the movement force and additional flexibility increases the movement distance, both of which improve performance power.
| Performance Power = |
Movement Force X Movement Distance |
|
| Movement Time |
|