Impact of Strength and Power Training on Golf Performance and Swing Biomechanics

Assess the impact of 10 weeks of strength and power training on Golf performance and swing biomechanics as measured by Trackman radar device and 16-camera monitoring system.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Resistance Training With Traditional Periodization Model; Resistance Training With Conjugate Training Model
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Resistance Training

Detailed Description

Golf-specific exercise programs have been shown to improve strength, flexibility, and balance in golfers (1) and golf-specific plyometric training programs have been shown to significantly improve club head speed and ball carry distance in skilled adolescent golfers (2). Further, leg power, upper body strength, and arm strength have positively correlated with golf performance measures; most notably measures of distance and total score (3). The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a 10-week strength and power training program on the biomechanics of the golf swing and golf performance.

Participants will have anthropometric data taken, including height, weight, and body composition.

Golf swing biomechanics will be assessed utilizing high-speed motion analysis cameras and software available in the Motion Analysis Laboratory in the McLean Health Sciences Building. The participant will don garments that fit snug to the skin and light-sensitive reflective markers will be placed on the subject. The motion of the swing will be captured utilizing the 14 camera Vicon Bonita 10 system with the Motion Monitor real-time Vicon plug-in. Club head speed will be assessed utilizing a Tracman 4 dual radar tracking system.

Power output for participants will be measured by performing a countermovement vertical jump and a static vertical jump on the 4 Bertec non-conductive forceplate system.

Strength assessments will be performed in the Nimocks Fitness Center by the Lead Investigator. Maximal strength will be assessed in the following lifts utilizing the parameters described by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (4): Back Squat; Flat Bench Press. Other maximal strength numbers for primary lifts involved in the program (Front Squat; Incline Bench; Power Cleans) will be prescribed as percentages of the tested lifts as follows: Maximal Front Squat = 80% of Maximal Back Squat; Maximal Incline Bench = 80% of Maximal Flat Bench; Maximal Power Clean = 70% of Maximal Back Squat.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Blake D Justice, PhD; Phone Number: 9104808499; Email: bjustice@methodist.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: John Fox, PhD; Phone Number: 9104808494; Email: jfox@methodist.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States, 28311
      • Recruiting
      • Methodist University
      • Contact: John Fox, PhD; Phone Number: 9104808494; Email: jfox@methodist.edu
      • Contact: Blake D Justice, PhD; Phone Number: 910-779-9266; Email: bjustice@methodist.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria: college aged golfers with no contraindications to exercise as measured by PAR-Q+

• No history of Heart condition or uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of chest pain at rest or with exertion
• No history of loss of balance or dizziness at rest or with exercise in previous 12 months
• No medications for chronic medical conditions
• No bone, joint, or soft tissue issue that could be made worse by becoming more physically active

Exclusion Criteria: As indicated by PAR-Q+

• History of arthritis, osteoporosis, or chronic back issues
• Current, or recent history of, cancer
• Diagnosed cardiovascular disease: CAD, heart failure, diagnosed abnormality of heart rhythm
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure (resting blood pressure of 160/90 or greater)
• Diagnosed Metabolic Condition: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, Pre-diabetic

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard Periodization Training; Utilization of traditional periodization strength training model	Behavioral: Resistance Training; Standard barbell resistance training programs
Active Comparator: Conjugate Training; Utilization of conjugate strength model	Behavioral: Resistance Training; Standard barbell resistance training programs

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gold club head speed and radar predicted 5-iron distance	Trackman measured club head speed and predicted carry of 5 iron	12 weeks
Biomechanics of golf swing	Bonita 16 camera measured biomechanical swing analysis	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Methodist University, North Carolina
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Blake Justice, Methodist University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 10, 2018
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 5, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 5, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 28, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 2, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 19, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 16, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Project 2018 - 19 0027

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No