Evaluating upper body power and mobility and golf performance in recreational golfers

Increases in club head speed (CHS) and X-factor are correlated with lower scores and longer driving distances among professional golfers. Research has largely focused on the lower body mechanics with little attention on the upper body. Studies assessing upper body mechanics have generally reported positive correlations, however most research has focused primarily on elite golfers with little research assessing recreational golfers. Thus, this study was conducted to further investigate the relationship between measures of upper body power and mobility and their relationship CHS and X-factor among recreational golfers. Multiple regressions and bivariate correlations were performed between CHS and X-factor and the independent measures of a Counter-movement jump (CMJ) and a series of trunk and upper body mobility and strength measures. Fifteen male participants completed the study (age: 23.1 ± 2.0 years mean 18-hole score: 92.1 ± 8.3). Strong bivariate correlations were reported between X-factor, SRT (r=.62; p=0.01), and SIRT (r=.61; p=0.02), and moderate correlations were reported between CHS and SIRT (r=.57; p=0.03), SRT, and X-factor. Additionally, moderate correlations were reported between the medicine ball throw and CHS. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that SRT and SIRT were the greatest predictors for X-factor, and SIRT was the greatest predictor of CHS (51 & 28% explained variance, respectively). Findings suggest that recreational golfers can be partially assessed using tests of trunk rotation. While previous research using elite golfers established a positive correlation between X-factor and club head speed, the current study did not reveal this relationship but did find that measures of overall trunk mobility were predictive of golf performance in recreational golfers. Given the strong correlations between the tests of rotation and X-factor, the current study supports the use of exercises promoting trunk mobility as training modalities for recreational golfers seeking to improve their overall golf performance.