Benefits of Traditional and Golf-specific Resistance Training in Amateur Female Golfers

A randomized control trial to compare the effects of 10 weeks of two different types of training in recreationally active female golfers was performed. Participants were recruited through postings at local country clubs and public golf courses, as well as through emails to state and local women's golf associations. Following written informed consent approved by the university's institutional review board, participants completed a medical and golf history questionnaire. Golf-specific information gathered via the history form included self-reported number of years playing golf, handicap, frequency of play, frequency of practice. Baseline testing followed, consisting of measurement of height and weight using a stadiometer, bone density and body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 7-iron and driver club speed and total ball distance using a golf simulator (High Definition Golf, Interactive Sports Technologies, Vaughan, Ontario), and physical performance tests. Participants were then randomly assigned, using a random number generator, to either a traditional resistance training group (TRAD) or a golf-specific resistance training group (GSRT). Resistance training was conducted 3 days per week for 10 weeks. Each training session was directly supervised by at least one of the researchers, such that correct technique and appropriate resistance could be monitored. Following the 10 weeks of training, participants repeated the testing procedures under similar conditions as baseline testing.

• Traditional strengthening (Other): dead lifts, bench press, wrist curls, and lat pulldowns as examples
• Functional Strengthening (Other): diagonal chops, one leg deadlifts, lateral plyometrics as examples

Primary outcomes

• Driver club speed [10 weeks]: Driver club speed- continuous variable measured in mph
• 7-iron club speed [10 weeks]: 7-iron club speed-continuous variable measured in mph
• Driver distance [10 weeks]: Driver distance-continuous variable measured in yards
• 7-iron distance [10 weeks]: 7-iron -continuous variable measured in yards

Secondary outcomes

• Seated rotation flexibility [10 weeks]: sit and rotate left and right- continuous variable measured with a goniometer in degrees
• Weighted ball golf toss [10 weeks]: Using a golf-like motion, toss a 6lb ball as far as possible- continuous scale measured in cm
• Weighted ball seated toss [10 weeks]: sitting in a declined position, use a chest pass motion to toss a 6 lb ball as far as possible- continuous measure measured in cm

Other outcomes

• Bone density [10 weeks]: bone density- continuous measure measured using a dual image x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan
• Body fat percentage [10 weeks]: body fat percentage- 0-100% scale measured using a DEXA scan

Sex: Female, ages: 18 Years to any, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* females ≥18 years of age,
* and an official handicap or completion of at least 5 rounds of golf within the last year

Exclusion Criteria:

* Exclusion criteria were current episode of musculoskeletal pain,
* unable to stand and swing a golf club independently,
* systemic disease including but not limited to rheumatologic disease or cancer,
* or psychological or other cognitive impairment.