Golf Strength and Conditioning Program Analysis: Are Coaches Using Golf Specific Practices?

Abstract

The beliefs and perceptions of golf strength and conditioning coaches dictate how golfers are trained. As dynamic correspondence and transfer of training principles highlight, distinctions between utilized training interventions could provide explanations regarding appropriate practices for golfers. The present study followed a grounded theory qualitative structure. The purpose was to investigate golf strength and conditioning coaches’ training beliefs, training practices, and to define a golf-specific exercise. Eighteen golf strength and conditioning coaches participated in virtual semi-structured interviews, and each provided a training program example reflecting their beliefs used in practice. Qualitative and quantitative data in the form of a survey, interview, and the training program example were collected. A grounded theory emerged that indicated a lack of consensus in the golf strength and conditioning field for what defines a golfspecific exercise and the use of such interventions in training programs for golfers. The present grounded theory speculated shortcomings exist because “golf-specific” had yet to be defined in the field and literature, in conjunction with held misconceptions about training principles and specificity. Furthermore, data suggested golf strength and conditioning coaches utilized Western civilization strength and conditioning characteristics of incorporating powerlifting exercises and utilizing indirect performance measures to assess training progress for golfers. This study was the first of its kind to quantify golf specificity and define golf-specific. As the grounded theory supplied an initial analysis of the specificity of training golfers, future studies should continue to develop the evolving concept of golf-specific training.