Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1103303
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Dynamic Stretching and Golf Swing Performance
Publication History
accepted after revision July 4, 2008
Publication Date:
28 January 2009 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/200902/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-0028-1103303-1.jpg)
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dynamic stretching, static stretching and no stretching, as part of a general warm-up, on golf swing performance with a five-iron. Measures of performance were taken 0 min, 5 min, 15 min and 30 min after stretching. Dynamic stretching produced significantly greater club head speeds than both static stretching (Δ=1.9m.s−1; p=0.000) and no stretching (Δ=1.7 m.s−1; p=0.000), and greater ball speeds than both static stretching (Δ=3.5m.s−1; p=0.003) and no stretching (Δ=3.3m.s−1; p=0.001). Dynamic stretching produced significantly straighter swing-paths than both static stretching (Δ=−0.61°, p=0.000) and no stretching (Δ=−0.72°, p=0.01). Dynamic stretching also produced more central impact points than the static stretch (Δ=0.7 cm, p=0.001). For the club face angle, there was no effect of either stretch or time. For all of the variables measured, there was no significant difference between the static stretch and no stretch conditions. All of the results were unaffected by the time of measurement after stretching. The results indicate that dynamic stretching should be used as part of a general warm-up in golf.
Key words
warm-up - static stretching - swing-path - five-iron
References
- 1 Bandy WD, Irion JM, Briggler M. The effect of static stretch and dynamic range of motion training on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. J Orthop Sport Phys. 1998; 27 295-300
- 2 Bishop D. Warm up II: performance changes following active warm up and how to structure the warm up. Sports Med. 2003; 33 483-498
-
3 Chou A, Gilbert P, Olsavsky T. Club head designs: how they affect ball flight. In: Cochran AJ, ed.
Golf, the Scientific Way . Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire: Afton 1994: 15-25 - 4 Church JB, Wiggins MS, Moode FM, Crist R. Effect of warm-up and flexibility treatments on vertical jump performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2001; 15 332-336
- 5 Cornwell A, Nelson AG, Sidaway B. Acute effects of stretching on the neuromechanical properties of the triceps surae muscle complex. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002; 86 428-434
- 6 Fletcher IM, Jones B. The effect of different warm-up stretch protocols on 20 meter sprint performance in trained rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res. 2004; 18 885-888
- 7 Fradkin AJ, Sherman CA, Finch CF. Improving golf performance with a warm up conditioning programme. Br J Sports Med. 2004; 38 762-765
-
8 Holcomb WR. Stretching and warm-up. In: Baechle T, Earle R, eds.
Essentials of strength training and conditioning . Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 2000: 321-342 - 9 Hume PA, Keogh J, Reid D. The role of biomechanics in maximising distance and accuracy of golf shots. Sports Med. 2005; 35 429-449
- 10 Knudson D. Stretching during warm-up: do we have enough evi-dence?. J Phys Educ Recr Dance. 1999; 70 25-27
- 11 Knudson D, Noffal G. Time course of stretch-induced isometric strength deficits. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005; 94 348-351
- 12 Knudson DV, Noffal GJ, Bahamonde RE, Bauer JA, Blackwell JR. Stretching has no effect on tennis serve performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2004; 18 654-656
- 13 Kokkonen J, Nelson AG, Cornwell A. Acute muscle stretching in-hibits maximal strength performance. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1998; 69 411-415
- 14 Little T, Williams AG. Effects of differential stretching protocols during warm-ups on high-speed motor capacities in professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2006; 20 203-207
-
15 Lowe R.
Centrigual force and the planar golf swing . London: E & FN Spon 1994: 59-64 -
16 MacAtee R, Charland J.
Facilitated stretching . Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 1999: 21 - 17 MacNeal JR, Sands WA. Stretching for performance enhancement. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2006; 5 141-146
-
18 MacTeigue M, Lamb S, Mottram R, Pirozzolo F. Spine and hip motion analysis during the golf swing. In: Cochran A, Farrally M, eds.
Science and Golf II. Proceedings of the 1994 World Scientific Conference of Golf . London: E & FN Spon 1994: 50-57 - 19 Moran K, Wallace E. Eccentric loading and range of knee joint motion effects on performance enhancement in vertical jumping. Hum Movement Sci. 2007; 26 824-840
- 20 Nelson AG, Driscoll NM, Landin DK, Young MA, Schexnayder IC. Acute effects of passive muscle stretching on sprint performance. J Sport Sci. 2005; 23 449-454
- 21 Nelson AG, Guillory IK, Cornwell C, Kokkonen J. Inhibition of maximal voluntary isokinetic torque production following stretching is velocity-specific. J Strength Cond Res. 2001; 15 241-246
- 22 Pollitt D. The golf specific warm up. NSCA Perform Train J. 2005; 4 19-22
- 23 Power K, Behm D, Cahill F, Carroll M, Young W. An acute bout of static stretching: effects on force and jumping performance. Med Sci Sport Exer. 2004; 36 1389-1396
- 24 President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport . Current issues in flexibility fitness. President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Research Digest. 2000; 3 1-8
- 25 Shellock FG, Prentice WE. Warming-up and stretching for improved physical performance and prevention of sports-related injuries. Sports Med. 1985; 2 267-278
- 26 Shrier I. Does stretching improve performance?. A systematic and critical review of the literature. Clin J Sport Med. 2004; 14 267-273
- 27 Siatras T, Papadopoulos G, Mameletzi D, Gerodimos V, Kellis S. Static and dynamic acute stretching effect on gymnastics’ speed in vaulting. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2003; 15 383-391
- 28 Theriault G, Lachance P. Golf injuries. An overview. Sports Med. 1998; 26 43-57
-
29 Thomas J, Nelson J.
Measuring research variables. Research methods in physical activity . Champaign: Human Kinetics 2001: 181-200 - 30 Unick J, Kieffer HS, Cheesman W, Feeney A. The acute effects of static and ballistic stretching on vertical jump performance in trained women. J Strength Cond Res. 2005; 19 206-212
- 31 Wallmann HW, Mercer JA, MacWhorter JW. Surface electromyographic assessment of the effect of static stretching of the gastrocnemius on vertical jump performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2005; 19 684-688
- 32 Williams KR, Sih BL. Changes in golf clubface orientation following impact with the ball. Sports Engin. 2002; 5 65-80
-
33 Wilmore J, Costill D.
Physiology of sport and exercise . Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 2004: 624-625 - 34 Witvrouw E, Mahieu N, Danneels L, MacNair P. Stretching and injury prevention: an obscure relationship. Sports Med. 2004; 34 443-449
- 35 Woods K, Bishop P, Jones E. Warm-up and stretching in the prevention of muscular injury 1. Sports Med. 2007; 37 1089-1099
- 36 Yamaguchi T, Ishii K. Effects of static stretching for 30 seconds and dynamic stretching on leg extension power. J Strength Cond Res. 2005; 19 677-683
- 37 Young W, Behm D. Should static stretching be used during a warm-up for strength and power?. Strength Cond Res. 2002; 24 33-37
- 38 Young W, Clothier P, Otago L, Bruce L, Liddell D. Acute effects of static stretching on hip flexor and quadriceps flexibility, range of motion and foot speed in kicking a football. J Sci Med Sport. 2004; 7 23-31
- 39 Young W, Elliott S. Acute effects of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching, and maximum voluntary contractions on explosive force production and jumping performance. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2001; 72 273-279
- 40 Young WB, Behm DG. Effects of running, static stretching and practice jumps on explosive force production and jumping performance. J Sport Med Phys Fit. 2003; 43 21-27
- 41 Zakas A, Vergou A, Grammatikopoulou MG, Zakas N, Sentelidis T, Vamvakoudis S. The effect of stretching during warming-up on the flexibility of junior handball players. J Sport Med Phys Fit. 2003; 43 145-149
Correspondence
Dr. K. A. MoranPhD
School of Health and Human Performance
Dublin City University
Collins Avenue
Dublin 7
Ireland
Phone: +353/1/700 80 11
Fax: +353/1/700 88 88
Email: kieran.moran@dcu.ie