The influence of <i>Corepower</i> training on golfers’ physical and functional fitness as well as golf performance: A pilot study

Abstract

Core stability and -training are receiving particular attention in the medical and sporting fields as well as in general health care industry. The COREPOWER machine has been designed specifically to target the ‘core’ musculature. This study was done to investigate the effects of a 36 (thirty six) session intervention programme on the COREPOWER (6 (six) minutes a day, 1 (one) minute break in between, 3 (three) days a week) on golfers’ physical fitness and sport specific performance. Participants comprised 9 (nine) male golfers whose lower back flexibility (sit and reach), muscle strength and -endurance (sit-ups, push-ups, hand grip strength (dynamometer) and wall-squats), cardiorespiratory fitness (3 (three) minute step-test), balance (Biodex balancing system), club head speed and carry distance (Flightscope) were determined before and after 12 week intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was computed to determine pre- vs. post-test differences with significance set at p < 0.05. Significant improvements were observed for flexibility (p = 0.016) only. No other dependent variable showed statistically significant improvement post intervention. Handicap (p = 0.050), sit ups (p = 0.060) and wall squats (p = 0.070) approached significance. Percentage improvements ranging from 11% - 53% were documented which could be important from a performance perspective. Thirty six sessions on the COREPOWER may impact positively on selected golfing related fitness and functional parameters; however, results clearly warrant further investigation using a larger sample size and control group.

Keywords: Golf performance, core training, physical fitness, functional fitness

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) Vol. 18, No. 2 (June) 2012, pp. 404-412