Williams, Scott B (2021) Relationships between physical, technical and competition measures in Australian golfers. PhD thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

Informed testing and training of golfers is vital in supporting a multi-disciplinary approach to enhancing golf performance. However, the many identified physical and technical attributes (and methods to test them) that underpin competition performance are often given equivalence in the literature – creating uncertainty as to the scope and contents of an effective test combine for golf. To address this challenge, a new 5-stage Physical-Golf Performance Continuum (P-GPC) and comprehensive combine were developed to better inform the integrated testing and training of golfers of across all levels of ability. A large heterogenous sample (N = 122) of competitive Australian male golfers was investigated with a series of analyses conducted to improve the understanding of the relationships between physical and technical measures. Study Ⅰ defined four ability cohorts (Handicap = Elite: -6 – 0.4, Low-HCP: 0.5 – 7.4, Mid-HCP: 7.5 – 17.4, High-HCP:17.5 – 36) upon which to quantify the golf performance literature and assess the importance of physical and technical measures in subsequent studies. Research design elements as well as technical, physical and competition measures were aggregated by golf cohort (gender, age and ability) to highlight where evidence for the multi-disciplinary golf team is abundant or scarce. A checklist of parameters for each stage of the P-GPC was identified to inform combine formation and a heuristic for golf performance analysis. Study Ⅱ formed a comprehensive golf combine to cover parameters from each stage of the P-GPC. Twenty-five tests were presented with previously established reliability, validity and sensitivity. Study Ⅲ employed the combine from Study Ⅱ to determine the construct validity of each test to enable streamlined combines in golf. Benchmarks are provided for the physical and technical traits for golfers across ability levels. Many moderate to large effect size (d) differences were observed across the four ability levels for skill, technique and physical measures, such as Total Driver Distance (d = 0.96 – 1.53), 120 m Shot Distance to Target (d = -0.75 – -1.34), Driver Club Head Speed (CHS) (d = 0.89 – 1.08), 120 m Shot Spin Rate (d = 0.87 – 1.07) and 3 kg Lateral Medicine Ball Throw (d = 0.31 – 0.84). Study Ⅳ produced 12 multiple linear regression models, from cross-sectional data, between stages of the P-GPC in two pathways, based on two skill tests used: 120 m Target Shot and Maximum Distance Driver Shot. Study Ⅴ produced 12 linear mixed models using longitudinal repeated measure combine data as fixed effects and each individual golfer as a random effect. The linear mixed models typically had lower error than the regression models in Study Ⅳ and have greater utility for longitudinal applications such as quantifying training transfer and athlete profiling.The results from the studies in this thesis allow for more efficient and effective testing and training of golfers relative to their ability cohort and have utility as benchmarks for athlete profiles and simplified, cohort-specific combines.

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