Physiological and musculoskeletal characteristics of the modern golfer

Abstract

The game of golf has changed. Once a sport where successful performance was almost exclusively linked to technique, golf has evolved to include a heavy emphasis on the physicality and athleticism of the player. Rhetoric around the successful modern-day ‘golf athlete’ often includes reference to Tiger Woods training with Navy Seals, Rory McIlroy performing Olympic lifts in the gym, or Jason Day using his ‘muscular physique’ to launch driver shots well over 300 yards. Professional golfers now employ not only golf coaches to work with them on their technique, but also physiotherapists and trainers to help them optimise their body for golf. In general, the modern-day golfer is stronger and more athletic than his predecessor. This is probably in part due to a more concerted effort to improve their physical preparation, and in part due to advances in sports science and athletic training approaches. While corollary improvements in on-course performance are difficult to tease out due to continued advancements in equipment and changes in golf course design, there is no denying that modern-day professional golfers hit the ball further and average less strokes per round (USGA & R&A, 2016).