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Updated: May 18, 2026

In Vivo Protocol of Controlled Subconcussive Head Impacts for the Validation of Field Study Data
Published on: April 18, 2019
The effects of postactivation potentiation on golf club head speed
Paul J Read1, Stuart C Miller, Anthony N Turner
1Faculty of Sport, Health and Social Care, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, United Kingdom. pread@glos.ac.uk
Abstract:
In golf, an increase in club head speed (CHS) has been shown to increase driving distance and is correlated with handicap. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a postactivation potentiation (PAP) intervention on CHS. A FlightScope launch monitor was used to record CHS in 16 golfers (aged 20.1 ± 3.24 years, handicap 5.8 ± 2.26) during 2 testing sessions that were separated by 1 hour, using a counterbalanced design. The mean CHS of 3 swings was recorded with (experimental) and without (control) 3 preceding countermovement jumps (CMJs). An increase in CHS of 2.25 mph (effect size, 0.16; p < 0.05) 1 minute after the CMJ intervention was recorded. Therefore, acute enhancements in CHS are possible when performing a CMJ before a golf drive. This may have implications for training and on-course performance enhancement as a result of increased driving distance and possible reductions in handicap; this PAP intervention is practically viable.
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