Table 1.  Summary of descriptive studies that correlate muscle strength and golf swing performance variables.
Study
Sample
size (n)
Sample
profile
Strength items
Golf performance variables
Results
Gordon et al. (2009)
n = 15 (M)
age 34.3 ± 13.6yr; HCP 4.9 ± 2.9
Total body rotation power (MB); chest strength (pec-deck)
CHS
CHS and chest strength (r = 0.69); CHS and total body rotation power (r = 0.54)
Keogh et al. (2009)
n = 20 (M)
age 22.9 ± 3.4yr; HCP 0.3 ± 0.5 to 20.3 ± 2.4
Bench press; hack squat; GSCWC; isometric prone hold
CHS; target accuracy; HCP
LHG had greater CHS (12%) and GSCWC strength (28%); CHS correlated to: HCP, target accuracy, GSCWC strength
Kras and Abendroth-Smith (2001)
n = 56 (M)
age 15 to 18yr;
No HCP
GS; GE; LP
average score
Average golf score and: age (r = 0.41), leg power (r = 0.36)
Sell et al. (2007)
n = 257 (M)
age 45.5 ± 12.8yr; HCP <0 to 20
TR; SRIR; SRER (strength at 60º/s); HAB; HADD
DD
(self-reported); HCP
HCP correlated to: hip, trunk and shoulder strength
Thompson (2002)
n = 31 (M)
age 65.4 ± 6.7yr; HCP ?
Chest press; leg press; leg curl; shoulder press; lat pulldown; seated row; biceps curl; back extension; abdominal crunch
CHS
CHS correlated to: chest press, leg press, shoulder press, lat pulldown, seated row, biceps curl
Tsai et al. (2004)
n = 82
age ?; HCP <0 to 19
Isometric hip strength
DD (self-reported); HCP
LHAB and HCP (r = -0.33), DD (r = -0.32). LHAB different among groups
Wells et al. (2009)
n = 15 (M);
n = 9 (F)
age 22.7 ± 5.1yr; HCP ?
Abdominal muscle endurance test; VJ; GS; push-ups and pull-ups in 60s
golf ball's initial trajectory; BS; CD for drive and 5-iron
F: DLVJ and BS (r = 0.57), DD (r = 0.61). M: VJ and BS (r = 0.50), DD (r = 0.62); pull-ups and BS (r = 0.55), DD (r = 0.53); push-ups and BS (r = 0.48), GS and BS (r = 0.65)
Wiren (1968)
n = 51 (M)
age 17 to 73yr;
HCP <14
17 strength items
Timing; DD; wrist cock; CHS; SS; HCP
DD correlated to muscle strength and timing. HCP and DD (r = 0.61)
Wu et al.
(2009)
n = 20 (M)
age 15 ± 1.7yr;
HCP 10 ± 6.1
LHAB; LHF; TF; TE; SRIR; SRER; TR
BS
BS and: LHAB (r = 0.56), LHF (r = 0.60), TF (r = 0.52), TE (r = 0.56), SRIR (r = 0.63), SRER (r = 0.60)
Yoon
(1998) 
n = 14 (M)
age 18 to 38yr;
HCP < 3
Leg and hip power, trunk power, combined arm and trunk power, GS
SS
SS and: leg and hip power (r = 0.37), GS (r = 0.29), trunk power (r = 0.63), combined arm and trunk power (r = 0.33), height (r = 0.26), arm length(r = 0.20)
MB: Medicine Ball; CHS: Club Head Speed; CD: Carry Distance; SS: Swing Speed; BS: Ball Speed; DD: Driving Distance; HCP: Handicap; LHG: Low Handicap Golfers; GSCWS: Golf-Specific Cable WoodChop; VJ: Vertical Jump; DLVJ: Dominant Leg Vertical Jump; GS: Grip Strength; GE: Grip Endurance; LP: Leg Power; TR: Trunk Rotation; SRER: Shoulder Right External Rotation; SRIR: Shoulder Right Internal Rotation; HAB: Hip Abduction; HADD: Hip Adduction; LHAB: Left Hip Abduction; LHF: Left Hip Flexion; TF: Trunk Flexion; TE: Trunk Extension. M: Males; F: Females. Only significant correlations (p < 0.05) are reported.