Walking While Carrying a Golf Bag for 18 Holes Decreases Golf Performance

To evaluate golfers' driving accuracy, driving distance, and swing pattern while walking or riding in a golf cart. Twelve collegiate golfers (7 male and 5 female, ages 19-22 years) were recruited from a university golf team to participate in this study. To be included each participant had to be capable of shooting an 18-hole round of golf of 75 or less on average (handicap 3). A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to determine changes from hole 1 to hole 17. In the riding trial there was a significant increase in driving distance from hole 1 (243.8+ or -44.2 yards) to hole 17 (250.6+ or -43.8yards; p=0.006), while in the walking trial there was a significant decrease in driving distance from hole 1 (252.6+ or -34.6) to hole 17 (240.3+ or -38.1 yards; p=0.02). In the riding trials there was no difference from hole 1 to hole 17 for ball speed, club head speed, accuracy or club angle (p=0.13-0.63).