I've been digging into everything speed and recently came across a study with some interesting correlations. 💪
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But before that lets check out a few notes from this past week.
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➡️ Great insight from Sean Martin from an interview with Chris Como on the risks involved in making swing changes.

That's now two top-10 players in the world who Chris Como has helped win their first major. That is harder than it sounds, because making swing changes when you're already that elite is a dangerous gamble. "The risk will not disappear,"

Como once said. "Don't think that (getting better) is a guaranteed thing. ... This is where there is a lot of courage for a player trying to get better. As coaches, this is where it's really important for us to kind of understand that risk and come up with a game plan that minimizes it."

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➡️ And I didn't realize it but Xander and Chris have made some big changes!

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I'm always on the hunt for clues to more speed and I think the study has a decent correlation we should take a look at. (Appreciate the share from Jeff on this)

​The study looked at a couple physical tests performed by European Challenge Tour golfer.

They tested thirty-one elite golfers, measuring their CHV (clubhead velocity) using launch monitors and their physical capabilities through Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests performed on force plates.

What is a Countermovement Jump (CMJ)?

A countermovement jump (CMJ) is a common test used to assess an athlete's explosive leg power. Here’s how it works:

1. Starting Position: The athlete stands upright with hands on hips or holding a light bar for balance.
2. Downward Movement: The athlete quickly dips into a partial squat, storing elastic energy in the muscles and tendons.
3. Upward Movement: Without pausing, the athlete jumps as high as possible, using the stored energy to maximize height.

In this study, the CMJ was performed on dual force plates to measure the vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) and calculate the positive impulse (PI)—the total force applied over the duration of the jump.

What is an Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP)?

An isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) is a test that measures maximum force production and the rate of force development. Here’s how it works:

1. Setup: The athlete stands in a fixed position with a barbell set at mid-thigh height.
2. Pull: The athlete pulls upward on the barbell with maximum effort without actually lifting it, holding the position for a few seconds.
3. Measurement: The force exerted is measured using force plates or a dynamometer.

The study used IMTP to assess the peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD), but found that these measures were less predictive of CHV compared to CMJ PI.

FULL STUDY: Relationships between Challenge Tour golfers' clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull Jack E T Wells 1 2, Laura H Charalambous 2, Andrew C S Mitchell 2, Daniel Coughlan 3 4, Simon L Brearley 4, Roger A Hawkes 4, Andrew D Murray 4, Robert G Hillman 4, Iain M Fletcher 2

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Key Findings

1. Significant Correlation: The study revealed a strong correlation between CMJ PI and CHV. ​
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   Specifically, the force generated during a CMJ could explain nearly 38% of the variance in CHV among the golfers tested.
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   This means that golfers who produced more force during the jump had significantly higher CHV.
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2. Impact of Other Factors: While the IMTP peak force and rate of force development (RFD) were also measured, these did not significantly predict CHV.
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   The CMJ PI stood out as the most critical factor.
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3. Practical Implications: The findings suggest that by improving your CMJ performance through specific training, you can significantly boost your CHV, leading to longer drives and potentially better scores.

I definitely think it's worth looking at this correlation and training CMJ to see if you can gain any speed.

This reminded me of some TPI info I had seen awhile back that definitely relates.
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Here are a few cliff notes from that video that relate to this study.

1. On average, PGA Tour players have a vertical jump between 20 and 22 inches, with the longest hitters reaching 30-32 inches, and long-drive players exceeding 36 inches, similar to NBA players.
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2. To achieve higher ball speeds, players should aim for a vertical jump of at least 20 inches or use a broad jump as a proxy, targeting 120% of their height.

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I found all this super interesting and helps me focus in on what to work on to keep gaining speed.

Love diving in and learning about this kind of info.

Till next time,

-Cordie

✍️ Written By: Cordie Walker.
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