Golf Club Selection with AI-Based Game Planning.

In the dynamic realm of golf, where every swing can make the difference between victory and defeat, the strategic selection of golf clubs has become a crucial factor in determining the outcome of a game. Advancements in artificial intelligence have opened new avenues for enhancing the decision-making process, empowering golfers to achieve optimal performance on the course. In this paper, we introduce an AI-based game planning system that assists players in selecting the best club for a given scenario. The system considers factors such as distance, terrain, wind strength and direction, and quality of lie. A rule-based model provides the four best club options based on the player's maximum shot data for each club. The player picks a club, shot, and target and a probabilistic classification model identifies whether the shot represents a birdie opportunity, par zone, bogey zone, or worse. The results of our model show that taking into account factors such as terrain and atmospheric features increases the likelihood of a better shot outcome.

A prospective study of injuries and illnesses among 910 amateur golfers during one season.

Objectives: Our aims were (a) to describe the prevalence and incidence of self-reported injuries and illnesses of amateur golfers over a 5-month period and (b) to investigate potential risk factors for injury. Methods: We recruited 910 amateur golfers (733 males [81%] and 177 females [19%]) from golf clubs in the USA and Switzerland. The median age was 60 (IQR: 47-67) and the median golfing handicap was 12 (IQR: 6-18). Participants' health was monitored weekly for 5 months using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Players also completed a baseline questionnaire on personal and golf-specific characteristics and their medical history. Results: We distributed 19 406 questionnaires and received 11 180 responses (57.6%). The prevalence of injuries was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.8 to 12.8) and of illnesses was 2% (95% CI 1.7 to 2.2). The incidence of injuries and illnesses was 3.79 (95% CI 3.54 to 4.06) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.07) per golfer per year, respectively. The injury regions with the highest burden of injury (time-loss days per player per year) were lumbosacral spine (5.93), shoulder (3.47) and knee (2.08). Injury risk was higher with increased age, osteoarthritis and previous injury. Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence of injury and illness in amateur golf were low compared with many other sports. To further reduce the burden of injury, future research attention should be directed towards the lumbosacral spine, knee and shoulder.

Effect of mixed protein supplementation on golf performance and muscle function: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: As a relatively novel approach to enhancing skeletal muscle health, mixed protein supplementation has shown similar responses to whey protein. However, no previous studies have examined its impact on golf swing performance. This study aimed to examine the effect of mixed protein supplementation on the swing performance and muscle strength of casual golfers. METHODS: Sixty participants with a handicap of less than 20 were recruited and randomly assigned to a double-blind, placebo-controlled study design. The participants were divided into two groups: a mixed protein group (MG, n = 30), and a placebo control group (CG, n = 30). They were instructed to ingest either a supplement containing casein calcium, whey protein, and isolated pea protein, or a placebo, once daily for 8 weeks. Pre- and posttests consisted of anthropometric measurements, muscle strength (isokinetic knee and trunk strength, and handgrip strength), 2-minute push-ups, balance, and golf swing performance using a driver and 7-iron. RESULTS: After the 8-week supplementation period, ANCOVA, using baseline values as covariates, revealed significant differences for driver distance (p = .004) and driver ball speed (p < .001). MG significantly increased driver distance by 5.17 ± 12.8 m (p = .046), driver ball speed by 1.36 ± 2.87 m/s (p = .021). Additionally, significantly improvements were observed in hand grip strength (+2.12 ± 3.47 kg, p = .004), two-minute push-ups (+4.89 ± 8.14 reps, p = .004), and balance score (-0.37 ± 0.69 min, p = .009). No significant differences were observed in body composition parameters (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The intake of a mixed protein containing both animal and plant proteins had positive effects on golf performance and muscle function. Therefore, mixed proteins may represent a safe and effective approach to enhancing skeletal muscle health in golf players.

An Ergonomic Golf Grip Leads to Lower Forearm Muscle Activity - A Prospective Case Series of 30 Right-Handed Amateur and Professional Golfers.

BACKGROUND: The elbow is a common site for overuse injuries in golfers. Tendinopathies, such as medial and lateral epicondylitis, are frequently diagnosed in amateur and professional golfers. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of an ergonomic golf grip on forearm muscle activity during the five phases of the golf swing. METHODS: Thirty right-handed golfers with a mean age of 32 years (range, 18-70 years) and a mean handicap of 15 (range, 0-43) performed 10 golf swings with a standard and ergonomic golf grip respectively. The mean and maximum muscle activity of the Musculus (M.) extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB), M. flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), M. pronator teres (PT) and M. biceps brachii (BB) of the lead and trail arms were assessed during the five phases of the golf swing using surface electromyography (EMG). Subgroup analyses were performed regarding sex, playing ability (handicap < 10 vs. ≥10), weekly playing time (≤ 5 h, 5-20 h, > 20 h) and preexisting elbow pain during golfing (VAS < 2 vs. VAS ≥ 2). Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: An ergonomic golf grip resulted in a reduction in muscle activity in at least one but up to three consecutive phases of the golf swing for the ECRB, FCU and PT of the lead arm and for the PT of the trail arm. Amateurs, a playing time < 20 h per week and golfers without preexisting elbow pain were factors that were associated with greater reductions in muscle activity. CONCLUSION: Forearm muscle activity can be decreased using an ergonomic golf grip, indicating the possible role of an ergonomic golf grip as a preventive measure against overuse syndromes such as medial and lateral epicondylitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was retrospectively registered at the German Clinical Trials Register DRKS-ID: DRKS00033732 (01/03/2024).

Golf cart-related neurosurgical injuries.

Background: Head and spine injuries sustained following golf cart accidents have been rarely analyzed. This study aimed to describe a series of patients sustaining golf cart injuries requiring neurosurgical management for head or spine injuries. Methods: The University of Puerto Rico Neurosurgery database was used to retrospectively identify and investigate patients who sustained a golf cart-related injury requiring a neurosurgical evaluation during 15 years. Results: The analysis identified 25 patients with golf cart-related injuries requiring neurosurgical management with a median age of 16 (interquartile range 13-34). Seventeen patients (68%) were female. The primary mechanism of injury was ejection from the cart in 84% of the patients (n = 21). The most frequent head injury was a skull fracture in 80% of patients (n = 20). Intracranial hemorrhage was present in 76% of patients (n = 19), with brain contusions (n = 16, 64%) being the most common. Eighteen patients (72%) were admitted for surgery or neurological monitoring. The median hospital length of stay among hospitalized patients was 5.5 days. Ten patients (40%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a median stay of 8.5 days. Four patients (16%) required surgery for their injuries. At discharge, 80% of patients (n = 20) had a good outcome. Conclusion: This study showed that children and adolescents are at high risk for golf cart-related neurosurgical injuries. This form of transportation can produce considerable neurological injuries, the primary mechanism of injury being ejection from the cart. Approximately three-quarters of the patients need hospital admission, with half requiring an ICU stay.

Do the effects last? A comparison between internal and external focus of attention instructions on golf putting accuracy over multiple days.

Background: The role of attentional focus is a well-explored topic in exercise sciences. Studies generally indicate that external focus (EF) enhances motor performance and learning compared with internal focus (IF). However, most studies only included one or two experimental days which limits participants' exposure to the focus conditions. This raises the question of whether the superiority of EF varies over time. Methods: Accordingly, in this pre-registered within-subject study, we examined the effects of focus instructions on golf-putting performance over four days, with 48-72 h between them. On each day, participants performed 15 putts under three instructional conditions: (1) EF, (2) IF, and (3) control, in a randomized and counterbalanced order. Results: We observed trivial differences in performance between conditions but considerable improvements from day 1 to day 4. When using an exploratory analysis, we found that participants performed better under EF and control conditions compared with the IF condition on day 1, but not on subsequent days. Conclusions: Since IF instructions are more commonly used in practice, we speculate that the two other focus conditions were experienced as more novel, potentially accounting for their superiority on Day 1. Nevertheless, our results question the significance of employing EF to enhance performance.

Golf Swing-Induced Pacemaker Atrial Noise and Extraction: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, have significantly improved the quality of life for patients with cardiac conditions, allowing them to maintain active lifestyles. Nonetheless, these devices can present unique challenges when interacting with the wearer's physical activities, potentially leading to unforeseen complications. Here, we present a case of an 81-year-old male golfer, with a history of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and sick sinus syndrome, who experienced atrial lead noise from his pacemaker, exclusively triggered by his golf swing. This incident, which led to multiple interventions including lead extraction, reimplantation, and eventually a switch to a unipolar lead configuration, represents the first documented case of its kind. It underscores the intricate relationship between the biomechanical forces of certain sports and the functionality of implanted cardiac devices. Through detailed electrophysiology testing, this case demonstrates how specific movements inherent to the patient's golf swing could induce micro-damage to the pacemaker leads, causing noise and malfunction. The findings from this case emphasize the need for healthcare providers to perform sport-specific biomechanical evaluations and create tailored rehabilitation strategies that consider the unique physical demands placed on patients with implanted devices. This approach is important not only for diagnosing and managing similar cases but also for advancing our understanding of how to best support the active lifestyles of patients with implanted cardiac devices, ensuring their safety and longevity.

Effect of sodium hyaluronate combined with rehabilitation training on knee joint injury caused by golf.

BACKGROUND: In high-intensity sports like golf, knee joints are prone to injury, leading to pain, limited mobility, and decreased quality of life. Traditional treatment methods typically involve rehabilitation exercises, but their effectiveness may be limited. In recent years, sodium hyaluronate has emerged as a widely used biomedical material in the treatment of joint diseases. AIM: To explore the effect of sodium hyaluronate combined with rehabilitation training on pain degree, flexion range of motion and motor function of knee joint injured by golf. METHODS: Eighty patients with knee joint injury caused by golf were randomly divided into control (group B) and observation group (group A). The group B was treated with rehabilitation training, and the group A was treated with sodium hyaluronate combined with rehabilitation training. The clinical efficacy, range of motion and function of knee joint, quality of life and inflammatory factors were compared. RESULTS: The excellent and good rate of rehabilitation in the group A was raised than group B. At 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment, the range of motion of the two groups was raised than that before treatment, and that of the group A was raised than group B. After treatment, the scores of Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) in the group A were raised, and those in the group A were raised than group B. The VAS score of the two groups was reduced than that of the group B, and the SF-36 score of the group A was reduced than group B. The interleukin (IL)-1 ß, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the two groups were reduced, and those in the group A were reduced than group B. CONCLUSION: Sodium hyaluronate combined with rehabilitation training has a good clinical effect in the treatment of patients with knee joint injury caused by golf, which relieve pain, maintain knee joint function and improve patients' life quality.

The Relationship between Inclination for Conscious Movement Monitoring and Control and Stopping a Golf Stroke.

Increased conscious movement monitoring and control can impair sports performance. Recent evidence indicates it might facilitate stopping motor actions. To further investigate, we asked novices to putt balls, but they needed to stop promptly while an auditory cue appeared during the downswing. They also completed the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale, which measures movement self-consciousness (MS-C) and conscious motor processing, indicating the degree of inclination for conscious movement monitoring and control, respectively. Individuals with high MS-C displayed higher stopping rates but longer stopping time. Further exploration suggests that they were more likely to make slow downswings, allowing successful but late stops. We conclude that increased conscious movement monitoring may affect movement execution in such a way that it affords better stopping of ongoing motor actions.

Injury incidence in golf-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of comprehensive analysis of injuries in golf per exposure time. Thus, the aim was to report the pooled incidence of injuries in golf. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases in March 2024 for this systematic review and meta-analysis. We included observational studies reporting the number of injuries per exposure time. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled injury incidence per 1000 athlete exposures (18 holes of golf) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Incidences were separately analyzed for men, women, amateurs, professionals, and special athletes. RESULTS: A total of 999 studies were screened, 29 full texts were assessed, and 7 studies with 269,754 athlete exposures were included. Seven studies assessed the overall incidence of injury, and the pooled estimate was 2.5 per 1000 athlete exposures (CI 0.9-7.5). The incidence was higher in special athletes (21.0, CI 7.7-45.1; one study) than among professionals (8.5, CI 7.6-9.4; one study), or in amateurs (1.3, CI 0.5-4.0; five studies). The injury incidence was 2.6 per 1000 athlete exposures (CI 0.7-9.6; four studies) in women and 1.4 per 1000 athlete exposures (CI 0.4-5.2; three studies) in men. A sensitivity analysis without special athletes had an incidence of 1.9 (CI 0.7-4.9; six studies). CONCLUSION: The injury incidence in golf is 2.5 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures (18 holes of golf). Reporting was limited as only one study reported injuries per exposure time in professionals, and in total, only seven studies were found. More research is needed in all levels and age groups to better estimate the injury incidence and associated risk factors in golf.

A single session of sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback enhances long-game performance in professional golfers.

Enhanced Sensorimotor Rhythm activity has been linked to increased automation in motor execution. Although existing research demonstrates the positive effects of SMR neurofeedback training on improving golf putting performance, its influence on golf long-game performance remains unexplored. This study sought to address this gap by involving seventeen professional female golfers (Age =24.63 ± 3.24 years, Handicap＝2.06 ± 1.18) in a crossover-designed experiment incorporating both NFT and a no-training control condition. During the study, participants executed 40 150-yard swings while receiving continuous SMR neurofeedback. Pre- and post-testing included visual analog scales to assess psychological processes associated with SMR activities, including attention engagement, conscious motor control, and physical relaxation levels. The results revealed that a single session of NFT effectively heightened SMR power irrespective of T1 (p = .02) or T2 (p = .03), which was observed with improved swing accuracy compared to the control conditions, particularly in "To Pin" (p = .04, the absolute distance to the hole after the ball comes to a stop). Subjective assessments further indicated that SMR NFT contributed to a sense of ease and tranquility during motor preparation for the golf swing (attention engagement: p = .01, conscious motor control: p = .033, physical relaxation: p = .013), and which offered valuable insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the impact of SMR NFT on long-game performance. Additionally, in such practical applications professional athletes can utilize our single-session neurofeedback protocol to train efficiently and cost-effectively before competitions, thereby enhancing their opportunity to achieve a higher rank.

Does Dyadic Practice Interfere with the Type of Motor Learning Promoted by Analogy Instructions?

We investigated whether allowing individuals to exchange verbal information during dyadic practice changed the effect of analogy instructions intended to strengthen explicit motor learning by an implicit means. Forty-three right-handed college students performed golf putting, aiming at a target three meters away. Participants were assigned to one of two groups: Dyadic Practice Analogy Instruction or Individual Practice Analogy Instruction. Participants in the Dyadic Practice group were allowed to communicate with one another about the task during their practice. Before practice, participants performed a working memory capacity test. Both groups performed 180 trials of golf distributed across three days. On each day, there were four blocks of 15 trials. On the third day, participants reported the explicit rules they used to learn the task and they completed the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. On the fourth day, they took three learning tests: retention, dual-task transfer, and social pressure transfer tests. Results of the retention test indicated that both groups learned the task comparably. Similarly, there were no significant group differences between the participants' number of explicit rules learned and their motivation levels on either of the transfer tests. Finally, only the participants in the Dyadic Practice Analogy Group showed a significant correlation between their performance on the dual-task transfer test and their working memory capacity. Overall, we found that dyadic practice did not interfere with the implicit type of motor learning promoted by analogy instruction (i.e., implicit learning).

Commit to your putting stroke: exploring the impact of quiet eye duration and neural activity on golf putting performance.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in characterizing the cognitive-motor processes that underlie superior performance in highly skilled athletes. The aim of this study was to explore neural markers of putting performance in highly skilled golfers by recording mobile EEG (electroencephalogram) during the pre-shot period. Methods: Twenty-eight right-handed participants (20 males) with a mean age of 24.2 years (± 6.4) and an average handicap of +1.7 (± 6.4) completed a testing session. Following the warm-up, participants completed 140 putts from a distance of 8ft (2.4m), with putts taken from 5 different positions. While putting, participants wore an eye tracker and a gel-based EEG system with 32 electrodes. Time and frequency domain features of the EEG signals were extracted to characterize Movement-Related Cortical Potentials (MRCP) and rhythmic modulations of neural activity in theta, alpha, sensorimotor and beta frequency bands associated with putting performance. Results: Eye-tracking data demonstrate that mean Quiet Eye durations are not a reliable marker of expertise as the same duration was found for both successful and unsuccessful putts. Following rigorous data processing data from 12 participants (8 males, mean age 21.6 years ± 5.4, average handicap +1.5 ± 4.4) were included in the EEG analysis. MRCP analysis revealed performance-based differences, with unsuccessful putts having a greater negative amplitude in comparison to successful putts. Time frequency analysis of the EEG data revealed that successful putts exhibit distinct neural activity profiles compared to unsuccessful ones. For successful putts, greater suppression of beta was present in the central region prior to the putt. By contrast, increased frontal theta power was present for unsuccessful putts immediately before the putt (consistent with hesitation and the need for motor plan adjustments prior to execution). Discussion: We propose that neural activity may provide plausible insights into the mechanisms behind why identical QE durations can lead to both success and failure. From an applied perspective, this study highlights the merits of a multi-measure approach to gain further insights into performance differences within highly skilled golfers. We discuss considerations for future research and solutions to address the challenges related to the complexities of collecting clean EEG signals within naturalistic sporting contexts.

The effects of conscious movement investment on inhibiting a golf stroke.

Previous studies have suggested an association between conscious movement investment and inhibiting motor actions. However, no within-designs were used in which conscious movement investment was manipulated. The current study compared changes in inhibition after instruction interventions that aimed to expand and limit conscious investment in the execution of a golf putting task. During a baseline and post-intervention test, participants were asked to putt balls in a hole. Randomly, an auditory stop-signal appeared 50 ms after reaching the end of backswing on some trials, signalling them to stop the downswing as quickly as possible. Between the two tests, the participants practiced under different instructions, without the stop-signal. One group (i.e., expanded conscious investment, ECIG) received multiple explicit movement-related instructions along with the internal focus of attention instructions, while the second group (i.e., limited conscious investment, LCIG) received a single analogy instruction paired with external focus of attention instructions. The results did not reveal significant differences in stopping rate and stopping time between the baseline and post-intervention tests and the two groups. However, a mediation analysis highlighted that the ECIG exhibited a greater change in downswing time compared to the LCIG. This change was correlated with a larger increase in stopping rate and stopping time. We conclude that conscious movement investment did not directly influence inhibition. Instead, we discuss how conscious movement investment may indirectly influence inhibition dependent on the putting kinematics.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain in Amateur Golfers in the State of São Paulo: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in amateur golfers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods The present is a cross-sectional study performed from September 2019 to March 2020 in golf clubs affiliated to Federação Paulista de Golfe (São Paulo Golf Federation). Federation players were evaluated regarding data on golf practice and sport routine by a main investigator, though an assessment form with multiple-choice questions, to determine sample characteristics and recent pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale. Results Approximately 359 amateur golfers were analyzed. The prevalence of pain was of 55.15% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 50.0% to 60.3%); the average pain intensity according to the VAS was moderate (mean ± standard deviation: 5.21 ± 2.04; odds ration [OR]: 47,98%). The golfer's age range was significantly associated with the presence of pain ( p < 0.05). The highest prevalence estimate of pain was of 68.80% in the age group between 30 and 39 years (OR: 7,33; 95%CI: 2,26 to 23,85; p = 0,0009). The segments most affected by pain were the upper limbs (65.66%), followed by the spine (59.09%) and the lower limbs (32.83%). Conclusion There is a high prevalence rate of pain in Brazilian amateur golfers, especially in younger players in the age group between 30 and 39 years.

Relationships and Within-Group Differences in Physical Attributes and Golf Performance in Elite Amateur Female Players.

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between a comprehensive physical testing battery and measures of golf performance in elite female amateur players. Nineteen category one (handicap ≤ 5) or better golfers (age: 16.26 ± 1.28 years, height: 166.26 ± 3.62 cm, mass: 64.04 ± 11.27 kg, wingspan: 146.53 ± 15.59 cm, handicap: +1.45 ± 0.7) volunteered to participate in this investigation. All golfers attended a single 90 min testing session where golf shot data (clubhead speed [CHS], ball speed, carry distance, and smash factor) were measured with a Trackman 4 launch monitor and a battery of physical assessments were carried out. These included anthropometric data and assessments for seated thoracic rotation, the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), isometric bench press, countermovement jump (CMJ), and seated medicine ball throws for distance. Pearson's r correlations showed CHS was the golf metric that most commonly demonstrated large associations with physical testing data, most notably with force at 100 ms during the isometric bench press (r = 0.70). Median split analysis was also conducted for the IMTP (force at 200 ms), isometric bench press (force at 100 ms), and CMJ (positive impulse). The results showed that players who produced more force at 200 ms during the IMTP exhibited a greater CHS (g = 1.13), ball speed (g = 0.90), and carry distance (g = 1.01). In addition, players with a greater positive impulse during the CMJ showed a greater ball speed (g = 0.93), carry distance (g = 1.29), and smash factor (g = 1.27). Collectively, these results highlight the relevance of explosive force production capabilities in both the lower and upper body for female golfers. This information can be used by practitioners to better target key physical attributes during testing and training of female players.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain in Amateur Golfers in the State of São Paulo: A Cross-sectional Study / Prevalência de dor musculoesquelética em golfistas amadores do estado de São Paulo: Um estudo transversal

Abstract Objective To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in amateur golfers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods The present is a cross-sectional study performed from September 2019 to March 2020 in golf clubs affiliated to Federação Paulista de Golfe (São Paulo Golf Federation). Federation players were evaluated regarding data on golf practice and sport routine by a main investigator, though an assessment form with multiple-choice questions, to determine sample characteristics and recent pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale. Results Approximately 359 amateur golfers were analyzed. The prevalence of pain was of 55.15% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 50.0% to 60.3%); the average pain intensity according to the VAS was moderate (mean ± standard deviation: 5.21 ± 2.04; odds ration [OR]: 47,98%). The golfer's age range was significantly associated with the presence of pain (p < 0.05). The highest prevalence estimate of pain was of 68.80% in the age group between 30 and 39 years (OR: 7,33; 95%CI: 2,26 to 23,85; p = 0,0009). The segments most affected by pain were the upper limbs (65.66%), followed by the spine (59.09%) and the lower limbs (32.83%). Conclusion There is a high prevalence rate of pain in Brazilian amateur golfers, especially in younger players in the age group between 30 and 39 years.

Resumo Objetivo Verificar a prevalência de dores musculoesqueléticas em golfistas amadores do estado de São Paulo. Métodos Este é um estudo transversal realizado de setembro de 2019 a março de 2020 em clubes de golfe afiliados à Federação Paulista de Golfe. Jogadores federados foram avaliados quanto a dados da prática de golfe e da rotina esportiva por um investigador principal, por meio de um formulário de avaliação com questões de múltipla escolha, para a determinação das características da amostra e da intensidade da dor recente pela Escala Visual Analógica (EVA). Resultados Cerca de 359 golfistas amadores foram analisados. A prevalência de dor foi de 55,15% (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 50,0% a 60,3%); a intensidade média da dor segundo a EVA foi moderada (média ± desvio padrão: 5,21 ± 2,04; razão de probabilidades [odds ratio, OR, em inglês]: 47,98%). A faixa etária dos golfistas esteve significativamente associada à presença de dor (p < 0,05). A maior estimativa de prevalência de dor foi de 68,80% na faixa etária de 30 a 39 anos (OR: 7,33; IC95%: 2,26 a 23,85; p = 0,0009). Os segmentos mais acometidos por dor foram os membros superiores (65,66%), seguidos da coluna (59,09%) e dos membros inferiores (32,83%). Conclusão Há uma alta taxa de prevalência de dor em golfistas amadores brasileiros, especialmente em jogadores mais jovens, na faixa etária de 30 a 39 anos.

The Mental Game of Golf: Understanding Relationships Between Self-Efficacy, Fear of Failure, Competitive State Anxiety, and Flow.

Our purpose in this study was to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy, fear of failure, competitive state anxiety, and flow among elite golfers. We surveyed 375 elite golfers (N = 375; male = 187, female = 188) who were registered with the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee, and we analyzed their survey responses using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modelling. As expected, we found golf self-efficacy (GSE) to be significantly related to fear of failure (FOF). We also found FOF and competitive state anxiety (CSA) significantly related to flow. Finally, we verified a suspected hierarchical or mediating effect in these relationships such that we verified predictive relationships of flow as follows: GSE→FOF→CSA→Flow. These golfers' self-efficacy had a buffering effect of lowering their FOF and CSA in the pathway toward flow. A suggested implication of these findings is that to enhance a golfer's performance by minimizing interfering psychological factors, it is essential to boost their self-efficacy.

Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Golf Athletes: A Championship in Portugal.

Although golf is a low-impact sport without physical contact, its movements are carried out over a large range of motion, and their repetition can predispose athletes to the development of injuries. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in golf athletes who participated in championships in southern Portugal, determining the types, locations and mechanisms of injury and their associated risk factors. The sample consisted of 140 athletes aged between 18 and 72 years, 133 (95%) being male. The measuring instrument was a questionnaire about sociodemographics, modality and injuries' characteristics. Throughout golf practice, 70 (50%) athletes reported injuries, totaling 133 injuries. In the 12-month period, 43 (30.7%) athletes suffered injuries, totaling 65 injuries. The injury proportion was of 0.31, and the injury rate was of 0.33 injuries per 1000 h of golf training. The most common injury type was muscle sprain or rupture (19; 30.9%), located in the lumbar spine (17; 27%), in which the repetitive movements were the main injury mechanism (42; 66.7%). The athletes who trained 4 times or more per week were 3.5 more likely (CI: 0.97-12.36; p = 0.056) to develop an injury while playing golf. Moderate injury presence was observed, with the high training frequency being an associated risk factor.