Compression clothing for Golf

Sun Jan 20, 2013 by Dave Phillips

Compression clothing is becoming a hot item in the golf industry and there are scientific studies that are backing up the claims of better performance. The benefits of compression clothing have been studied and utilized in many track and field sports and research has shown that it can actually increase blood flow as well as enhance proprioception and muscle coordination.

American scientists investigated the effect of compression shorts on power production during maximal effort vertical jumps in volleyball as well as basketball. The investigators suggested that using the compression shorts increased the athletes’ ability to resist fatigue in the muscle.  This could be very beneficial during golf due to the repetitive motion of swinging a club and the muscle fatigue that occurs during the round.

Due to the tight fitting nature of these garments and the fabric that they are made of, they still have the added benefit of being non-restrictive and allowing full range of motion. Not only can they help your mobility during the golf swing, in warmer climates they also help transfer sweat from the skin to the fabric much faster, as a result athletes often feel cooler during exercise and perceive the activity as being less difficult.

Too often modern athletic clothing is worn simply as a fashion garment. However, for those individuals involved in intense and/or competitive activity, the studies conducted in America, New Zealand and Australia would suggest that compression clothing might provide both a performance and a recovery aid. The mechanisms that mediate any performance gains appear to be related to a considerable number of variables including enhanced proprioception, reduced muscle oscillation, enhanced lactate removal and/or psychological factors.

A company by the name of 2XU from Australia has a golf specific garment that has been engineered using sports science and biomechanic principles. The Golf Compression shirt targets key areas of your body to enhance proprioceptive feel, promote greater postural awareness for improved dynamic posture, reduce injury and improve movement patterns. We are already seeing more professional golfers use garments like this during cool conditions but as the fabrics and designs get better we may see them all year round to help enhance a players performance. 

DP

 

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