Stronger does not automatically mean longer: what researchers measured
A paper by Haylee S. Adams, Jeffrey M. Willardson and Alex B. Shafer, published online on 24 October 2026 in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, examined how strength-related measurements relate to driver performance in collegiate golfers. The researchers studied associations, not the effectiveness of a strength-training programme.
The group comprised 18 collegiate golfers — 10 women and eight men. Participants performed an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), exerting force against a fixed bar without moving it. Researchers measured peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD), then assessed driver clubhead speed and carry distance using a Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor.
Why peak force and rapid force production differ
Peak force is the greatest force registered during the test. Rate of force development describes how quickly force rises. An athlete can produce substantial maximum force without necessarily producing it especially quickly; they are related but distinct measurements.
For absolute values, the study reported strong, statistically significant correlations with driver clubhead speed: r = 0.856 for PF and r = 0.797 for RFD. Correlations with carry distance were r = 0.806 and r = 0.760, respectively.
A qualification matters. When peak force was divided by body mass, its associations with clubhead speed (r = 0.414) and carry (r = 0.383) were not statistically significant. Relative RFD, however, remained significantly associated with clubhead speed (r = 0.671) and carry (r = 0.663).
These numbers do not identify a single muscle that produces distance. IMTP is a specific laboratory-style strength assessment rather than a measurement of how the hands, hips or feet individually contribute to a golf swing.
What the study cannot tell us
Correlation is not causation. Participants were not assigned to exercise programmes, so this work does not show that practising IMTP — or any particular gym exercise — will add yards to your drives. A correlation coefficient cannot be converted into an expected distance gain after four weeks.
The sample was small, and body size and sex differed across participants. Group-level associations cannot predict a particular golfer's next shot. Swing delivery, centred contact, launch characteristics, ball selection and driver specifications still matter. Carry means distance to first landing, not total distance including rollout.
The authors also reported high test–retest reliability for the GCQuad measurements of clubhead speed and carry under their protocol. That supports consistent measurement in this setting, not perfect accuracy for every monitor or range environment.
A practical way to use the finding
Before changing your gym routine, establish your own baseline. If a reliable launch monitor is available, try an editorial 12-drive observation session: three blocks of four drives with your usual swing, the same driver and similar balls. Rest between blocks. Record clubhead speed, carry, initial direction and obvious strike-quality differences. Compare typical results and variation, rather than celebrating only the longest ball.
Repeat the log on another day in comparable conditions. This is a simple way to monitor your driving, not a scientific test of what strength work will help you. A qualified strength and conditioning professional can assess training needs and individual limitations. Do not attempt a maximal IMTP against an improvised fixed bar without appropriate equipment and supervision.
The takeaway
This new study suggests that both maximal force and the ability to develop force rapidly are relevant to driver performance in this small collegiate sample. It does not prescribe a universal path to greater distance. Keep strength, clubhead speed and actual ball flight as separate measurements, and avoid treating an association as a guaranteed training outcome.
Source: Adams, Willardson and Shafer, “An Examination of the Relationship Between Isometric Midthigh Pull Force-Time Characteristics and Golf Drive Performance in Collegiate Golfers,” International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 24 October 2026; DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2026-0340.
