Author(s): YIN, H., Institution: SHANGHAI UNIVERSITY OF SPORT, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 915

INTRODUCTION:
Golf performance depends on the synergistic integration of swing technique and physical conditioning. In China, the rapid growth of competitive golf has outpaced the development of systematic, evidence-based training frameworks. Although multidisciplinary collaboration between swing coaches and strength & conditioning (S&C) coaches is widely recognised as essential in elite sport, the nature and extent of such collaboration in Chinese golf remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interaction patterns among Chinese golf players, swing technique coaches, and S&C coaches, aiming to identify barriers to integrated training and inform strategies for optimising athlete development.
METHODS:
A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 112 competitive golf players, 54 swing technique coaches, and 38 strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches across China. The survey instrument comprised three domains: (1) training content, volume, and intensity distribution between technical and physical conditioning sessions; (2) frequency, format, and perceived quality of collaboration between swing and S&C coaches; and (3) the degree of individualisation in current training programmes. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise response patterns across the three participant groups.
RESULTS:
Three principal findings emerged.First, training programmes were disproportionately weighted towards swing technique. Specifically, 62.5% of players reported that swing-specific drills constituted their primary training activity, whereas physical conditioning accounted for less than 40% of total training volume. Furthermore, nearly 60% of coaches acknowledged an insufficient appreciation of the role of S&C training within current practice.Second, collaboration between swing coaches and S&C coaches was infrequent and largely unstructured. A total of 63.0% of coaches reported conducting joint training sessions no more than five times per year, and approximately half identified substantive differences in training philosophy and methodology as a primary barrier to effective cooperation. Third, the degree of individualisation was limited. Over 70% of coaches indicated that existing training programmes were insufficiently tailored to the specific needs and developmental profiles of individual athletes.
CONCLUSION:
The findings reveal systemic fragmentation in Chinese golf training — weak interdisciplinary collaboration, technical bias over physical preparation, and limited individualisation — constraining elite performance development. We propose an integrated framework built on three pillars: synergy through institutionalised multidisciplinary cooperation, specificity through data-driven intervention design, and individualisation through adaptive, athlete-centred training. This approach may enhance competitive performance and professionalise golf training in China.