Nicholas, CeriBristow, Ryan2017-02-162017-02-162016-09Bristow, R. (2016). An investigation into the effects of caffeine on golf performance with focus on the drive (Master's thesis). University of Chester, United Kingdom.http://hdl.handle.net/10034/620382The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of caffeine on golf performance, focussing on the drive. Eleven male volunteers (age 29.36 ± 6.50years; height 180.27 ± 5.93cm; weight 85.48 ± 13.31kg; handicap 4.75 ± 3.68) were recruited. Each participant was tested on two occasions in a counterbalanced design involving three-phases; 1- ten-drives on a golfsimulator to assess performance variables (club head speed, ball speed, carry-distance, total-distance, offline and launch angle); 2- playing 18-holes of golf; 3- repeat ten-drives on the golf-simulator. Participants were administered (double-blind) 3mg  kg-1 caffeine or placebo over two-doses, firstly 30- minutes prior to commencing phase 2 and secondly, immediately following hole-9. Golf performance (total score, greens in regulation and total putts) hydration status, physiological (distance walked and mean heart rate) and environmental conditions (temperature and wind speed) were recorded. A 2x2 (condition x time) repeated-measures ANOVA and Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare performance differences between the two conditions. Analysis indicated significant interactions (p<0.05) for ball speed (154.65 ± 9.08 mph - 153.31 ± 9.05 mph, d= 0.16) and total-distance (278.55 ± 18.56 yards - 272.73 ± 15.45 yards, d= 0.36) in the placebo condition with no significant reductions (p>0.05) in the caffeine condition. However, no significant performance differences (p>0.05) were identified on the course over 18-holes. It was concluded 3mg  kg-1 caffeine consumed before and during golf attenuates the effects of fatigue on some performance variables associated with the drive, however did not improve performance on the course.enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/caffeinesportsGolfThesis or dissertation