Effects of flexibility interventions on Golf performance: A systematic review

Flexibility-related interventions are widely used in golf conditioning, although their effects on golf performance remain unclear. This systematic review evaluated the acute and long-term effects of flexibility-related interventions on golf-specific performance. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to 1 December 2025, supplemented by trial registry, grey literature, website, and citation searches. Controlled studies involving healthy golfers were included. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and evidence certainty was evaluated using GRADE. Owing to substantial heterogeneity, findings were synthesised narratively. Nineteen studies involving approximately 464 golfers were included: 13 examined acute interventions and six investigated programmes lasting 5–14 weeks. Eleven studies had a low overall risk of bias, five raised some concerns, and three had a high risk. Acute, large-volume passive static stretching was generally associated with reductions in clubhead speed, hitting distance, and shot consistency compared with active or dynamic warm-ups. Dynamic stretching and mobility-based preparation produced predominantly neutral or favourable effects, while soft-tissue-assisted and multimodal approaches demonstrated outcome-specific benefits. Long-term flexibility or mobility training improved selected range-of-motion, swing-kinematic, and performance outcomes, with broader benefits observed when flexibility exercises were combined with strength, balance, functional, or golf-specific training. Evidence certainty ranged from very low to moderate. Prolonged static stretching should be used cautiously before performance, while long-term flexibility training should be integrated into comprehensive conditioning programmes. Further high-quality studies are required to determine optimal intervention timing, dosage, and composition.