Influence of mild dehydration on perception of effort and execution of golf and mental concentration tests in female collegiate golfers

Abstract

Water is arguably the most important nutrient given that even minor deficits lead to performance detriment for athletes and, in a matter of days, total absence causes fatality for all. Despite this, several reports suggest that an overwhelming amount of the athletic population competes and trains in a dehydrated state. The impact of dehydration on leisure sports, such as golf, is less certain given that fine motor skill sports have received less attention in the literature and that existing research on dehydration and golfers is largely limited to males. In this randomized, controlled, crossover pilot experiment, elite female golfers on the Virginia Tech Women’s Golf Team (n=6) completed four laboratory simulated golf holes in both euhydrated and dehydrated states. Euhydration (mean urinary specific gravity [USG]=1.009; range=1.003–1.021) was attained by following the NCAA hydration guidelines, and dehydration (mean USG=1.021; range=1.018–1.026) was attained via a 12 hour overnight fast from fluids. No significant interactions of condition by time for perceived effort, 7-iron distance and accuracy, putting accuracy, reaction time, and executive cognitive function were found between euhydrated and dehydrated states. However, although not significant, euhydrated participants demonstrated improved 7-iron and putting accuracy and reported less perceived effort as compared to performance during their dehydrated state. Based on USG levels, NCAA hydration recommendations may not be adequate to induce a euhydrated state for all athletes. More research is needed with larger sample sizes to further elicit the impact of hydration status on variance in motor and cognitive function for elite golfers.