400 yards

[Deleted member 29109]

40 yards left will be playing from some interesting places at August.

 

[harpo_72]

13 footballers? What are you on about?

Football, like most sports, has changed from even 20 years ago. Players are fitter, faster, stronger, etc. I'm not saying I like the idea of 400 yard drives, but sports evolve.

Taking the mick out of the argument, you have people who are arguing to maintain a situation that is ruining a game .. admittedly the tech in football isn’t as great as golf but effectively the ball is allowing the game to be ruined, similar as allowing 13 footballers would do in a foot ball game, but we don’t, so it’s under control. What I am saying is just implement the rule on the ball and get on with it. No one complains about the limitation of 11 players on a football pitch do they? As it’s the rule.

 

[USER1999]

I think all golf courses should be lengthened to 10,000 yards to keep them relevant. One set of tees only though. Multiple tees is bifurcation, and dilutes the pure golfiness of the experience.
Those courses that cannot manage this within the confines of their borders should be forced to close, as they are not in keeping with the way the modern game should be played. They are no longer offering golf, and as such trades description malfeasance rules should apply.

Or, roll back the equipment (not just the ball).

 

[evemccc]

we are all free to do what bryson is doing.. it takes an incredible amount of dedication (and pies) , we may not get to 180+ ball speeds, but we are probaly all capabale of adding more speed and distance. I find the amount of ire he recieves very strange as I do the clamour for a reduced ball. I'm still a bit sceptical of the 400yd insta post too..

No one in this thread has argued against the skill and dedication and thinking (and risk) that BdC has done...Anyone who knows golf knows that.

It isn’t just him. It’s Wolff, Rory, DJ, Rahm, Brooks etc and other extremely long hitters.

They would (rightfully) still have their advantage if the ball flew 50 / 70 yards less off the tee.

 

[evemccc]

And as for the argument against ‘progress’ and ‘sport evolving’ — seriously?

Almost every sport has limitations and regulations. Be it mechanical in motorsport, or in clothing regs (competitive swimwear with swimsuits that aided buoyancy and therefore speed), or ‘diet’ / drug regulations. Tennis in the 90s changed the grass at Wimbledon in the early 00s to aid baseline players for example

The problem is some people can’t see the self-interest of vested interests, and their lobbying power (equipment manufacturers) when they see it...

 

[robinthehood]

And as for the argument against ‘progress’ and ‘sport evolving’ — seriously?

Almost every sport has limitations and regulations. Be it mechanical in motorsport, or in clothing regs (competitive swimwear with swimsuits that aided buoyancy and therefore speed), or ‘diet’ / drug regulations. Tennis in the 90s changed the grass at Wimbledon in the early 00s to aid baseline players for example

The problem is some people can’t see the self-interest of vested interests, and their lobbying power (equipment manufacturers) when they see it...

Golf does have limitations and regulations.... if the big manufactures had their way , we'd all be 50 yards longer in an instant.

 

[jim8flog]

Change the ball across the board.

Very easy for clubs to change the par of any hole.

 

[Deleted member 23270]

I don't have an issue with distance, after all how many times a year does BDC play on a 'classic' course. Once, in the Open. And those venues can be made brutal by growing the rough, putting a premium on accuracy. I'm not really interested in US 'bomb and gouge' resort courses.

 

[BubbaP]

we are all free to do what bryson is doing.. it takes an incredible amount of dedication (and pies) , we may not get to 180+ ball speeds, but we are probaly all capabale of adding more speed and distance. I find the amount of ire he recieves very strange as I do the clamour for a reduced ball. I'm still a bit sceptical of the 400yd insta post too..

I'd find it pretty funny if it was all a hype bluff, and he rocks up at Augusta and hits 4 iron off all the 4s & 5s. Mind he'd probably score pretty well doing that!

 

[Blue in Munich]

I remember when 260 yards was an absolute bomb in pro terms and St Andrews Old and other classic courses were still relevent in the pro game.

Do we really want to see the current pro's hitting a 3 iron up the 18th at St Andrews as any wood in the bag will be pitching in the dining room of the R&A Clubhouse

And when there was a reward for being able to work the ball left or right, and high or low.

It makes me realise why I watch less and less pro golf.

 

[94tegsi]

When talking about 2 sets of equipment for pros and amateurs, we don't talk about the crossover. Imagine becoming a great player in your teens with the potential of turning pro, and then having to get used to a different ball...

This is my fundamental issue with a change in ball as it will be a complete change. As well as change all aspects of the game between amateur and pro.

Not sure why it doesn’t need to be as simple as changing the allowable specs of the driver/woods. Reduce driver CoR to <0.80, shaft length to >45” and head size to <350cc ..... and just let us weekend hackers enjoy what we have now.

 

[drdel]

If he can maintain enough accuracy over that distance then that is special. Good luck to the guy.

 

[harpo_72]

Brutally honest changing driver cc isn’t going to affect these guys hugely, my 5 wood is slightly bigger than a wooden driver, yeah it has more loft at 18 degrees, but it has a load of forgiveness as well and that is the key. We saw distance drop off due to non centred strikes with wooden woods. Today we see weight set ups to overcome the player who cannot find the centre or is looking to play from the toe side to change their spin characteristics ( I am being kind here, we could say they are swinging out their boots and loose that ability and the club is helping them) .

So I think the clubs don’t hold the answer, may be locking lofts would be interesting.. you cannot bend to suit conditions , instead you play to your lengths.

I don’t mind smaller drivers , give me one any day of the week and I will eventually start middling it. Not as far may be but it would only be 5 yards max and I am just a legend in my own lunch time. So these professionals it’s no issue.

The ball is where it’s at, they pick and develop the ball to suit the player ( so what’s the difference to having a pro ball or an amateur ball?) . They have tweaked the aero - Bridgestone and Titleist had a massive to do on this so it’s a major tuning tool. Compression is another one with all these mantles acting like a multi damper and then covers changing mue behaviours ...

 

[Swinglowandslow]

It just might have to be the ball. Forget driver and woods changes. Burmester this week hit an iron into the green in Italy.
270 Yards carry!!

 

[USER1999]

It isn't just the ball though. For clubs, reduce MOI, volume, limit face restitution, curvature, weight, shaft stiffness, all would have a cumulative effect.
Another idea previously mentioned on NLU was tee height. Massively reduce this, and 400 yard bombs become impossible. This only fixes the driver though, and I think the whole bag needs fixing.
The ball most of all though. It needs to spin more off the driver, and less off the wedges.

 

[Billysboots]

Bomb and gouge just isn’t golf. Each to their own, but personally I just can’t understand why anyone gets excited at the prospect of someone destroying a golf course in such a manner.

I never thought I’d go all dewy eyed at the thought of persimmon woods, but when I went to my first Tour event at Ganton as a boy I marvelled at the skill of the players.

I can’t marvel at a bloke who spent lockdown in the gym and downing protein shakes, all in search of extra yardage, in quite the same way.

One or two guys doing it has curiosity value for a limited time. If the entire Tour ends up playing golf like BDC it will be the end of the game as a spectacle.

 

[huds1475]

Sports are entertaining, to watch or play, because of their variety / subtleties / nuance.

Driver, wedge, putt. Has little of the above so becomes less attractive to watch and play.

I dont have anything against Bryson, but I wouldn't pay money to watch him.

 

[garyinderry]

I quite enjoy watching one player do a real life happy Gilmore.

If he incorporated a run up into his swing that would be the cherry on top.

 

[Blue in Munich]

It isn't just the ball though. For clubs, reduce MOI, volume, limit face restitution, curvature, weight, shaft stiffness, all would have a cumulative effect.
Another idea previously mentioned on NLU was tee height. Massively reduce this, and 400 yard bombs become impossible. This only fixes the driver though, and I think the whole bag needs fixing.
The ball most of all though. It needs to spin more off the driver, and less off the wedges.

If only there was something that every club in the bag hit...

 

[USER1999]

If only there was something that every club in the bag hit...

The hosel?