Glasses and Golf

[flandango]

I have just had an eye test and found out that I am barely legal to drive. My eye test was prompted mainly for golf.

I was toying with the idea of contacts but don't think I can be bothered with the hassle.

Have seen some really nice Oakley frames which I don't think would cause me many problems.

Does anyone on here have any pro's and con's about wearing glasses on the course (apart from the obvious, ie if it's raining!)

Thanks guys.

 

[medwayjon]

When it is windy your eyes absolutely stream when it is into your face as the the glasses create a wind-tunnel infront of your eyes.

I would rather where glasses than contacts, tried contacts, they got on my tits.

 

[Basher]

Thankfully I don't need glasses but I would imagine the rain plays havoc with your vision whilst wearing them.
Often wonder if wearing a baseball cap would help in keeping the lenses dry, failing that I should imagine it's a case of constantly wiping them dry with a cloth of some description.

You could try the F1 and Moto GP approach and invest in rip off visors!!! They're like cellophane covers that can be ripped off the helmet visor when they become too bad to see through!

 

[Imurg]

I don't find any problems with mine at all - even in the rain. A long peaked cap sorts that one out.

 

[Leftie]

I tried contacts, they got on my tits.

Errrrmm Aren't you meant to put them on your eyes?

That would explain something though. After our game at Princes in the arctic temperatures when you took your jumper off in the bar ... I thought that it was your manly chest's reaction to the cold weather

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wear glasses (went to Specsavers and came out with a labrador and a white stick!) and to be honest I don't really have a problem. I wear a cap in the rain which does the job pretty well and pack a couple of cleaning cloths inside my pocket to wipe them if it is heavy rain. I actually struggle more in sunny and humid conditions especially if I wear a cap (to protect my balding head) with them steaming up through being too hot. At the end of the day they are an absolute must for me so I just get on with it as best as I can

 

[EchtLoon]

flandango, I think it all depends on whether you are happy to look like a geek or a normal person.

I got a glasses in the 90s, at the time big frames were in and I had no issues, then small frames came in, and without thinking of the effect on my golf I got new "cool" frames, that wasn't such a good idea as obviously the ball moved in and out of my field of vision.

I now play without glasses again as I had to, and wear my glasses to drive and for long range stuff only.

Get a pair of Christopher Biggins and you can golf to your hearts content, get a pair of Sven's and you will need to leave them at home.

 

[CliveW]

I have worn variofocals for some years now, and wear them for golf too.I did have a problem putting initially and couldn't put my finger on the problem. Then I realised that if I looked out of the top of the lens at a straight line, like where the ceiling meets a wall for example, the line was curved down. Likewise, when I looked out of the bottom of the lens, a straight line appeared curved upwards in the middle. Now when I look over a putt, I have to be certain to look through thr middle of the lens to get the line of the putt.

 

[mrmotorbikeman]

not quite on topic, but if i wear sunglasses, i shank the ball. simple as that.

last time i tried to wear them, i shanked my first 4 shots, then took them off and stuck my recovery wedge to 3 feet from about 75 yeards out (shanking doesnt advance very far on a par 4) and made a double. proceeded to play well for the rest of the round and shot a PB +6 gross. every time i put a pair on, i get the shanks, and literally as soon as i take them off im back to normal. not quite on topic, but i think its funny.

not meaning to put the fear of god into you that you will start shanking as soon as you wear any though! i don't wear glasses normally btw.

 

[rgs]

I wear glasses and have do for nearly 30 yrs--used to wear contacts when playing hurling and football--glasses useles in contact sports---

I usually wear a good water proof peak cap when its raining.

Have you considered laser treatment===my brother had his done a few years ago, helped his vision which is better than 20/20, great for spotting golf balls. His golf has not improved.

 

[Cernunnos]

Wearing glasses can change perspective & size of object. Initially it may play havoc with co-ordination, but you will soon adjust especially if the perscription is not that strong.

I have quite small lenses which is a lot lighter, always go for thinner lenses wherever possible too, even if it costs a bit more.

Peaked caps do help a lot with rain & sun problems.

Contacts can be a bit of a faff to put in take out & clean, but for the likes of people like myself with a fairly strong perscription, is probably a better solution, as I left specsavers the other day with a very hefty dent in my pocket for designer frames, thin lenses in one pair (2 for 1 on frames) & reactolite & really thin lenses in the other. Lets just say i could have bought a very nice set of clubs or the best part of a membership fee for some local courses for what it cost. Contacts over a year or two would have worked out cheaper than my recent glasses purchase. Hell I could have even considered the idea of laser treatment.

Oh & one final point if you do wear glasses & then move over to contacts you will suffer perspective problems again, as its like being able to see unaided again & the world is not bow windowed & small any longer...lol

 

[John_Findlay]

I tend to agree with Cernunnos, flandango.

The problem with glasses in golf is the perspective and lack of peripheral vision. When I wore them the ball looked tiny when I was addressing it. Not natural at all. Also, I couldn't pick up the flight of the ball so quickly after I'd hit it, which lead to problems, i.e. lost balls.

And they're a nightmare on cold, rainy days. Not a problem since I've worn lenses. They don't have any cons so far as I can see apart from they can be a pain if you get sand in your eye.

 

[Cernunnos]

Sand...! Ouch....! Don't talk to me about sand in the eye. With you on that.

And then with glasses hitting a drive & then still saying, I lost it... "did anyone see where it went"...lol Just because of the shrinking effect glasses have & the possible glare of the sun that may occure from time to time. Only to find you've hit a nice one down the left hand side of the fairway....rofl.

 

[Canfordhacker]

I'm a glasses wearer too, and agree that a peaked hat is fine in the rain unless it's really windy. For me the advice would be to make sure you get an anti reflective coating put on them. I have played in specs without this and it's a mare especially when putting, as you can see the reflection of your own eyes.

 

[Cernunnos]

Yeah always have an anti reflective coating. Becomes second nature over the years & most opticians will almost take it for granted you'll want a coated lens. Well worth the extra every time.

 

[Smiffy]

I have worn variofocals for some years now, and wear them for golf too.I did have a problem putting initially and couldn't put my finger on the problem. Then I realised that if I looked out of the top of the lens at a straight line, like where the ceiling meets a wall for example, the line was curved down. Likewise, when I looked out of the bottom of the lens, a straight line appeared curved upwards in the middle. Now when I look over a putt, I have to be certain to look through thr middle of the lens to get the line of the putt.

I am finding exactly the same problem with my varifocals. So much so that I have arranged an appointment (tomorrow) with the contact lens specialist at vision express.
I have worn glasses for the past 6 years or so, but have only recently had to start wearing them to play in. An eye examination last week confirms that my eyesight has gradually deteriorated since my last exam some 3 years ago. I now need stronger lenses. I don't mind wearing glasses for general day to day use, but I will be going the disposable contact lens route for golf if I can. It's not too bad driving or playing second shots with them on, but putting or chipping seems really weird.

 

[welshjim22]

I normally wear glasses but always swap to contacts for playing golf. I always feel more comfortbale with lenses once in your eyes soon forget they are there. The only problem is i haven't changed the perscription for a while so i sometimes lose sight of my drives, assuming they actually went straight and far.

 

[viscount17]

my normal glasses are varifocals but I don't wear them for golf (well not often).to go with the other varifocal problems that have been described, here's another.

In order to focus on the ball at 5 - 6 ft (ie at your feet) you'll need to stick your chin on your chest to view through the correct part of the lens. this does not help your swing nor does it help your putting.

my solution was to get a pair of distance glasses made with blue tinted lenses. single vision lens gives you a better chance of retaining focus on the ball. the blue tint helps you find it in the grass - white does stand out better and the dyes that they use on the greens stand out better too.