Rolling back the pro game

[IanM]

Illegitimate golf balls? That's why I've heard folk shout that after a bad shot!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As an aside - but related - I can't but help smile seeing some lady pros (mostly SE Asian) play a driver that is almost as long as the player is tall. Not sure how they do it, but I guess they just swing the club and hit the ball.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

As an aside - but related - I can't but help smile seeing some lady pros (mostly SE Asian) play a driver that is almost as long as the player is tall. Not sure how they do it, but I guess they just swing the club and hit the ball.

I love watching the women’s game , I genuinely think it’s far more relatable than the men’s, especially when you look at course length and shots they play. Also as a short ass myself I am in awe of their driver control as the longer driver shaft is and has always been a battle for me.

 

[cleveland52]

The distance the ball travels matters because the designed and natural challenges of many courses have been obsoleted by the distance gains afforded by equipment, primarily the ball, and the balance of skills required to achieve the lowest scores has been skewed - and the spectacle is much less interesting.

Extending courses is not always an option, but it's a largely futile exercise anyway and unsustainable in terms of land availability, maintenance costs, environmental impact, etc.
While building new tees 30+ yards further back (as has happened at many championship courses) does bring/keep some of the challenges back into play from the tee, it does nothing to preserve/restore the challenges of subsequent shots (relocating greens is rarely considered, even if it were possible).
Tricking up courses (narrow fairways, long rough, etc.), as some have advocated, can restrict scoring but is either useless or counter-productive in all other aspects.

I reject your premise if the object of the game is to have the lowest score. Based on that, no course is obsolete; it's just not played in the manner that you think it should be played. What you call a balance of skill is very subjective, imo.

You say that the spectacle is much less interesting, yet golf has never been more popular and definitely has never been more lucrative. Again, very subjective, the mass viewership disagrees with you.

What some call tricked up, others call making the course more defensive.

*Anyway, the powers that be have decided to limit the travel of the golf ball, but I thought that those measures were already in place.

 

[cleveland52]

The distance the ball travels matters because the designed and natural challenges of many courses have been obsoleted by the distance gains afforded by equipment, primarily the ball, and the balance of skills required to achieve the lowest scores has been skewed - and the spectacle is much less interesting.

Extending courses is not always an option, but it's a largely futile exercise anyway and unsustainable in terms of land availability, maintenance costs, environmental impact, etc.
While building new tees 30+ yards further back (as has happened at many championship courses) does bring/keep some of the challenges back into play from the tee, it does nothing to preserve/restore the challenges of subsequent shots (relocating greens is rarely considered, even if it were possible).
Tricking up courses (narrow fairways, long rough, etc.), as some have advocated, can restrict scoring but is either useless or counter-productive in all other aspects.

Just to be clear, Pro golf is not about the balance of skill. It is strictly about getting the ball in the hole with fewer strokes than your opponent by any means necessary. Collecting a trophy and a check.

Leisure golf and exhibitions are another story.

 

[garyinderry]

Roll back the driver head size. How this was allowed to happen i will never know.

 

[srixon 1]

I listened to the No Putts Given podcast the other day and the guest was Jason Day. He thinks the change needed is to make the driver hard to hit again.

 

[Mel Smooth]

I listened to the No Putts Given podcast the other day and the guest was Jason Day. He thinks the change needed is to make the driver hard to hit again.

I’d agree with this, optimal distance should not be reduced for centre strikes, but mishits should be punished more than they currently are. The result of this change to equipment would then lead to more conservative swings and less distance overall.

Try getting Titleist et al to buy into that though. They wouldn’t sell any clubs, so it’s not hapoening.

 

[Mandofred]

I’d agree with this, optimal distance should not be reduced for centre strikes, but mishits should be punished more than they currently are. The result of this change to equipment would then lead to more conservative swings and less distance overall.

Try getting Titleist et al to buy into that though. They wouldn’t sell any clubs, so it’s not hapoening.

Heck with Titleist getting upset. I bet as usual it's the people who use the equipment. Going back to harder to hit clubs is fine with me.....but the people who demand things to be "easier" will have conniptions.

 

[AussieKB]

Roll back the driver head size. How this was allowed to happen i will never know.
View attachment 59980

I pull out my old Ultra Firestick occasionally for hit and wonder how I used to play with it, the head is smaller then my Titleist 5 wood

 

[wjemather]

I listened to the No Putts Given podcast the other day and the guest was Jason Day. He thinks the change needed is to make the driver hard to hit again.

There would need to be formal bifurcation of the rules in order for such a change to be effective for tour pros and acceptable for recreational amateurs.
The biggest obstacle to bifurcation is the equipment manufacturers, who insist on being able to claim that they are selling us the same gear as played on tour, even if they're actually just selling us something that looks the same.

 

[bobmac]

even if they're actually just selling us something that looks the same.

What are the differences between the equipment that amateurs buy and the pros get?

 

[Orikoru]

What are the differences between the equipment that amateurs buy and the pros get?

The shafts mainly, I would say!

 

[srixon 1]

There would need to be formal bifurcation of the rules in order for such a change to be effective for tour pros and acceptable for recreational amateurs.
The biggest obstacle to bifurcation is the equipment manufacturers, who insist on being able to claim that they are selling us the same gear as played on tour, even if they're actually just selling us something that looks the same.

This is for everyone. Day doesn’t want bifurcation.