scores v modern technology??

[mat100p]

Why have our scores not tumbled with all the advances in golf equipment?

I been thinking this for a while now if you look at gross scores on board comps say over last 20 years there is very little difference if any at all obviously conditions vary from year to year,but with drivers that now go 10 yards further each season according to manufacturer's, irons that go 2 clubs further due to loft reductions, better balls that supposedly don't curve like old balatta balls, putters that are space age in comparrisson to 20 years ago, GPS inventions, tuition more readily available for fee via internet or paid lessons even clothes are advertise as game improving why have scores and handicaps not dropped dramatically?

Are we all being conned by manufacturers or are we not as good as we use to be?

 

[MessyPenguin]

I would guess that as Amateur golfers its us.
If you look at the pro game and their repeatable swings, the technology has made a difference, with courses having to be extended or changed due to the new distance from clubs.

 

[Tiger]

Course management, short game aptitude, mental discipline, consistent & accurate set up. Four key things technology hasn't really touched...

 

[louise_a]

Surely I would have thought that you need to look at handicaps rather than scores (unless you are looking at gross scores).
I would expect handicaps to be lower.

 

[Fader]

Your last line is the key for me.

I remember as a kid when my dad used to make me walk the course with him in summer evenings as mum was at work, I'd see the same 4 or 5 guys (1 of which was my brother as a teenager) on the practice ground/putting green for hours every time I was being dragged round the course. The facilities they had really were modest as well a practice (field) of about 250yards which they had to use old balls on and collect themselves. A putting green and a single practice bunker. But still they'd be there for hours just practicing and honing their games.

Fast forward 20years technology has moved on massively and so has the quality of facilities for example my course 2 putting greens, a massive chipping and pitching area with 3 practice bunkers + a fully covered and ball provided driving range. BUT the difference is the practice area is 9 out 10 times totally empty. People are using the advances in technology to advance or should I say to try and advance their games when what they actually need is to be out on the range and practice area.

The people that are seeing the big advantages to the technology changes really are only the ones that put the hours in on practice in the first place. My brother is an example I use simply because he has always been a practice junky trough out the summer months even before big club heads and higher MOI's. So where he was regularly shooting around Par and quite long with older technology its now made it possible for him to shoot regularly below par and ridiculously long off the tee making the game with all his practice a lot easier to the point he hangs up the clubs all winter to no detriment to his game.

It doesn't matter a jot how far the advances go in golf there will never be a substitute for practice and without it scores won't change in there next 20years either. Just my opinion though and now need get working on the practice myself.

 

[Tiger]

Surely I would have thought that you need to look at handicaps rather than scores (unless you are looking at gross scores).
I would expect handicaps to be lower.

Average handicap has remained pretty consistent as well Louise

 

[sev112]

Scores and handicaps will always be dominated by the number of new players every year with high handicaps and higher scores
We are all getting better and technology is causing that, but you are continuously looking at a changing group of people because all the new starters.

Take the same group over that period and you would seethe improvement

 

[duncan mackie]

Average handicap has remained pretty consistent as well Louise

what's your source for that one? It's almost impossible to have meaningful ones because of the underlying changes to the handicap system (which make a huge difference to averages, and higher handicappers - but only a little to Scr).
the last source I saw quoted on a forum failed to take into account the previous handicap limit being a lot lower than the current one - let alone the basis of the previous handicap v current!

on balance I believe that the modern equipement has made it easy to hit tee shots a long way into trouble for the 'average amateur' whilst for elite players the courses have basically been lengthened to maintain parity.

probably the most relevant example of this is Augusta, where the developments on the course have mirrored the main developement in equipment ; the ball. Not only have they lengthened nearly every hole, but on many they have added trees on the inside of the doglegs to force players to work the ball further if they wish to use the length available. Smart cookies (and the ability to transplant 50' trees helps!)

as we frequently highlight in threads on here - hitting it further off the tee doesn't mean you will score better, and it's irrelevant what number is stamped on the bottom of the club you use to hit the green.

 

[davidg2010uk]

If you want to improve then its all about practice. Doesn't matter what clubs you have. Modern clubs can arguably make the game more difficult, especially for beginners (64 degree wedges, 45+inch drivers, adjustable clubs, 3 irons with a 2iron loft!).

At my course we tend to get around 5- 10% of the field NR'ing on a medal, so I don't think new technology has made much of a difference to the average club player - still a difficult game!

 

[MashieNiblick]

Good question.

The advances in technology since I started playing nearly 40 years ago have been huge. The improvement in my scores, certainly over the last 20 years has been marginal.

I shot my best ever medal score nearly 15 years ago. If I played today with the clubs and balls I had then I doubt I would do much, if any, worse than with my current or even the latest gear.

I can only conclude that the relative importance of equipment technology on my game compared to other factors (such as how well I swing the club) is therefore low.

 

[Foxholer]

Difference in Drivers and balls has been huge. Slightly less, but still significant, development in irons.

Courses have got longer to compensate, though not to the same extent as the likes of Augusta.

Because of this and the greater availabilty to golf, there's a far greater number of players.

The 'average handicap' is a pretty daft metric imo.

 

[guest100718]

High spinning distance balls are the biggest advance along with big headed drivers. As for irons, I think I could play with my 1970s blades all season with out any difference in score.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I came down from 14-10 last year so I'm getting better!! Hard work has to be key. Many players rock up on a Saturday morning, put their shoes on in the car park, play their game and get off home again. Thats fine as we've all got other things in our lives (kids etc) but these players are happy to play their game and go home. If they play well and go down a shot then fine, if they go up a shot or two thats also fine. They love the game, play when they can and get on with other things.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I'd agree that irons don't change too much but the introduction of hybrids was big.

 

[duncan mackie]

I shot my best ever medal score nearly 15 years ago. If I played today with the clubs and balls I had then I doubt I would do much, if any, worse than with my current or even the latest gear.
.

I still have all mine - and take them out for the odd game now and again. On the basis of that I am afraid I have to seriously dispute this view!!!

Now, the real question then becomes (and has been discussed on here before) at what age do you generally start to decline, and to what extent does modern equipment hold back this decline! Personally I know I'm still fighting it, even though I have givn up the battle with grey hair (and a few others!)

 

[Foxholer]

I came down from 14-10 last year so I'm getting better!! Hard work has to be key.

You've gone from 10 to 11 (already) this year. Getting worse?

 

[mat100p]

Why have our scores not tumbled with all the advances in golf equipment?

I been thinking this for a while now if you look at gross scores on board comps say over last 20 years there is very little difference if any at all obviously conditions vary from year to year,but with drivers that now go 10 yards further each season according to manufacturer's, irons that go 2 clubs further due to loft reductions, better balls that supposedly don't curve like old balatta balls, putters that are space age in comparrisson to 20 years ago, GPS inventions, tuition more readily available for fee via internet or paid lessons even clothes are advertise as game improving why have scores and handicaps not dropped dramatically?

Are we all being conned by manufacturers or are we not as good as we use to be?

What I was trying to get across in the original post was that with all the advances in clubs and GPS now compared to only 20 years ago gross competions are only being won with very similar scores, and not all regular courses have been lengthened my any means to counter act extra length. Nor are there a greater number of low handicaps than years ago.. my conclusion is that modernclubs,balls,GPS,teaching availabilty have made the game easier to maintain a standard of play that we accept with out the need for the practice which was necessary years ago. If not then we are indeed being tricked my manufacturers and all the improvements in clubs etc don't,do a thing and it,s just the same old thing from when golf began '' it,s not how it's how many''

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You've gone from 10 to 11 (already) this year. Getting worse?

Started on 10.1 this year and now 10.5 so I'm not hitting the panic button just yet

 

[Tiger]

What I was trying to get across in the original post was that with all the advances in clubs and GPS now compared to only 20 years ago gross competions are only being won with very similar scores, and not all regular courses have been lengthened my any means to counter act extra length. Nor are there a greater number of low handicaps than years ago.. my conclusion is that modernclubs,balls,GPS,teaching availabilty have made the game easier to maintain a standard of play that we accept with out the need for the practice which was necessary years ago. If not then we are indeed being tricked my manufacturers and all the improvements in clubs etc don't,do a thing and it,s just the same old thing from when golf began '' it,s not how it's how many''

I'm not convinced by this its easier to hit balls longer and straighter now argument. I would say that 60% of the shots hit by an average golfer are struck with a wedge or a putter. Conversely the advancements in golf club technology have been on distance and forgiveness

 

[Tiger]

what's your source for that one? It's almost impossible to have meaningful ones because of the underlying changes to the handicap system (which make a huge difference to averages, and higher handicappers - but only a little to Scr).
the last source I saw quoted on a forum failed to take into account the previous handicap limit being a lot lower than the current one - let alone the basis of the previous handicap v current!

Pretty sure I read it in GM. From a statistical point of view it doesn't really matter what point the individual is on their development, the most important stat would be the size of the golf population. If that had shifted significantly it could adversely affect the analysis. (Edit: if I'm right in thinking the changes were more advantageous in helping the high hcap get cut????)

If technology made a difference to the amateur, assuming a consistent influx of new golfers, the handicap average should go down.

Pelz and others have already done a regression analysis of pro golfers and found a statistically significant correlation between short game prowess and performance. You cant buy a short game...