scores v modern technology??

[Pin-seeker]

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

No I wouldn't loose sleep over that

 

[mat100p]

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...

""YOU CANT"T BUY A SHORT GAME"" great quote and sums up the thread in 6 words brilliant.

 

[guest100718]

""YOU CANT"T BUY A SHORT GAME"" great quote and sums up the thread in 6 words brilliant.

True a good short game is important, but you also need an excellent long game if you want to be a decent golfer.

 

[TheClaw]

Only been playing for a few years so I only know modern equipment. Is it possible that the modern drivers and balls can get players into trouble just as much (more?) than they help? If I'm offline with the driver it's a goner.

 

[MashieNiblick]

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!!!

It's the relative impact compared to other factors. New technology helps but not as much as a bad swing hurts. It helps me hit the ball a bit better but that doesn't necessarily translate into lower scores. If I swing badly and putt badly I'll score badly no matter what I'm using.

On Sunday I couldn't reach a lot of the par 4s - the course was playing long and we have 8 holes between 390 and 470 and I didn't get on any of those in regulation - so extra distance from metal woods, forgiveness of hybrids and long irons and better balls was no real advantage.

Add a bunch of 3 putts and you have a bad score where modern technology didn't really help.

Now, the real question then becomes (and has been discussed on here before) at what age do you generally start to decline...

In my case it was apparently sometime between 37 and 52.

 

[Oddsocks]

Only been playing for a few years so I only know modern equipment. Is it possible that the modern drivers and balls can get players into trouble just as much (more?) than they help? If I'm offline with the driver it's a goner.

This is key for me, while distance is great an extra 30/40 yards into the cabbage is no help at all. Also they claim irons have got longer but in relation a lot of it is loft jacking , 8i mow bordering what is effectively a strong 7i or in some cases a weak 6i.

As handicaps as a average at club level get lower, the constant influx of newbies with higher hc's will out weigh this.

 

[Tiger]

As handicaps as a average at club level get lower, the constant influx of newbies with higher hc's will out weigh this.

I'm gonna try and make this point one last time if the number of new golfers starting the game remains consistent over a period of time (and there isn't a sudden exodus or plague culling the low handicaps) then handicap average should go down IF technology made all the difference.

BUT it doesn't. I'm not hitting my PW further, it's really a 9 iron with a P stamped on it. Yes my irons are more forgiving and so are my woods, but if it takes me five shots to get the ball in the hole from around the green it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Or if I swing the golf club like a frog in a blender with a nasty slice then giving me 17 more yards is only going to make the lie for my next shot rough-IER...

 

[car.crash]

Fantastic thread

 

[shivas irons]

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?

That is a very good question,the touring guys scores have tumbled with the new gear but I guess us amateurs play to a standard where the new gear isnt going to make a great deal of difference and yes manufacturers are conning us as the proofs there in the stats.

 

[rksquire]

It’s a good point, and I suspect the real answer is manufacturers need to sell equipment so tell a little white lie. It’s just the same lie every year!
For example, take Joe: been playing for 10 years, got to a 9 handicap after 3 years and has hovered in around that since. When he got that 9 he could hit 280 yards on average with his driver. However, every year since then (ie 7 years) he’s bought new equipment, had lessons etc. and in particular bought a new driver. That’s 7 new drivers, with the promise of extra distance – on average 10 yards more, each and every year. So Joe now hits that Driver (coupled with the latest ball that spins less and rolls more!) 350 + yards, right? Well actually he now hits it 280 yards, but it just sounds (nice booming echoing thwack this year) and looks (big shiny white head this year!) more awesome.

 

[duncan mackie]

I'm gonna try and make this point one last time if the number of new golfers starting the game remains consistent over a period of time (and there isn't a sudden exodus or plague culling the low handicaps) then handicap average should go down IF technology made all the difference.

BUT it doesn't. I'm not hitting my PW further, it's really a 9 iron with a P stamped on it. Yes my irons are more forgiving and so are my woods, but if it takes me five shots to get the ball in the hole from around the green it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Or if I swing the golf club like a frog in a blender with a nasty slice then giving me 17 more yards is only going to make the lie for my next shot rough-IER...

Tiger,

How long have you been playing?

I ask because you seem to be talking in terms of a different timescale to the one I envisaged with the question asked ie the BIG equipment revolution happened through the period 2000 to 2008, and we are now back on an evolutionary path. Most of it was the ball - although once that stabalised a little it became the club and ball together.

The numbers on the bottom of the clubs are irrelevant - the fact is that manufacturers have delivered:
1. a ball that goes further, a lot further when struck properly!
2. clubs that can launch a ball higher, easier, with less spin
3. lighter stronger and more consistent shafts and heads that enable higher club head speeds.

Only 2 above really makes much difference to the average player, although 3 has enabled many to continue to hit it as far as they used to when they were younger!
As others have pointed out, you still have to put in the work to get to the sort of (elite) levels to really benefit from all of the developements; to put that in perspective if you can hit a fairway at 300yds you aren't going to miss a green at 200 (from an angular perspective) - reverse it and you find that the swing flaw hidden in a relatively competent 7 iron swing means 1/14 fairways hit is a likely stat with a driver!

there are people for whom the additional 17 yds you reference do make a difference, but they already had an excellent short game!

 

[Tiger]

Tiger,

How long have you been playing?

I ask because you seem to be talking in terms of a different timescale to the one I envisaged with the question asked ie the BIG equipment revolution happened through the period 2000 to 2008, and we are now back on an evolutionary path. Most of it was the ball - although once that stabalised a little it became the club and ball together.

Not as long as you

The thing is Duncan its all well and good having a ball that goes farther and clubs that are easier to hit. I'm not disputing that. But the OP was about why scores haven't tumbled and subsequently we got chatting about why average handicap hasn't come down.

My thoughts on the matter are that the key factor in scoring well is a good short game and you can't buy one of those. The majority of golf shots are hit with a 'wedge' or a putter.

My coach asked me a little while ago to review each round and record every time I missed the green from <75yards (G), every time I failed to get out of a greenside bunker and on the green (S), every three putt (P), and every shot that resulted in a penalty or a need to chip out sideways (D). There were lots of Ps and Gs...

 

[Region3]

In my opinion, almost all of the equipment advances have improved the long game - further, straighter, more forgiving.

The trouble is, that isn't where most of the shots are dropped by players in the 'average' handicap range.
As Tiger said earlier, short game, course management and the mental game are the way to go from teens to single figures.