Would It Bother You to Lose Distance if They Rolled Back the Ball?

[Phil Benedict]

Garland,

The breakthrough in irons was the Ping Eye II.  Everything since then in iron technology is window dressing.  But the Ping Eye II and its descendents are forgiving relative to blades and have made hitting the ball easier for the average player.

There is no single breakthrough like the Ping Eye II in the case of drivers.  But the 460-cc driver I use today is a lot easier to hit than the last persimmon I owned.  But I intend to keep this club for 5-10 years.

[Glenn Spencer]

Garland,

I think the game is probably easier with perimeter weighted irons and big-headed drivers.  It doesn't show in the handicap statistics because courses have gotten harder on average, primarily due to added length.  At least that's my theory.

It is really hard to hit a terrible shot now. It used to be so easy. I feel like my mental game has suffered with the new technology. I know for a fact that my concentration is not what it used to be and it is mostly because I am not worried about screwing up. FWIW. I agree with everything you have said on this topic, Phil. We are playing harder golf courses and tougher pins in today's game.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Remember! The average handicap has not move one iota in ages!

Which should tell you something.

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

A review of the games of golfers pre-hi-tech reveals that their games diminshed as they aged, whereas that hasn't happened to the degree it used to.

Hi-tech has compensated for the aging process.

Also, MOST golf courses have created SENIOR tees in the last 10-20 years or so.  If those golfers were using the regular tees, their handicaps would have risen.[/color]

[Craig Sweet]

Patrick....don't forget, as golfers have aged the height of fairway cut has come down considerably giving them greater roll/distance off the tee....greens maintainence has improved tremendously as well, and in my opinion this has helped putting skills...

And lastly, as this generation has aged they have maintained a healthier life style and are in far better condition/health than the generation that grew old in the 70's....

[Garland Bayley]

Garland,

I think the game is probably easier with perimeter weighted irons and big-headed drivers.  It doesn't show in the handicap statistics because courses have gotten harder on average, primarily due to added length.  At least that's my theory.

It is really hard to hit a terrible shot now. It used to be so easy. I feel like my mental game has suffered with the new technology. I know for a fact that my concentration is not what it used to be and it is mostly because I am not worried about screwing up. FWIW. I agree with everything you have said on this topic, Phil. We are playing harder golf courses and tougher pins in today's game.

I beg to differ! I have no trouble hitting a terrible shot!

[Garland Bayley]

Remember! The average handicap has not move one iota in ages!

Which should tell you something.

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

A review of the games of golfers pre-hi-tech reveals that their games diminshed as they aged, whereas that hasn't happened to the degree it used to.

Hi-tech has compensated for the aging process.

Also, MOST golf courses have created SENIOR tees in the last 10-20 years or so.  If those golfers were using the regular tees, their handicaps would have risen.[/color]

Patrick,

That is so lame I won't even respond to it. I will simply preserve it here for all to see it's majestical lameness.

[Andy Hughes]

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

That is so lame I won't even respond to it. I will simply preserve it here for all to see it's majestical lameness.

Garland, never thought I would say this, but Patrick is right I believe    

I compare my game now to 20 years ago. Then, I played and practiced quite a lot.   Now I play or practice, well, almost never. I have the same irons now as then but a fairly new Callaway driver with a monstrous head.
And yet, while I score a little higher now, I certainly drive the ball better now than I did then and the only rational explanation is the equipment.  

[Andy Troeger]

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

That is so lame I won't even respond to it. I will simply preserve it here for all to see it's majestical lameness.

Garland, never thought I would say this, but Patrick is right I believe    

I compare my game now to 20 years ago. Then, I played and practiced quite a lot.   Now I play or practice, well, almost never. I have the same irons now as then but a fairly new Callaway driver with a monstrous head.
And yet, while I score a little higher now, I certainly drive the ball better now than I did then and the only rational explanation is the equipment.  

I think you are far from the only one who can say this. I've played with quite a few fellows who have if anything gotten better than they were 20 years ago. They're certainly not worse. Some of it is effort, but I think the equipment helps too.

[Kalen Braley]

Andy,

The Champions tour would confirm this also.  I did a little looking around and these guys are hitting it farther now than when they were in thier primes 25-30 years ago.

How esle to explain this Garland?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Patrick....don't forget, as golfers have aged the height of fairway cut has come down considerably giving them greater roll/distance off the tee....greens maintainence has improved tremendously as well, and in my opinion this has helped putting skills...

Craig,

The only benefit of lower cut fairways for Senior Golfers is that they don't trip and fall as often.  

And lastly, as this generation has aged they have maintained a healthier life style and are in far better condition/health than the generation that grew old in the 70's....

I think that's true, but, my dad was a great athlete and continued to shoot his age until he was almost 80 when his health caught up to him.

But, let me take all those fit guys you're referencing, give them some Power Bilt woods, blade irons and balls circa 1970 and I'll bet them they can't shoot within 5-10 shots of their handicap

[Patrick_Mucci]

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

That is so lame I won't even respond to it. I will simply preserve it here for all to see it's majestical lameness.

Garland, never thought I would say this, but Patrick is right I believe  


AHughes,

Don't be surprised if you find yourself saying that more often.
   
I compare my game now to 20 years ago. Then, I played and practiced quite a lot.   Now I play or practice, well, almost never. I have the same irons now as then but a fairly new Callaway driver with a monstrous head.
And yet, while I score a little higher now, I certainly drive the ball better now than I did then and the only rational explanation is the equipment.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Remember! The average handicap has not move one iota in ages!

Which should tell you something.

Namely, that despite aging 20 to 30 years, golfer's games are not getting worse.

A review of the games of golfers pre-hi-tech reveals that their games diminshed as they aged, whereas that hasn't happened to the degree it used to.

Hi-tech has compensated for the aging process.

Also, MOST golf courses have created SENIOR tees in the last 10-20 years or so.  If those golfers were using the regular tees, their handicaps would have risen.[/color]

Patrick,

That is so lame I won't even respond to it. I will simply preserve it here for all to see it's majestical lameness.

If it's lame, present a logical argument that refutes it.

You can do that while you're explaining how Nicklaus, Palmer and all the GREAT players of their age got longer and straighter as they got older.

Guys who couldn't walk 18 holes were bombing it well past distances they hit it in their prime.

Let's see them and you hit 1 and 2 irons off a tight fairway.

How do you explain the advent of Hybrid clubs ?
Do they just look pretty ?[/color]

[Tony Ristola]

Quoting Craig:
"However, we got to talking about skiing and how much more enjoyable, how easy, skiing has become since the advent of "shaped" skis, more comfortable boots, and better binding technology....for Pat it is keeping him on the slopes, and has brought others, who gave up on the sport, back to skiing.  We began to compare it to golf technology and both agreed, technology has made golf more enjoyable, easier, and has brought many former golfers back to the game...."

You're about 95+% right, and having given up skiing for 25 years (was sure I'd screw up a knee because I couldn't go at it slow ...know thyself), and started again, the short carving skiis make it easier.

Golf too has benefited, with longer light weight shafts, bigger wood and iron heads, better balancing, lighter clubs, and all these benefits would still be enjoyed. Only the ball would be throttled back...and most wouldn't know unless told, and golfers aren't better today because their misses are still wild (no ball technology will straighten the wild shots hit by most ams) and most still couldn't hit a barn from 60 yards and closer.