Technology and Tradition

Professional sports are a vital component to our society as we know it. Week in and week out, fans fill the stands to cheer on their favorite teams, just the same as they did 50 years ago. On the contrary, these professional sports have evolved with the introduction of new technologies that are erupting controversies, especially in the last decade. Experts suggest that these advantages that today’s players have over those in the past can ruin the integrity of the achievements and records they set during their era. Players are getting a distinct advantage, raising the question at hand. Are technological advancements in today’s sports harming the game as a whole? Golf is undeniably a sport that has been thoroughly impacted by technology, and we will examine how the game has been affected.

Technology and tradition affects everyone who plays golf, especially those who have a passion for the game. It’s no secret that the technologies of golf have altered the game, but are these alterations harming the game? The game is surely changing, introducing new technologies that have greater forgiveness, making it such that a weekend golfer can still obtain better scores. The most interesting aspect of the game is the evolution of the equipment itself, and how the United States Golf Association (USGA) has regulated to protect the integrity of the game.

One of the most changed aspects of golf has been the evolution of the golf ball. Back in 1910, Golf Illustrated reported, “If the carrying power of golf balls is to be still further increased, all our golf courses will be irretrievably ruined as a test of the gameвЂ¦Ð²Ð‚Ñœ The USGA has since placed regulations on the golf ball. In 1932, a weight and size restriction was put in effect with a weight maximum of 1.620 oz, and diameter not to be less than 1.680 inches. Later, in 1942, a maximum velocity of 250 feet per second was added. Further, in 1976, an overall distance standard (ODS) was introduced. What this meant was that a golf ball could not exceed 296.8 yards when launched by a robot simulator at the Indoor Test Range, at the USGA (Titleist).

With the regulations set in place, what came with it was the arrival of the power game. We will examine four factors to this power debate that have golf under scrutiny. To begin, we take a look at the oversized titanium driver. From 1968 until 1995, the PGA tour average driving distance would increase by a foot a year. The titanium driver, introduced in 1995, has since increased this number to 6.84 feet per year. In 2001 and 2003 alone, they showed gains of 18.69 and 20.46 feet (Titleist). Light, strong titanium allows for bigger heads, which means greater forgiveness. This forgiveness allows for increased club speed with greater precision. Since the club-head is larger, if you did not hit the ball in the “sweet spot,” you can still obtain acceptable results.

As even bigger heads emerged, to approximately 450 cubic centimeters, manufacturers tinkered with the faceplate thickness to redistribute weight. This created what the PGA considers “the trampoline effect,” which helped the ball retain more impact energy, thus traveling further. This effect alarmed the USGA, so they placed a regulation limiting energy retention to 83%. If the energy retention was 100%, it would make for a perfect elastic collision, in which all energy is transferred from one object to another. The bottom line is that the constant battle between club manufacturer to press the limits of legality and the USGA’s mission to maintain integrity in the game.

The next factor fueling the golf debate is that of the dual-layer, solid-core golf ball. This golf ball, in particular the Titleist ProV1, was introduced in 2000. This golf ball came with a softer feel than previous balls due to a thin, urethane cover. The ball offered distinct advantages to the player, including reduced spin rates and increased distance. In fact, the number of players averaging 280+ yards off the tee increased from 29 to 89 between 2000 and 2001. The Titleist ProV1 golf ball was used by more than 85% of the golfers participating in the 2001 PGA Championship, making it the most used ball on tour (Titleist).

The third factor for the power debate regards to the physical fitness and physique of the players. The HealthSouth Sports Medicine Van made its debut on the PGA tour in 1986. This van travels with the players, giving them a convenient place to work out. In 1987, only 15 players on average visited the fitness van daily. With the leadership of Tiger Woods, the daily attendance in 2000 had risen to almost 90 players to work on their physical strength, flexibility, and cardio on a daily basis. The bus became so crowded in the late nineties, that a second van was added to travel with the tour. Not only have players been working on their physique, but over time the size of the player has increased. A majority of the players on tour are over six feet tall, which was not the case back in the 1960s. During tournament weeks, PGA Tour players are frequently accompanied by their personal fitness trainer resulting in a sharp increase in off-site workouts.

The fourth and final factor in the golf debate is that of the golf swing. According to Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Denis Pugh, “I think that the main change over the last few years is the idea of swinging the club easily has gone out of the window. To hit the ball a long way you have to swing hard and correctly.” Tiger Woods, in particular, has a club swing speed of 125 mph. This is no surprise as he is one of the longest drivers on the tour, averaging 316 yards off the tee. Swing speed averages 100 mph for players in the PGA tour today, which is much faster than the estimated 80 mph from 1965. Pros have the ability to play more aggressively by attacking par 5’s in two shots, and nearly driving the green on short par 4’s.

The effectiveness of the golf swing in relation to driving distance was captured in the 1996 comedy, Happy Gilmore. In this film, featuring Adam Sandler, the main character Happy Gilmore displays his unique style of golf swing that ends up paying off. Happy’s grandmother did not pay taxes on her home for several years, causing her to owe $270,000 to the IRS. After hitting five consecutive golf balls 400 yards, Happy decides to head to the Country Club to make money