« And They're Off... |
Main
| Hi-Tech Chip Shots »
October 03, 2005
Not Having a Ball
Posted by Nick
Readers of this blog know I focus a lot on golf, but that's partly because there's so much interesting stuff going on in the golf/tech realm and the debates are intensifying. Read this Guardian article on the debate between techno-dystopians and ball manufacturers about how best to control the evolution of the game
Sample sniping from an industry guy:
Wally Uihlein, chairman and chief executive officer of Titleist, has led the way, arguing that, while the modern golfer is hitting the ball farther, that extra distance is not solely due to the ball.
"There has been a paradigm shift towards the 'power game' but that has been the result of six variables, five of which are continually overlooked by the anti-technology pundits," he says. "In addition to low-spinning, high-performance balls there has been the introduction of larger, titanium drivers with graphite shafts; bigger, strong athletes playing the game; improved technique and instruction; greater customisation of equipment; and improved golf course conditioning."
This last factor was certainly an issue at this year's Open at St Andrews, where the fairways were as fast as the greens, which meant the balls were running a lot further than they did in years past. "It's also the case that the swing speed of the average PGA tour pro has increased by 6-8mph over the last 20 years. That increase is responsible for a 12- to 15-yard increase in distance. But what the hell, forget the facts and let's just blame the golf ball."
.
Great stuff throughout. RTWT
Comments (0)
+ TrackBacks (37) | Category: Golf
POST A COMMENT
- RELATED ENTRIES
- › Pushing the Limit
- › Bad Innovations
- › A Good Walk Indoors?
- › The Flux Capacitor It Ain't
- › The Crippling Effect of Drugs?
- › Stealers Win
- › Play Time
- › Pebble Beach, Anyone?
Nick Schulz is the Editor of Tech Central Station and has worked in media circles and the ideas industry as a writer, editor, television producer and policy analyst. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Slate, The National Post of Canada, The Baltimore Sun, Investor's Business Daily, The Washington Times, National Review, Reason, Policy Review, and several other publications. He is also, it should be said, a rabid sports fan whose fandom is inversely proportional to his overall athletic ability.
TrackBack URL:
http://www.corante.com/cgi-bin/mt/external.cgi/13773
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Not Having a Ball:
Tracked on November 11, 2005 11:58 PM
Tracked on November 12, 2005 03:49 AM
Tracked on November 13, 2005 02:18 AM
Tracked on November 26, 2005 05:34 PM
Tracked on November 28, 2005 09:56 PM
Tracked on December 3, 2005 12:45 PM
Tracked on December 7, 2005 10:15 AM
Tracked on December 13, 2005 04:43 AM
Tracked on December 15, 2005 04:38 PM
Tracked on December 25, 2005 04:31 PM
Tracked on December 25, 2005 11:24 PM
Tracked on December 27, 2005 10:49 AM
Tracked on December 27, 2005 10:25 PM
Tracked on December 28, 2005 11:16 AM
Tracked on December 30, 2005 06:38 PM
Tracked on January 5, 2006 12:29 PM
Tracked on January 8, 2006 09:07 AM
Tracked on January 21, 2006 07:43 PM
Tracked on January 22, 2006 04:55 AM
Tracked on January 26, 2006 01:47 PM
Tracked on February 1, 2006 09:55 PM
Tracked on February 3, 2006 04:49 PM
Tracked on February 4, 2006 07:54 PM
Tracked on February 8, 2006 07:19 AM
Tracked on February 11, 2006 12:25 PM
Tracked on February 12, 2006 01:10 PM
Tracked on February 13, 2006 10:27 AM
Tracked on February 13, 2006 06:56 PM
Tracked on February 14, 2006 07:54 AM
Tracked on February 14, 2006 05:34 PM
Tracked on February 14, 2006 09:40 PM
Tracked on February 15, 2006 02:44 PM
Tracked on February 18, 2006 03:00 PM
Tracked on February 19, 2006 09:54 AM
Tracked on February 22, 2006 09:30 PM
Tracked on March 24, 2006 10:33 AM
Tracked on March 26, 2006 02:36 AM