I agree EdZ....we've been talking about this on Brian's board a bit...
Like I said...they use wood bats in baseball still...what's the big deal? If these guys are so good why should they be worried anyway? Everyone uses the same ball type and you have no more problems.
Can't believe they're making it longer....that's savage.
A lot of people make money selling 'distance' and the ball is a big part of that. A revenue stream that ends for all but one company when the 'standard' ball is finally decided upon.
Far better to teach great swings, the long term answer to more people playing golf well.
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A lot of people make money selling 'distance' and the ball is a big part of that. A revenue stream that ends for all but one company when the 'standard' ball is finally decided upon.
Far better to teach great swings, the long term answer to more people playing golf well.
One argument is the pros will get a shorter ball and the rest of us could keep going with ball technology. But I've seen many manufacturers say, "people want to play what the pros play". So, clearly they are worried about losing revenue.
I believe the USGA has several of the ball companies designing a ball that goes 10% less. They are not saying what they plan to do with this study. Dialing the ball back is pretty easy to do, technology wise.
The courses are forever expanding and the only people that are gaining are those that sell clubs but lets look at the problems with this....
The earth is so only big and golf's popularity will go in spurts over centuries and the less land that they consume the more likely courses will cost in upkeep and land value. Courses can not keep growing as technology increases. In the Bobby Jones era most people (including him) hit drives in the range of 230-240 yards. Jack Nicklaus said that his average was 260 yerds in his prime and maybe a just a little more if he killed it
Bring back ye old wooden persimmon clubs - I tell you that without any doubt they feel more satifying at contact than these titanium blocks. Theres not much a manufacturer can do with wood.... I would like to see a big bertha version of persimmon - I don't think so many would go for it.....lol
One argument is the pros will get a shorter ball and the rest of us could keep going with ball technology. But I've seen many manufacturers say, "people want to play what the pros play". So, clearly they are worried about losing revenue.
And they should be.
It is interesting and sad that marketing machinery does a good enough job to keep the general public unaware of the fact that buying a set of clubs off the shelf will NOT give them what the pros have, but lousy shafts and equipment that do not suit them.
But that is the same for other sports. Downhill skiing for one.
I tend to think that it will end as a matchup between the people running St Andrews, Augusta National and other traditional major venues and the golf equipment industry.
"No one is bigger than the game", they say. Does that include the big equipment brands or not?
Tradition v/s commercial interest. The ultimate test for the game of golf if you like.
Gave it a thought & came up with this. Regardless of what you think of TW and MW you should get the idea.
How about:
One tomorrow someone will:
1. Sit on the the rights to "The Golfing Machine"
2. Buy out Tiger, Michelle Wie or whoever is best from their swoosh contracts
3. Fix their swngs
4. Make sure they become GSED's.
5. Put TGM logos on them
6. Have them play equipment without logos
7. Build 100.000 TGM centers providing affordable instruction.
(Does not have to be all TGM, but the principle is to have pros marketing various golf schools & fitness concepts instead of equipment).
- Entire money flow diverted from equipment to instruction, fitness etc
- Average handicap of all players worldwide down to 10.
- No public interest in better equpment
- Courses will not have to be longer