Over the last few decades in golf, we have witnessed and experienced tremendous change in golf balls, clubs, grips, gloves, and golf courses. All manufacturers claim to increase golfers skill, while lowering scores. What we players talk about, though, is how far they hit the ball… or how we got to the green in two… and it only took a driver and a seven-iron to get there. Force. Distance.
What about the precision? Golf has always been about precision, but is technology changing the character of the game? We don’t think so. Many players think so, but we disagree. It’s kind of like the BS we all heard during the 1990s that the principles of sound business practices had changed. Remember: could companies really grow and be viable without showing solid profits? Yes of course. What happened to them when the bubble burst?
We think the same kind of hype has been sold in golf. The implicit message for years has been: buy a Big Bertha and you’ll not only outdo her friends, but you’ll beat the crap out of them too. Get a pitcher and set him up 30 yards beyond the other guys. Okay, but what then?
For the average golfer, 80% of their shots are still made from 150 yards across from the green towards the hole. That means short irons, chipping, and putting. No driver, 3 wood, 5 wood. It means placing the ball precisely at a point in front of the green or on the green where it will bounce or roll close to the hole, leaving a drive-in or short putt for par or (OMG!) birdie.
There are limitations built into all equipment, but the industry doesn’t like to talk about it. However, the USGA, the United States Gold Association, does. Balls can’t be designed to fly unlimited distances, and drivers can’t be built higher than 460cc to smash them out of sight…or in the woods. In fact, the distance added to the average driving distances of professional gamers since the year 2000 is quite small. John Daly, for example, has only added 7.5 yards to his average haul since then. The average PGA Tour player added only 5 or 6 yards, despite the “advances” made in technology. Thank you, USG.
Looking critically at Sunday tournaments can reveal the truth of the problem quite easily. What does the low score offer? What wins the Championship? The answer is: Short Game. The shot onto the green from 30 yards, leaving a 3-footer to hole out to win. The chip outside the bunker next to the hole… or inside it. The 18-foot putt that has to curve downhill without going past the hole. Like the way Phil Mickelson won the Masters.
Remember Jim Nance or Johnny Miller ever saying after a tournament that Tiger or Phil really did win it with that 300-yard drive right up the middle on the 14th? I can not.
So stop worrying about how far you drive the ball and focus on keeping the ball on the fairway. Focus on chipping and putting in the hole. You will post the scores of your dreams.
Hit them long, straight and in a row!