The driving iron thread and the spin milled wedge thread got me wondering, at what point is new technology cheating? I mean, they make drivers bigger and bigger to the point where you just cant miss. They make drivers that correct a slice. They make wedges that cut the ball so sharply they actually tear up the ball. They even make wedges with "sand paper-like" faces to put killer back spins on the ball. Then we have all these forgiving hybrids, and balls that get more and more distance. If things keep moving in this direction, wont we be taking all the skill out of the game? Is there ever a point where we say enough with making golf easier, and just play with what we have? I know not everything is PGA sanctioned, but it seems to me that the PGA is pretty lenient on what it will allow. I guess my question is, is there ever a point where we say "Rather than get a new club or ball to improve my game, why dont I just get better at the clubs I already have?"

Oh, you scared me...I thought you were referring to a 250 yard 3-iron...!

New technology has advanced every sport...tennis, skiing, golf (not to mention NASCAR)...it's up to the sanctioning authorities to promulgate rules and regulations to make sure play is on an even footing, and all players (participants) have access to the same technology. It's "cheating" when one participant has an advantage because of technology available to him or her that is not available to his or her competitors.

The Karsten Ping square groove controversy comes to mind...and the governing body made certain clubs ineligible for tournament play because of the fact that they had certain features.

But no matter how forgiving the club, or how advanced the technology, the player still has to hit the ball with a consistent swing, make putts on greens that have different attributes and courses that have varying hazards. Better players could play with ANY equipment and shoot within a stroke of what they would play with any other. The advances in equipment simply make the game more user-friendly.

Don't you recall the controversy when Prince came out with an oversized racket? It would change the game! Then what about all the carbon fiber and graphite and ceramic technology? It made the game easier for people to play and enjoy.

It's technology, you can't really stop it. It will indeed make the game a lot easier than it was, but then golf is a ****ing tough game, I won't mind some new factors to make it easier.

And admit it, you just feel happy when you play a good shot, and you always think "hey, that's a good shot, I really got good at that" you'd never think "hey it's a good shot because my clubs are forgiving"

By any means I won't call it cheating. A bit of help but not cheating. Because if you suck at golf, you'd still suck even with god's own set of clubs.

technology is not cheating..it may help but you said it this game is f****** hard.i never played with persimmon woods but back in the 60's and 70's nicklaus was hitting the ball 300+ so im not sure how much tech helps.once they develop a putter that never lets you do more than one putt,then were in trouble

technology helps,this game is tough! .back in the 60's AND 70'S nicklaus was hitting the ball as far as todays players with a persimmon driver,just imagine if he had a pro v1.. i dont think a hybrid golf club is gonna change the course of history so get every advantage you can.

quote:

Originally posted by gasdoc:
The driving iron thread and the spin milled wedge thread got me wondering, at what point is new technology cheating? I mean, they make drivers bigger and bigger to the point where you just cant miss. They make drivers that correct a slice. They make wedges that cut the ball so sharply they actually tear up the ball. They even make wedges with "sand paper-like" faces to put killer back spins on the ball. Then we have all these forgiving hybrids, and balls that get more and more distance. If things keep moving in this direction, wont we be taking all the skill out of the game? Is there ever a point where we say enough with making golf easier, and just play with what we have? I know not everything is PGA sanctioned, but it seems to me that the PGA is pretty lenient on what it will allow. I guess my question is, is there ever a point where we say "Rather than get a new club or ball to improve my game, why dont I just get better at the clubs I already have?"

And yet, many people still can't break 100. To be honest, none of the advancements of the game really "fix" anything. They can make it a bit easier to spin the ball, hit it a bit farther, and make better contact...but at the end of the day skill is what is needed to shoot a good score. Without the skill and "know how", a draw weighted driver will not draw the ball. Technology is a good thing and I believe anyone who can't break 80 should be taking full advantage of what's out there. The PGA may be a bit lenient, but they would NEVER want the integrity and challenge of the game of golf be put into question.

golf is probably the sport where technology has been regulated the most - they already have the technology for people to be able to drive too far so to protect the game and stop courses the world over having to be redesigned as bigger and more difficult at incredible cost, they regulate the clubs and balls.

i study sports science in college and our biomechanics lecturer was telling us how golf balls are regulated so they only travel a certain distance when certain force is applied - if they go any further than regulated distance, they are illegal

quote:

Originally posted by ryj7x47:
Oh, you scared me...I thought you were referring to a 250 yard 3-iron...!

...with my oversized, carbon fiber 3 iron and unauthorized ceramic golf balls, I could do it.

quote:

Originally posted by figs86:

i study sports science in college and our biomechanics lecturer was telling us how golf balls are regulated so they only travel a certain distance when certain force is applied - if they go any further than regulated distance, they are illegal

But what I'm wondering, is if that were really true wouldn't they have peaked years ago? It seems like they are constantly coming out with "newer""longer" balls. Either;

A. Nobody has reached the peak yet.

or

B. The PGA increases it's limits every so often.

or

C. The marketing people are full of sh!t

Little story:
Wife buys: 1 Taylormade 7 series driver for me
I have: 1 Calaway Big Bertha Steelhead
Taylormade head is huge, can't miss the ball.
Steelhead is small, more room for error.
Steelhead hits ball 260-280 yards.
Big head Taylormade slices, hooks, goes left and right. Ball still goes 260-280 but I can't tell where it is going.
Got rid of 7 series.

Technology can keep on progressing but it all comes down to how you swing a club. Yes, some things will help you in the long run, this one in particular did not help me. ProV1's are the sh!t though!!