Photo by Wikimedia Commons 2.0
With most sports worldwide fully leaning into the evolution of technological advancements, the way in which most sports are consumed are continually changing.
From the advent of social media, through to technological tweaks on sporting equipment and kit, technology has a clear role to play in helping sports people achieve their goals.
As an individual sport, golf often uses technology more than most other games, as players look to find the niches and innovations that will push their game forward.
Ranging from recreational players being able to hit with more accuracy off the tee, through to professionals aiming to spin the ball more when approaching the green, technology plays a huge role in the way in which golf is consumed worldwide.
All golf technology trends are quickly identified by golf betting websites too, as punters and sportsbooks look to utilise technology to be successful when betting on the outcome of golf tournaments and events.
The broad spectrum of golf as a sport has left it open for technological innovators to find niches in which they can operate and here is a look at how technology is changing golf equipment:
Maximum Power, Minimum Weight
Hitting the ball to its maximum distance is essential in modern day golf, with professionals always looking to find the marginal percentages that can help them to shoot the lowest score possible.
With the majority of courses on the PGA, European and LPGA Tours dating back a couple of generations, the advancement in golf club technology – particularly with the driver, has been seismic.
Legends of the game such as Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus were using wooden clubs off the tee a mere 60 years ago and the way in which the game has developed since has been unprecedented.
Clunky, small-faced wooden drivers have been replaced with lightweight, trampoline like club heads, which propel the ball with ease off the tee.
This combined with less weight in the club head for players to have to transfer, has led to players being able to strike the ball incredible distances, with relative ease.
Inevitably, this innovation at the top end of the game does filter through to the amateur ranks too, with players able to access some incredible clubs for recreational games of golf, enabling them to hit with notable distance off the tee too.
Distance Control
While hitting the ball a long way always does plenty for the ego, the fact remains that putting the ball in the hole is what matters on the golf course.
Technology has spiralled through the game of golf, with players now able to access technological advancements with their irons too.
Cutting edge technology in terms of club head design, grooves for spin and lightweight shafts, have once again enabled players to maximise every ball that they strike and develop an awareness of their distance control.
At the sharp end of the game, hitting as many greens in regulation as possible is a key objective but recreational players too are able to see the benefit from increased control when striking their irons, from either the fairway or the rough.
Straight and Narrow
While ensuring the ball is on the green is one thing, actually sinking a putt is another and it is often the making of a player if they can hole their putts.
A far cry from the classic two faced putter used back in the 1960’s, putters are now integrating technology into their club heads and shaft, giving players the chance to pick up feedback on every ball they strike.
This can be intrinsic feedback, from how the ball feels off the club head and the direction in which it travels, through to extrinsic feedback, as players look to utilise technology to calculate their ball speed, ball direction and accuracy.
Putting remains the most important skill in golf in the eyes of many, especially in the professional game and the advancements in technology are helping players make more putts, more often.
Too Much Technology?
As the world as a whole looks to grapple with the ever changing landscape of technology, across all facets of life, the way in which golf is consumed is continually changing due to technological advancements.
The sight of players using ball trackers to line up every shot has become commonplace on recreational golf courses worldwide, as players look to emulate their heroes by getting a read on how far they are away from each hole.
Cynics would question the merits and capabilities of most amateur golfers, but these technological commodities can be put to good use, regardless of the level of golf being played.
Smart sport is across every area of society, with amateurs able to track the speed of their runs, heart rate and countless other pieces of information and this has transcended into golf.
A game of feel and touch in the majority of cases, players can get hung up on the data and the nuances of the sport when playing golf but having the technology at the player’s disposal can only help their skill level improve.
Adaptations in the Professional Game
With the rules of golf laid out centuries ago, the R & A have famously been an organisation that are slow to keep up with the times.
That said, such has been the speed of technological advancement in golf over the past few decades, that rule makers within the sport have had to be quick and precise with their governance.
Tracking features in clubs and balls have quickly been outlawed, while there are size and dimensional restrictions across all clubs players can have in their bag, in an attempt to create a level playing field across the professional game.
It is clear that technology is here to stay within the world of golf and the relevant authorities are looking to embrace it for years to come.
