One legged golfer drives 300yds, handicap 8.

[joekelly]

From Golf Digest internet site.  A good read, inspirational and upsetting.

Here's a former military man, lost half his leg in Iraq along with other bad hurts, has taken up golf and is doing well.  He does not use a prosthesis but carries a home-made prop upon which he rests his stump. Overall this man is young, strong and fit.

The reporter says the golfer drives the ball nearly 300 yds.  The upsetting part is that the golfer obtains very little 'push' off of the ground from his feet or legs. Look at McIlroy and see how much 'push' he gets.  The free-wheeling of the upper body and total release of the club head provides the club head speed. Some golf teachers focus on the lower body to provide power but here is an example of just the opposite.  No power, only speed.

Invite you to read...

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/blogs/theinstructionblog/2012/10/

[Bobtrumpet]

I had a group lesson in Austin several weeks ago and the instructor brought up this example. He then proceeded to demonstrate hitting on one leg and hit several long, straight drives (he was teaching Don Trahan's Peak Performance swing, which is limited turn, quiet lower body, and dependent on arm swing). Quite an eye opening experience for those of us taking the class, and it helped reinforce some of the things we have been trying to incorporate into our swings..

[colin007]

that vet does not really have a limited turn at all.  if you look at the pics, he has a more than 90 degree shoulder turn and what looks to me to be more than 45 degree hip turn.

what i am amazed by is what seems to be a massive restriction of how far he would be able to push his hips forward.  good for him!

[saevel25]

HIs shoulder turn is 90 degrees, his hip turn looks to be around 4 degrees. He's still able to push off the ground, his right leg will push against the apparatus which acts like an extension of the ground.

The key is, he still has functionality in his hamstrings, hip flexors and gluts. All these muscles are used in extending the upper part of the leg (hip and knee joint). Meaning, he can still push off the ground with tremendous force like Tiger or Rory. Its true he doesn't get the totaly hip rotation on the downswing, but his over athletic strength does enough to give him power.

[dozu]

just shows ya that golf is not a sport.

[David in FL]

just shows ya that golf is not a sport.

Why?

[saevel25]

How is not a sport?

Can you play a pick up game of basketball, there's wheelchair basketball. There's handicap people who play pick up softball. Why isn't it a sport, because someone found a way to play it with a disability? What you just said is insulting to his effort.

Golf is a sport, it takes mental fortitude, to play it well it takes hours of practice and innate ability, just like all other sports. Golf is just as much a sport as anything else. It has multiple levels of competition, and it requires both mental and physical ability.

[boogielicious]

It shows us that golf is a wonderful game that can be played at any age by anyone including folks with disabilities.  That, to me, makes it a fantastic sport.

[dozu]

funny people get all excited whenever they see the slightest hint of political incorrectness...

it was a joke.. sure it's a sport in a general sense... but in my own definition, it's not a sport if the heart rate never goes above 100.

[colin007]

I don't think golf is a sport either. Nothing to do with the vet being discussed, i just happen to think its an activity, or a game, not a sport.

[x129]

So poker is a sport then? After all when you have a couple thousand riding on a hand, I know my heart rate goes up well above 100.

Given that physical motion is to core of golf, you have to struggle pretty hard to exclude it as a sport.

funny people get all excited whenever they see the slightest hint of political incorrectness...

it was a joke.. sure it's a sport in a general sense... but in my own definition, it's not a sport if the heart rate never goes above 100.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

it's not a sport if the heart rate never goes above 100.

My HR will go over 100 when I walk a hilly course after hiking up to an elevated tee! I used to race bicycles, so I know all about HR.

[saevel25]

Carrying a 20lb bag, on a hilly course, in the summer, yea the heart rate can easily go above 100. Standing over a 4 foot putt for some significance can raise the HR above 100.

Its not political correctness, i have my opinion on if Golf is a sport or not, and you do. I will defend my opinion because i believe it is a sport and no explination by anyone has convinced me otherwise.

[RayG]

It's all good for him and such... but that "prop" is a violation of the "building a stance rule" isn't it? If he used a prosthetic there would be no problems, right? Just being technical about this one, folks. IF he showed up on my tee box with half a leg and a pile of paint buckets, I'd buy him a beer and NOT agree to any bets sight unseen.

[saevel25]

Not sure if that is considered building a stance,

"Taking the “ stance ’’ consists in a player placing his feet in position for and preparatory to making a stroke ."

Building a stance would do anything to help on this. But the question is, his one leg is missing a foot. So is he building a stance when he doesn't have a foot on that side? Just curious that's all.

[RayG]

Stadler "built a stance" with a towel to keep his pants clean. It's an artificial aid to the swing.."technically". and yes, so is an 'artificial' leg- but he wouldn't use a stack of paint buckets to walk, so that wouldn't be a 'normal' method of walking. The picture shows him at the range- does he use the buckets as part of an exhibition thing and does he use a regular prosthetic when he plays?

[colin007]

In my book, that dude can use whatever he wants to prop himself up, I'm good with that.

[Pablo68]

I don't think golf is a sport either. Nothing to do with the vet being discussed, i just happen to think its an activity, or a game, not a sport.

I don't consider it a sport either for the one name recently mentioned. If someone Craig Stadler's size can play this game at the top level, it's NOT a sport. No more so than bowling, billards, etc..........are.

If you can be obese and still be at/near the top, you're not playing a sport.