Future Of Golf??????????

[Hustle]

If there ever comes a time that you have everyone hitting 400 plus drives, I can only imangine their score after having to go that deep into the woods to find it...The technology has always been there, the real question is will we know how to use it. For example, the technology is there now for use all to have games that rival the greats of golf, but do we??? NO...

[SirMilton]

The golden days have probably peaked for the USA and will probably continue to decline until golf returns to a rich man's sport played only at private country clubs by a very few. Much like tennis seems to have done, despite it being a much less expensive game to play and a much better physical workout (but a much more difficult game for anyone not in very good physical condition). China and India may be the centers of golf's future; there are certainly a lot of Japanese and Chinese pros emerging and women's golf looks like it will soon be dominated by Chinese women.

If you want to be in the center of golf in 20 years, start learning to speak Mandarin Chinese.

[steve8820]

It may just be me, but I don't think things will change that much in the next 10 years. There will certainly not be a driver that comes out that allows everyone to drive the ball 400 yards. Increased forgiveness sure, but big advances in distances not likely. There will never be a quick fix for a crappy golf swing.

From what I've read, handicaps have remained stable for decades while the "technology" has advanced dramatically over this same period. I wonder why this is?? Hmmmmm.

[steve8820]

It doesnt matter what technology there is out there, what clubs you use, you still have to swing the club and get the ball into the hole

Excellent post.......

[ERC7.5]

I don't think the game is going to change much. The USGA will see to that. Now you may be able to by a 600cc driver (I have a friend that actually had one....he wasn't allowed to use it in our league) or whatever but it will likely be considered non-conforming.

It doesnt matter what technology there is out there, what clubs you use, you still have to swing the club and get the ball into the hole

Once a hack, always a hack? That's ludicrous. It is not talent that will determine how good you are. It is ability (natural or acquired), determination and a willingness to learn and expand your game.

[iacas]

I don't think the game is going to change much. The USGA will see to that. Now you may be able to by a 600cc driver (I have a friend that actually had one....he wasn't allowed to use it in our league) or whatever but it will likely be considered non-conforming.

460cc is the cap, per the rules, as is 0.83 CoR, the overall distance standard for balls... etc.

I think we're at about the ends of the rope as far as the technology gains we've seen in the past decade with the balls, graphite shafts, and metal drivers.

[steve8820]

I don't think the game is going to change much. The USGA will see to that. Now you may be able to by a 600cc driver (I have a friend that actually had one....he wasn't allowed to use it in our league) or whatever but it will likely be considered non-conforming.

When he said "hack, always a hack" he was referring to equipment making you a great player. Will absolutely never happen. You cannot buy a good golf game.

[Mr Eagle]

The powers to be will prohibit new technologies that change the game too much.The illeagal driver stance by the USPGA and R&a; was one such move.

[wachesawgolfer]

The powers to be will prohibit new technologies that change the game too much.The illeagal driver stance by the USPGA and R&a; was one such move.

Yes, but at one time the Rule was, no bounce effect at all in the clubhead. They caved when hollow metal heads in drivers came along. New tech will creep in but I agree we at topped out in tech for quite awhile.

[iacas]

Yes, but at one time the Rule was, no bounce effect at all in the clubhead. They caved when hollow metal heads in drivers came along. New tech will creep in but I agree we at topped out in tech for quite awhile.

While true that the rules said there should be no "springlike" effect, even persimmon exhibited some of what we now regulate under the CoR rules. It didn't get close to 0.83, but it wasn't just an unflexing piece of nothing, either. So technically, even persimmon broke that rule.

I know people get laughed at eventually for suggesting that something won't change in the future, but I don't think we're going to see a boom in distance again like we saw with the balls, shafts, clubheads, and launch monitors.

[michaeljames92]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think golf will be virtually the same. I'm sure some clubs will become slightly more forgiving, and new gadgets (GPS, etc.) will be common place... but as far as driving the ball 400 yards... I don't think it will ever happen. As far as machines reading greens, etc... don't see that happening either. USGA will, as prior poster pointed out, insure integrity. Plus, I think we are getting close to our maximum possible distance (which is good) with convential golf clubs.

you don't think that's what they said 30 years ago?

[TCCcaddie]

I think that length wise the game is about to hit a plateau. Courses needing that kind of space will be very expensive and unrealistic and impossible to build in many areas. Also basic laws of physics and human stregnth, regardless of technology, wont allow for the kind of yardage jump that you are predicting. Along with the USGA keeping the integrity of the game.

[Lefty731PM]

I think that length wise the game is about to hit a plateau. Courses needing that kind of space will be very expensive and unrealistic and impossible to build in many areas. Also basic laws of physics and human stregnth, regardless of technology, wont allow for the kind of yardage jump that you are predicting. Along with the USGA keeping the integrity of the game.

Exactly. Golf clubs are not machines. They are tools.

It's like wondering if someone will design a hammer that can do a hundred nails in one minute.

[Three Putt]

I don't think it changes much. The USGA average handicap is the same as it has been for decades. Also PGA driving accuracy is less than it was decades ago also. You wonder with all the technology, Tiger, Phil, etc... still can yank one in the woods. You would think with the new tech they would be right down the middle all the time? Right?

[Parker0065]

Having started my great golf journey back in the 70's with forged blade irons and persimmon/maple woods, today's technology is like Star Wars kind of stuff already.


The golf ball has been improving consistantly since the early 1900's but two big improvements that I have seen first came in the early 1980's with the invention of the "Modern" Metal Wood. These clubs had a little higher trajectory without the loss of distance so overall they were more accurate than the Persimmon.


But in the early 1990's everything changed drastically with the improvements in graphite shafts and lighter metals in the driver heads. Instantly I started driving the ball near 300 yards and average players that could barely get it out there 225 yards were hitting it around 240-250 yards.


I agree with those here that say we have gone far enough! I think the USGA and R&A; have woken up to this and I don't see golf increasing the distance technology in the future.

[x-forged]

i heard in the future they are going to increase the cup size.


on a serious note, i have to agree with Parker and say that distance technology has been pushed to its limits, and while there is still room for innovation in golf technology, the ball can only go so far, and a club can only be so forgiving.

[MasterOfTheBogey]

Exactly. Golf clubs are not machines. They are tools.

Why would they need a hammer when they already have a nail gun that can do that.

[Callawaytour]

The governing body of golf will never let say lazer beams and stuff become legal so i think that is off the cards.... I also don't think with the current rules about equipment in place we will get drivers that hit alot further. I hope golf stays at a similar level as it is now because otherwise i recon it might lose it's charm.