Golf #51 on ESPN's List of Hardest Sports

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by trackster

I will just say this.  It is easier to hit a golf ball straight then to return a 130 mph tennis serve.  Does that mean tennis is harder than golf, not necessarily but with the right practice most people can learn to hit a ball relatively straight.  However, you could train all your life and you won't be able to return Andy Roddick's serve.  It's all a horse a piece.

Not exactly a fair comparison. 130 mph is pro level serving.

So saying "hitting a ball straight" isn't a fair comparison. Try "hitting a ball straight over 300 yards". That's more relative.

[nevets88]

I guess I missed the memo. Golf is easy!

[dennyjones]

basketball is harder than ski jumping?

somebody was high when they compiled the list.

[saevel25]

They need to break it up a bit. I would suspect playing QB is way harder than playing running back or wide receiver. 

Like... Golf should be moved up to around 20th? +/- 5 spots. 

[Shindig]

I notice two variants of boxing are the top two spots.  I believe it.

Football really depends on which position you play.  My friends group has barred me from punting after my last attempt was a line drive that hit the long snapper where he'd rather not be hit.  That NCAA one second rule wouldn't have helped here. 

I have a very hard time believing that soccer is harder than golf, much less by the margin it is claiming.  Maybe at the highest level, but that's mostly because you have to contend with the fans.

Does the setup before the sport matter to this ranking?  If so, water polo is ranked as easier than it really is, after you account for the difficulty of getting a horse into a swimming pool (much less riding it while there, especially in the deep end).

[iacas]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

I guess I missed the memo. Golf is easy!

This is a 2008 (or earlier) "article."

They used these metrics, supposedly:

ENDURANCE: The ability to continue to perform a skill or action for long periods of time. Example: Lance Armstrong
STRENGTH: The ability to produce force. Example: NFL linebackers.
POWER: The ability to produce strength in the shortest possible time. Example: Barry Bonds.
SPEED: The ability to move quickly. Example: Marion Jones, Maurice Green.
AGILITY: The ability to change direction quickly. Example: Derek Jeter, Mia Hamm.
FLEXIBILITY: The ability to stretch the joints across a large range of motion. Example: Gymnasts, divers.
NERVE: The ability to overcome fear. Example: High-board divers, race-car drivers, ski jumpers.
DURABILITY: The ability to withstand physical punishment over a long period of time. Example: NBA/NHL players.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION: The ability to react quickly to sensory perception. Example: A hitter reacting to a breaking pitch; a drag racer timing acceleration to the green light.
ANALYTIC APTITUDE: The ability to evaluate and react appropriately to strategic situations. Example: Joe Montana reading a defense; basketball point guard on a fast break.

https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

[KMP]

This ranking is a futile and pointless exercise that is mostly subjective. The "difficulty" depends on the individual and level of play. For example, if you race at the local dirt track is that the same level of difficulty as being a top competitor at Indy?  The two primary sports I can still play at this age are hockey (if you think you need "ice" before then that's your issue) and golf. From my perspective golf is more difficult to play at a reasonable standard. Yes, you are right...what is "a reasonable standard"?

[Shorty]

The bottom line is that a person could conceivably pick up the game at 60 and be able to play, in the same way they can start fishing at the same age. 

The same cannot be said for football or hockey.

They are not saying that John Rahm is less athletic and less of a "sportsman" than a fencer or recreational skiier.

As for cheerleading one step behind, if you saw Netflix's "Cheer", you would laugh at the idea of golf being easier than competitive cheering.

2 hours ago, KMP said:

 (if you think you need "ice" before then that's your issue) 

Unless you live in Russia, Canada or the U.S.A., you actually do. Hockey is actually what you call "Field Hockey". "Ice Hockey differentiates it. There is really no need for the term "Field Hockey".  But I get that in your country it is assumed. It isn't in India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand  or Australia.

Edited June 30, 2021 by Shorty

[NM Golf]

So soccer (6.5) has a higher hand eye coordination score than golf (6.0)? Umm anyone see an issue with that?

[Shindig]

1 hour ago, NM Golf said:

So soccer (6.5) has a higher hand eye coordination score than golf (6.0)? Umm anyone see an issue with that?

Well, on one hand, everyone who plays soccer is allowed to touch the ball with their hands and throw it, at least under some circumstances.  But I can't imagine even that requiring more hand-eye coordination than is used in golf. 

[boogielicious]

6 hours ago, NM Golf said:

So soccer (6.5) has a higher hand eye coordination score than golf (6.0)? Umm anyone see an issue with that?

The late great Maradona would agree!😜

 

[Vinsk]

21 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

The late great Maradona would agree!😜

 

Yeah….Maradona is a real pos.

Edited July 2, 2021 by Vinsk

[boogielicious]

2 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Yeah….Maradona is a real pos.

Was.

[billchao]

8 hours ago, NM Golf said:

So soccer (6.5) has a higher hand eye coordination score than golf (6.0)? Umm anyone see an issue with that?

Their definition is not limited to eye-hand coordination:

Quote

HAND-EYE COORDINATION: The ability to react quickly to sensory perception. Example: A hitter reacting to a breaking pitch; a drag racer timing acceleration to the green light.