Tracer on TV

[HeGotGame]

So I'm just wondering how you feel about the tracer they periodically use on TV to show the flight of the ball. I happen to love this and wonder why they don't use it on every shot on TV. I'm not sure if it's only certain networks that use it or are allowed to use it, but I wish they would do it for every shot they show on TV. It is so hard to sometimes see the flight of the ball after they hit it. Like I said, I love it and wish they would use it all the time. How do you all feel about it?

[natureboy]

I like it. Sometimes the ball can be hard to pick up. The tracer makes it easier for me to see the shape intention the player had off the tee / their strategy for the hole.

That said, a lot of those camera guys are really good at following the ball, but while the 'ball in the air' shot conveys a sense of speed, I'd much rather see the shape of the shot from one perspective - the tee - or the landing area / hole.

[Club Rat]

Great for golf on TV, but I hated it when the NHL used it on televised games. Except goals on replays.

[SavvySwede]

48 minutes ago, HeGotGame said:

So I'm just wondering how you feel about the tracer they periodically use on TV to show the flight of the ball. I happen to love this and wonder why they don't use it on every shot on TV. I'm not sure if it's only certain networks that use it or are allowed to use it, but I wish they would do it for every shot they show on TV. It is so hard to sometimes see the flight of the ball after they hit it. Like I said, I love it and wish they would use it all the time. How do you all feel about it?

The guy who invented the camera system technology rents it out to the broadcasters. It would cost them too much to put one on every tee box and fairway.

[rkim291968]

3 hours ago, HeGotGame said:

So I'm just wondering how you feel about the tracer they periodically use on TV to show the flight of the ball. I happen to love this and wonder why they don't use it on every shot on TV. I'm not sure if it's only certain networks that use it or are allowed to use it, but I wish they would do it for every shot they show on TV. It is so hard to sometimes see the flight of the ball after they hit it. Like I said, I love it and wish they would use it all the time. How do you all feel about it?

I feel the same way as you do.

I found that Youtube has trace shot compilation video of PGA tournaments.   If you can't get enough of the traces, go check it out.

[gogolfing]

I'm a fan of it too, especially tee shots where players have to work the ball and on the drivable Par 4's. Would not be upset if they used it more often in telecasts.  

[RandallT]

https://www.youtube.com/user/DerGolfer123/videos

This guy documents a bunch of tracer compilation videos. Here's a screen shot of Bubba Watson walking back to his bag. His ball hasn't even landed (it finished left in a bunker I think), and the next player is teeing up.

Anyway, the guy has a compilation for a ton of tournaments. Looks like he's pretty devoted, but who knows when he'll get bored and stop.

[jkelley9]

I don't need to see the tracer for every shot (even though I wouldn't mind it at all).

But what I would like to see more of is the compilation of all the shots recorded for the tee that day, or that weekend, or whatever. It seems like they do this only once per tournament maybe, live. I wish they would do that more often.

I also like when they show all of the ball landing positions for tee shots or approach shots and color the ball blue/red/black based on if they birdied, par'd, or bogie'd the hole. That's great stuff!

[DeadMan]

It should be done on every shot. Ball in the air against the sky is such a waste of TV time. It tells us basically nothing. I guess at least it's not another commercial?

Fox was great with this during the US Open. If I remember correctly, the British Open broadcast is also pretty good with using it.

[chilepepper]

Tracer is great. A ball against a blue sky, for the most part, shows the viewer nothing. Seeing the shot shape is great

 

[jamo]

The more the better. 

[saevel25]

16 minutes ago, jamo said:

The more the better. 

I agree. I really like seeing the ball flight illustrated.