As we know, professional golfers are the best in the world at it – even with mechanically-unsound swings, they can repeat shots with near-robotic consistency when they’re on their game, and that’s the way it should be.
You’ve seen me complain every once in a while, in fact, that it’s ridiculous that pros play golf using what I call “training wheels on their bicycles,” namely in playing using the same ultra-forgiving equipment that amateurs use.
Back when the sweet spot on a club was the size of a dime, you had to actually have game to even play golf, otherwise… well, you know what it was like before the shoebox-sized clubs how well you had to make contact to get a decent shot off.
My personal opinion, although no one has asked me for it, is that pros should be using clubs with much less allowable head sizes (300cc is plenty of club for a pro) with balls that have a certain minimum spin in testing, and then we’ll see how well these guys can play.
Because there was a time when guys could hit it long and straight without training wheels:
Granted, if this happens, many of the modern players will end up in traction trying to hit the ball far with less forgiving equipment if they’re swinging in the Modern style, but hey – if that’s the way to swing, then have at it and make sure to keep the EMTs on hand.
Anyway, I think Bryson DeChambeau here completely lost the plot in his brief foray into “a longdriver playing golf” territory, because this statement of his is so ridiculous, I don’t know what to make of it.
In his comments that I found in a Golf Channel article written by Ryan Lavner, titled “BDC Has Surgery To Fix Vertigo, No Longer Chasing Distance,” he has this to say about modern equipment:
Last April DeChambeau also had surgery to repair a broken bone in his left wrist, an injury that stemmed from his intense workouts and training sessions to gain more speed. To that end, he said he is no longer aggressively chasing distance. He has trimmed down his bulky frame, shedding nearly 20 pounds in a month last summer, and said he realizes the limitations of both his body and modern equipment.
“Technology is not up to par with the way golfers can perform at high speeds,” he told the website. “Anything over 185 mph – good luck trying to control it right now. We’re still on a pursuit to who can make a driver that can work it at 200 (mph) anywhere and everywhere on the face and still goes in the fairway. When that day comes, that’s going to be eye-opening for a lot of individuals … and it’s going to change the game forever. But we’re not there yet.”
My Reaction…
I had to double-check that it was actually Golf Channel I was reading and not a parody site, because that is bonkers.
Let me say it simply – if you’re a professional golfer playing a round of golf for money, you shouldn’t be able to hit a ball that impacts the club “anywhere and everywhere on the face and still goes in the fairway,” is that simple enough?
That’s for amateurs paying $700 for a club that doesn’t care how badly you swing, it will still get you in the fairway.
In my unsolicited opinion, no pro should be actually playing tournament golf with a club where a strike like this:
… ends up in the fairway. Far too forgiving for the best players in the world.
I mean, if pros are complaining about drives or iron shots that don’t go far and straight enough on heel and toe hits, then I don’t know where the game has gone.
You’re not entitled to straight and long shots, or at least you shouldn’t think you are – I began my swing research using 90’s era drivers, collected a few vintage ones along the way and didn’t even buy a new driver until five years into it.
Even then, I’ve only bought 3 or 4 new drivers in 18 years, because when I was actually playing golf, my Callaway Big Bertha stainless steel headed 3+ fairway metal got me up to 325 yards off the tee on good swings.
The head was small, compact, and you had to get it on the button to hit it long.
Perfect for swing research.
I was not used to big-headed drivers and didn’t buy any for years because I’d learned and played the game (before quitting and coming back for the research) with much smaller, tighter club heads and irons.
So for years, I only bought used sporting goods drivers or accepted clubs from friends and readers because I didn’t think the amount of money I spent on a driver should dictate how well I drove the ball with it.
I wanted, you know, to do it hitting the sweet spot.
I know, insane!!
To think that I’m now reading about pros complaining the modern equipment still isn’t forgiving enough for them?
You’ve got to be kidding me.
PS – The longest drives I’ve ever hit that were measurable on the course were with a used KZG PFT 300 (and I believe the 300 stands for cc’s), 9 degrees loft and a regular shaft.
350 Yard Drive – KZG Driver – 2009
And you’ll remember the day a few years back where I reached a greenside bunker hole-high on a 600 yard par five hole with these two clubs:
I re-posted that particular archived bit with the link above for anyone who hasn’t read it and wishes to.
So, I don’t see how a pro needs a driver with better specs than what I’ve made do with, regardless of how fast he’s swinging.
And if he can’t find the center of the face at those speeds, then I suggest improving one’s swing or slowing it down.
Pretty simple logic there, no?
WAX Golf 