Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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For many years everyone thought it was not possible for people to break 60 on a golf course. The professionals are now starting to score 59 once or twice a year and we’ve already had one 58 by Jim Furyk. This gets sensationalised in the media, but the truth is most of those better scores, and they are still exceptional, are scored on easier courses. In other words, the same courses every year throw up the freakishly low scores.
Having said that however, there is no doubt that this generation of golfers is better than previous generations and I think that golf has become more of an athletic sport. The men and ladies playing golf these days are spending a lot more time on strengthening their core which allows them to hit the ball far further and more consistently and so, gone are the days of fat guys, waddling all over a golf course smoking cigars and winning tournaments – the average champion these days is probably 22 or 23, lean and mean and very strong. The taller the guys are and the stronger they are, the further they hit the ball and although the older players still win tournaments now and then, we are seeing a lot more tournaments being won by players in their young twenties now than ever before.
It just shows you that even sports which people do not necessarily associate with athleticism, are changing due to far more science being used, not only in terms of how they hit the ball and seeing how the ball spins with each club and which ball does what, but in terms of the science of training for the sport. Just about all top golfers would have their own performance trainer and would be doing very specific strength exercises for golf and would be ensuring that their core, from their upper thighs to their lower stomach, is one of the strongest parts of their body and can deliver the stability and strength that a golf swing needs.
We will continue to see this in all sports, although one would think that to a large extent much of the improvement in swimming and athletics has already come, but no doubt times will continue to slowly improve, as will scores on the golf course. In golf of course, technology and equipment makes a difference, but that is also no different than swimming – with all sorts of high-tech swimming costumes, etc now that reduce drag in the water, etc.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Wednesday 15-Feb-17
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Comments
Helen said:
on Monday 06-Mar-17 12:51 PM
I would never say before that Golf is the kind of Sport, I would rather say that it meets definition of "game", which does not require physical activity and can be played professionally by people who are overweight or injured. But this is so truth that I have never seen players overweight or not fit enough, and with today's generation I would call Golf very fascinating kind of sport!
Tamaryn said:
on Thursday 23-Feb-17 05:00 PM
Golf is becoming more and more of a science. Science in all fields really: Physics, biokinetics, psychology- especially psychology as sport has a great deal to do with psychology, one's mindset, discipline, intention etc. I think it's only going to get better and better, and not just for golf, but for all sports!
Ashleigh said:
on Wednesday 22-Feb-17 08:31 AM
With all Sports of today, I am sure they have all improved also based on the equipment and even the exercises that play a part in the sport. I find Golf to be boring to watch but playing it yourself is a different story. It does take practice and being able to tell distance to be able to play Golf which is quite a bit of a challenge which makes it interesting.
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 04:51 PM
I've never had much interest in gholf. Maybe it's because I don't understand the terminology. I tend to find it extremely boring when watching it on TV however I went to the driving range with my husband and had a blast hitting a couple of balls. The younger generation is def more involved than what they use to be and it seems like they tend to make it a social gathering to go and hit a couple of balls at the driving range.
Liesl said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 04:45 PM
I never realized how fit one needs to be to play golf until I accompanied someone who is an avid golfer. There is definitely a lot more to it that one can imagine
Jolene said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 04:39 PM
I have to agree with Henrietta on this one, practice makes perfect. As technology and science improve the equipment and different training techniques improves as well. Athletes must be willing to try new things to explore new possibilities.
Zanell said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 04:37 PM
I must say that I played some golf in December well I tried and it is really difficult. I think it is something you have to be talented at and you also need to be extremely fit and strong because your arms get such a work out that they are sore the next day. I really don't know how golfers hit that far.
Lourien said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 04:29 PM
Golf is becoming more popular for the younger generation, its not just for social but for attaining their personal goals and if you can get a score even close to 58, that is amazing.
Suzanne said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 09:23 AM
I noted that in every tournament, you get the "stereotype-golfer" - older, round, slow. And then you get the guys who actually win most of the tournaments. Before I met my boyfriend, I had no idea what pro golfers actually go through - hours of gym, practice, sports psychologists etc. It is hard work and making 58/59/60 is crazy.
Lucretia said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 08:32 AM
Truth be told, i have NEVER seen a fat golfer as per your second paragraph. I have always thought Golf to be a very fit sport because of all the walking one does on the course and believe me, there is a lot of walking, especially if one hits into the rough as often as i do :-)
Lucretia said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 08:32 AM
Truth be told, i have NEVER seen a fat golfer as per your second paragraph. I have always thought Golf to be a very fit sport because of all the walking one does on the course and believe me, there is a lot of walking, especially if one hits into the rough as often as i do :-)
Prishani said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 08:27 AM
I would imagine that all athletes are required to be fit, it is interesting to see how much attention is being paid to the fitness of golfers apart from the equipment that they use which is normally the main focus point, like the branding etc. I would have never thought that this would be a requirement in this type of sport. It just shows that as the sport develops more research is done on how the players can improve!
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 08:25 AM
I don't know much about golf but.I think with any sport, you need to develop what it takes to do the sport.
Alexis said:
on Friday 17-Feb-17 07:18 AM
I think with any sport, you need to develop what it takes to do the sport. I can understand golf and strengthening the core - as it is the movement and the angle and all of that that ensures you hit the ball where you want it to go.
Nicky said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 04:54 PM
I always thought that golf was an inactive sport, but later realised that it does actually require some fitness and also provides more exercise than what I thought. It seems that golf is now becoming less of a social sport and more of a fitness sport.
Liz said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 02:13 PM
Golf is a somewhat underestimated sport regarding athleticism even though, the sport's very precise synchronized movements, the mental demands and the training required falls squarely into the category of an athletic sport.
Jadine said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 01:13 PM
Everything in life cannot survive unless it evolves and improves. Performance enhancement is the key to survival, in both life and sport.
Henrietta said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 10:29 AM
Practice makes perfect. If you train for something I think you are more likely to get better results. Especially if you want to be a professional and not doing something for fun. A few men in my family loves golfing but for fun. It's not something that I would eagerly join again. Like everything else you have to have a passion for it, something that you enjoy doing.
brumilde said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 10:24 AM
As with any sport and golf is def a sport... i cant even hit the ball properly, it takes a allot of practice and skill, but also an expensive sport, with new clubs and gear coming out every year to enhance the sport, people taking time to study the sport and coming up with new ways to better improve your swing ect.
Nina said:
on Thursday 16-Feb-17 09:45 AM
Amazing to see how people are just getting better and better at generally anything they take on. It makes sense that it is important in golf to be very strong and fit. Technique is very important but you won't be able to utilize that technique to the best of your abilities if you are not in the best shape possible.
Daniella said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 04:46 PM
Its awesome that Golf is coming back and standards are now being lifted !
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 04:24 PM
Technology is certainly producing some fancy high-tech sport equipment but I can tell you that many of the products or equipment probably don't even do what it says it does. It poses a question in my mind - is it then fair game if you have a swimming costume that reduces drag in the water yet another person can't afford that? I understand with guys wanting to gym even for golf and they can have an advantage but if it has to do with buying high-tech swimming costumes it certainly is an advantage for the wealthy :)
Sinead said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 02:27 PM
Very interesting indeed. I actually have noticed how the younger cats are winning in the sporting world... Glad to see that our generation is showing flames!!!
I must agree with Jessica, sport is being introduced to children a lot earlier in life and it is obviously an advantage...
Mathilda said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 02:14 PM
I have learned to like Golf over the years as a few of my friends love playing.
It’s fantastic to see the younger generation getting involved and they are doing very well
Sport equipment is improving day by day to make the sport "easier” for the participants.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 01:22 PM
As the sport equipment evloves with technology so the 'human capability' increases. Children are being introduced to sports a lot earlier and are encouraged to focus on one sport - creating many of the greats that we see today!
Michelle said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 10:19 AM
I never really had any interest in golf until I saw people play the actual game. I got so much respect for people who takes it serious. It really looks so much easier than it actually is. One thing I'm sure of is that golf is a very expensive sport.
Ryno said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 10:10 AM
Golfers are definitely getting better and technology certainly plays a role. Today's clubs go at least 15% further, are more easily struck and respond more consistently.
The technology in swimming, however, has more or less stayed constant over the years. A few years ago a swimming product manufacturer / brand brought out a swimming suit designed to replicate shark-skin (it was also called "shark skin"). The suits reduced drag in water and thereby improved swimmers' times. Professional swimmers (the SA team included) enjoyed success as a result. The suits were later banned by the Swimming Federation due to the "unfair advantage." I don't foresee major technological advancements in swimming going forward.
Different sports have different views on technological advancements. Think of baseball where the aluminium bat has been ruled out for safety reasons (clearly a step back in terms of technological advancement). Golf on the other hand is different. Most technological advancements are welcomed by the sport, so long as they conform with the rules. I suppose that golfers need all the help they can get.
Melissa said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 10:03 AM
Golf is not for me, but golf is actually a difficult sport if you don't know it that well, it takes a lot of concentration and hard work to accomplish your goal
Bianca said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 09:25 AM
I am not a golf follower however I do hear in the sports reports that the younger/new golfers are making a huge impression in the sport and stunning the greats, like Tiger. Sporting talent across the board however is exceptional at the moment and it's amazing to watch the talent that these players have.
Juliet said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 09:09 AM
When I worked at the Pilates House in Durban about 12 years ago, it was a new sensation to focus on your core muscles. Many people didn't believe in it. Now it is regular knowledge. Your core is vital in overall body strength and fitness. I wonder if soon a golf tournament will last only a day because everyone will be hitting their balls so hard and accurate that they will finish in a tenth of the time. When will a swimming race only be 10 seconds? How will the future look in sports? If we are improving now, and assume we keep improving in future, won't we reach an end point? Won't we improve so much there won't be a race anymore? Everyone takes 4 seconds to swim a length of the pool and eventually it is standard. Next year is 3 seconds, then eventually we will have to wear special glasses to watch sports being performed in the blink of an eye!
Thabitha said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 09:02 AM
To me I used to think that golf is one of the sport people play to relax their minds or take a brake from the world, the more the sport is improving the golfers are going to improve also and the more changes you will see.
Sarah said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 08:42 AM
I don't know much about golf but I have friends and my brother that plays golf. It is a difficult sports to play, it looks easier than it seems. It is an expensive sports as well. Golf is not something you learn over night, it takes a lot of time and effort
Angelique P said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 08:21 AM
Golf is a very interesting sport and is getting very serious.
People are starting to practise at a very young age. It's excellent that people in their twenties are doing so good.
Golf takes a lot of time, hard work and dedication. There are lots of golfers that want to be the best. I think you can pat yourself on the back to be in the top 10. Golf is a very difficult sport.
Clare said:
on Wednesday 15-Feb-17 08:10 AM
I must say now that I have gotten older I don't do sports, I mean on Monday I started a Small 30 Day challenge and Its Wednesday and my legs want to fall off.. I love Swim and I know this can also be an Expensive Sport, if I could I really would do it but for Fun. I am not good a Golf my husband love the game but only does this for Fun. I must say that Gymnastics is so amazing for me.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
