On SS930 this AM, they were talking about Federer's play this year and said that Tiger Woods is the only one that maintained that excellence. I was like no **** - it's golf. You swing a club and walk.
Is Golf the easiest sport to maintain excellence?....
- Thread starter dawgstudent
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On SS930 this AM, they were talking about Federer's play this year and said that Tiger Woods is the only one that maintained that excellence. I was like no **** - it's golf. You swing a club and walk.
On SS930 this AM, they were talking about Federer's play this year and said that Tiger Woods is the only one that maintained that excellence. I was like no **** - it's golf. You swing a club and walk.
On SS930 this AM, they were talking about Federer's play this year and said that Tiger Woods is the only one that maintained that excellence. I was like no **** - it's golf. You swing a club and walk.
but I am saying it's the easiest to maintain excellence. My swing and walk comment was tongue in cheek but I would say golf probably has the least strain on your body thus your playing career can be easily extended.
Edit to say - baseball could be considered as well.
Edit to say - baseball could be considered as well.
Go out and play 18 (walking) and see how you feel the next day. There's not as much cardiovascular involved but it's pretty physical.
Agree - in golf you'll see 50+ year olds compete for majors occassionally. In men's tennis you've seen a few guys make some runs in mid 30's, but the tour is PGA tour is full of guys past what is considered the athletic prime agest of 23-33 or so. In men's tennis like Optimus said, you're over the hill in late 20's in the men's game.
Most of the arm injuries are similar...shoulders, wrists....but the leg injuries and any loss of speed kills a tennis player. I'll agree that golf is the harder to get decent at that tennis and it's a game that requires more precision that tennis, but to argue that it takes more of a physical toll is insane.
Most of the arm injuries are similar...shoulders, wrists....but the leg injuries and any loss of speed kills a tennis player. I'll agree that golf is the harder to get decent at that tennis and it's a game that requires more precision that tennis, but to argue that it takes more of a physical toll is insane.
once in my life. It wasn't that big of a deal but I was about 20 years old. I just hate playing golf.
I've walked 45 holes in one day before. Sure I was tired, but it's completely different. Not to mention, I have to carry my own bag. The pros don't. Still, the proof is the fact that 53 year old Greg Norman can compete in majors, yet 30 year olds barely can in tennis.
Golf is a skill more than a sport. Tennis is a sport more than a skill.
In golf, it doesn't matter how tall you are, how much you weigh, how strong you are, how fast you are, or how good of a shape you're in (John Daly?). If you've got the right swing, you can kill the ball. All of these things are hugely important in endurance sports like tennis.
Tiger's ability to maintain his excellence in golf is just another example of how dominant he is. He is a once in a lifetime (at best) player.
In golf, it doesn't matter how tall you are, how much you weigh, how strong you are, how fast you are, or how good of a shape you're in (John Daly?). If you've got the right swing, you can kill the ball. All of these things are hugely important in endurance sports like tennis.
Tiger's ability to maintain his excellence in golf is just another example of how dominant he is. He is a once in a lifetime (at best) player.
He dodged cops for a while and now he eludes anal rape. He's really the Bo Jackson of football/crime. Wait, actually there are too many contenders for that crown. Football is a special case though because each position requires such a different skill set and athletic ability. I can look at Eric Moulds and say, "Wow! What an athlete!" Then look at Jerrell Powe and think "Jesus, I hope he doesn't die from walking up the one step that it takes to get the buffet." Same sport.
It's 17ing WALKING for crying out loud! I almost never play golf any more, but when I did play, I much preferred walking to riding a cart. I did use those rolling carts you pull behind you for the clubs though. As others have pointed out, there's no other sport where players in their 40s can regularly compete for championships. There's a reason for that and that reason is that golf isn't physically demanding at all.
Clearly their size had an impact on their ability to play within their sport, but size doesn't make a damn bit of difference in golf. Size can help...but it isn't a requirement to hit a golf ball 300+ yards.
Its not just the physical part to maintain but also the mind. People like Ian Baker Finch and David Duval are good examples. They can still play golf but they just lost it mentally.
I'm very surprised by your ignorance here. Golf is by far the HARDEST sport to maintain greatness. That's what makes Tiger so great. Although it's not the most physical sport in the world, it is a mental grind everytime you play. Look at David Duval. Dude shoots a 59 at one point in his career, a couple years later he can't break par. And it wasn't because he just got too old. It's because his psyche was *@+@+$. That's why it's the hardest to maintain. Just because you can physically keep playing it for much longer than other sports, doesn't make it easy to maintain excellence. There is a reason that people say Tiger is the most mentally tough athlete in the world. Because he plays the hardest game to perfect and he's the best at it.
dawgstudent said:
While there is no doubt that golf is less physically demanding than tennis there is no sport that requires as much practice to stay consistently good. The problem with Golf is that the slightest error in muscle memory and you lose. Muscle memory is very easily forgotten so while in Tennis you have a sweet spot in the racket the size of a grapefruit golf has to deal with hitting the ball nearly perfect every single time. Not taking anything away from Tennis players, they have to deal with injuries a fatigue more than golfers, but the actual practice time of their sport doesn't come close.
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AssEndDawg said:
</p>You don't think guys like Nadal, Phelps, Ronaldo, etc. practice/train as much if not more than golfers? You think golf is the only sport that requires precise muscle memory? Hell, they've at least got the advantage of hitting a ball that isn't moving.
Again, there is no way in hell a golfer practices more than other athletes. Even then, their practice is easier because they don't have to deal with the type of physical recovery other athletes do after training.
NASCAR has got to be the easiest "sport" to maintain excellence. Where else do you see old men participating in competition against younger men besides golf??
I can go out one day and play what is for me a pretty good round of golf and then the very next day go to the course and not be able to find my *** with both hands. Conversely, I have not played tennis in 15 years and have little doubt that I would whip your ***. And you can even bring your little doubles partner.
1. Golfers may practice hitting golf balls more than tennis players practice hitting tennis balls, but then tennis players put in 2-3 hours of conditioning that golfers don't have to do.
2. If you've ever played tennis at a high level, you know that it requires a high level of muscle memory, but just as much as any other sport it is a mental game. Players get the mental 'yips' in tennis just like they do in golf (I still wonder where my backhand went sometimes, it's a mental thing).
3. I agree that golf is a skill and doesn't take athleticism. Tennis might not need as much coordination or precision as golf, but it takes so much more athleticism.
2. If you've ever played tennis at a high level, you know that it requires a high level of muscle memory, but just as much as any other sport it is a mental game. Players get the mental 'yips' in tennis just like they do in golf (I still wonder where my backhand went sometimes, it's a mental thing).
3. I agree that golf is a skill and doesn't take athleticism. Tennis might not need as much coordination or precision as golf, but it takes so much more athleticism.
Skink said:
</p>i guess i just dont know what 'athletic' means then.
the swing is a complex athletic move that requires excellent hand eye coordination to repeat well. you are using dozens of muscles for each swing, and each swing requires different amounts of use of those muscles.
you dont have to be as athletic as an NBA player to succeed, but that doesnt mean athleticism plays no part in ability.
I have been an avid tennis player and golfer most all of my life.
Getting up in age, tennis has been tough on my knees and back. It hurts alot of people's elbows.
Again, getting up in age playing golf, it has also been a strain on the lower back, which twists and turns over and over again. Also, the left knee plants and twists over and over again.
Just from personal experience, both sports have been about equally as taxing on the body (so far).
Getting up in age, tennis has been tough on my knees and back. It hurts alot of people's elbows.
Again, getting up in age playing golf, it has also been a strain on the lower back, which twists and turns over and over again. Also, the left knee plants and twists over and over again.
Just from personal experience, both sports have been about equally as taxing on the body (so far).
question. It implies to many diffrent things. The moment a question like that is asked about golf, it is immediately going to turn into two questions: Is golf a sport and are golfers athletes?
Having some knowledge about golf this is what I think on those two and then get to the "maintain excellence" part.
Is golf a sport: Half of the world says it is, half of the world says it not. Ask the guys on tour and half of them will say yes, and the other half will say, "who gives a **** it doesn't matter". Why go round on round on what a defines a "sport"? Leave that to Bruiser. I have asked every professional athlete I have been around, that plays golf, whether or not they think golf is a sport. I can honestly say almost all of them reply with "I don't know, but it's the hardest thing I have ever played".
Are golfers athletes: Dunno. Some of the best players I have played with are the most uncoordinated people I have ever seen, and some are great athletes that could have played and did play other sports at a high level. I have played with plenty of professional athletes and some are good, and some aren't worth a ****. You can go round and round on this one as well, but what's the point? I will say this about golf, being an athlete does't hurt and can definetly help, especially with women.
Side note:
I saw some responed about Daly and Stadler. I cant speak for Daly, but I know for a fact, Stadler is/was an incredible athlete and has been since he was kid. Im not joking. His hand I coordination is unbelievable. He just likes to drink a case of Bud Light every night.
Maintain Excellence; This is too broad. What is excellence when it comes to golf? When you look at, since it's individuals, there are roughly 100+ losers every week, that combined with winning being pretty rare, you could make an argument that it is the hardest. Add that with the physical side, and there is one whether you are an athlete or not, and the mental side which is probably the most over whelming factor. Walk down the range at any tour event and almost all those guys hit it the same, not same distance but dead *** square and on target everytime. The mental side encompasses so many other things besides course management and how well you handle pressure. Some guys have it, some dont and 1 is out of this world never been seen before on all categories.
Mental injuries take more players out than physical. Golf is a complete mind <17>. Thats what makes what Tiger does even more incredible.
My point
I just dont think you can say yes to the question "Is golf the easiest to maintain excellence" when the litmus test is Tiger. </p>
Having some knowledge about golf this is what I think on those two and then get to the "maintain excellence" part.
Is golf a sport: Half of the world says it is, half of the world says it not. Ask the guys on tour and half of them will say yes, and the other half will say, "who gives a **** it doesn't matter". Why go round on round on what a defines a "sport"? Leave that to Bruiser. I have asked every professional athlete I have been around, that plays golf, whether or not they think golf is a sport. I can honestly say almost all of them reply with "I don't know, but it's the hardest thing I have ever played".
Are golfers athletes: Dunno. Some of the best players I have played with are the most uncoordinated people I have ever seen, and some are great athletes that could have played and did play other sports at a high level. I have played with plenty of professional athletes and some are good, and some aren't worth a ****. You can go round and round on this one as well, but what's the point? I will say this about golf, being an athlete does't hurt and can definetly help, especially with women.
Side note:
I saw some responed about Daly and Stadler. I cant speak for Daly, but I know for a fact, Stadler is/was an incredible athlete and has been since he was kid. Im not joking. His hand I coordination is unbelievable. He just likes to drink a case of Bud Light every night.
Maintain Excellence; This is too broad. What is excellence when it comes to golf? When you look at, since it's individuals, there are roughly 100+ losers every week, that combined with winning being pretty rare, you could make an argument that it is the hardest. Add that with the physical side, and there is one whether you are an athlete or not, and the mental side which is probably the most over whelming factor. Walk down the range at any tour event and almost all those guys hit it the same, not same distance but dead *** square and on target everytime. The mental side encompasses so many other things besides course management and how well you handle pressure. Some guys have it, some dont and 1 is out of this world never been seen before on all categories.
Mental injuries take more players out than physical. Golf is a complete mind <17>. Thats what makes what Tiger does even more incredible.
My point
I just dont think you can say yes to the question "Is golf the easiest to maintain excellence" when the litmus test is Tiger. </p>
Optimus Prime 4 said:
I find that riding makes it more enjoyable, it's the alcohol that improves my game and keeps me in rhythm.
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