Are players better or worse

Answering another thred this morning gave me a thought that I thought you guys and girl may wish to participate.


The question is are players better today than they were say 20-30 years ago

1) Technically

2) long game

3) Short game

4) Mentally


Thanks in advance.


P>S I have told you it's my birthday today.

Ian.

Good topic, Ian

I'd say "standard" players today are worse because they have better clubs, better balls, better clothes, better courses, better instruction, better everything and still can't play to a lower handicap than their parents or grandparents. People say the courses are longer, but I don't think that is entirely true: maybe in PGA tour competitions, but a normal course is not that much longer today compared to 50 years ago - at least not where I play.


OTOH, those that are really good (like pros) are probably quite a bit better than their old counterparts due to improved practice methods, better exercising, high-speed cameras and other technical tools. Also, today everyone in the top practices a lot.
--
Regards, Peter

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Regards, Peter
(WITB)

hi
i agree with peter that the handicap player has not changed much over 20/30 years still seeking that magic move. clubs are more forgiving and better matched and lofts have been lowered by a few % that 30 years ago so you hit longer with say a 7 iron that you did 30 years ago, even the cheap ones.
think the pros understand more and all have a trainer and have there swings analised and every fault picked at and tweeked. think thats why so many swings look the same now, players dont live with there "funny" swing , the trainers change them to what i call a leadbetter swing. 90% of pros look like they have a leadbetter type swing.
i also agree with peter that only the pro tour course's seen to be longer none where i live are longer, here they just make the bunkers even deeper.
bunker here are real bunkers not the flat fairway bunkers like in the usa, there 5/6 feet deep here with turfed sides and you can never hit more that a 7 iron from them.
i do think the short game has improved for the handicap golfer and more are working on there short game than 30 years ago, wedges do seem to give you much more spin than 30 years ago.
bill

I'll have a go:

It has all stayed the same. And my guess as to why is this:

* What used to be a game for the privilaged has now grown to be for the masses. So there are millions now playing, probably 100 times the number 20 years ago. That creates an average higher handicap.
* Equipment however, has increased with demand, and the more beginners there are, more need for improvements in everything have increased (game improvement clubs, balls, good instruction cheep (internet, tv, books), thus lowering the average beginner's handicap.
* Professional handicap's have no impact at all in the "total average", when you divide 2000 tour players's handicap (maybe improving 1.5 strokes), by 10 million new beginner's handicap's...you are really only look at the beginner's numbers to know where the answer lies.

So I think they cancel out. But all I know, is that I get to teach more, play more and buy better stuff every year!

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I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

Curtis,

If you ever get over to the Uk, I have a pint of cold beer waiting and a round on me.

My centiments exactly, I like the walking along a 4 inch wide beem placed on the ground, it's effortless, without conscious thought.
Lift the beem 20 ft in the air and now it gets too difficult, where do you focus.........your feet, end of the beem, hands by your sides, outstreched..etc etc etc.

All you need is the same confidence you had on the ground and Eureka.


Great post.

Ian.