Dave, > What I find interesting is that not all players are getting extra > length. In the same article, they say that both Scott Hoch and Bernhard > Langer look for the shorter or more technical courses. > > Obviously those two aren't hitting it as long and straight as the top > guys on tour. The equipment is there for those two to hit is just as > long as the rest of the guys, they just don't hit it straight enough at > those distances. Bernie probably knows this best!
I don't know how old Scott Hoch is, but Langer is old enough to begin losing some of his flexibility. Age is catching up with him. I don't know that the equipment is there for 40-somethings to compete with 20-somethings unless they are big and strong. Did you see how far 155 pound Charlie Howell can hit it last week? Amazing! I go and watch these young guys on the Nike Tour (or whoever is sponsoring it this year) when it comes to Fox Den in Knoxville. Don't care what they shoot or who wins...it's just fun to watch all of these kids hit the ball...they all have such great swings and such great contact. Their putting is the only thing that keeps many of them off the big Tour. > I still think that this whole equipment shinanigan is just that a > shinanigan. Who cares if guys are hitting it longer, isn't that why we > watch them play? It seems that there are better ways of keeping guys > from hitting it too far, hole #10 over at Riviera looked like a great > way to do it to me. I agree. Michelson may hit a really long ball, but way too many are in the boonies because he's out-driving the course design. There's no margin for error at those distances...and he tends to have errors. Tiger hits his stinger 2-irons and 3Ws to hit the best landing areas...and why not? He can hit his irons right on the money most of the time, and when he doesn't, there's nobody any better for up-and-downs. The same philosophy works for me when I play my best...except in reverse. I'm trying everything possible just to get to the best drive landing area. Most courses are designed with the best and widest fairway landing areas from 240-280 yards (regular men's tees), so if you can get there, you have a better chance of being on the fairway. Longer or shorter and you have less margin for error. Golf is getting back to what it was and should be...a game of position and skill. When everybody can hit it long, the best strategist and skilled player is likely to win. Bernie Writeto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
