Game Changer?

[Medic]

Everyone knows I work in medicine. (Duh, the handle) We had a "game changer" a few years back when CPAP was introduced to our pre-hospital world. Suddenly people who would have spent 14 days in the ICU were completely released in 2 or 3 days. Good stuff.

 

Other game changers in society:

• Electricity
  
• The Internet and home computers
  
• Cars
  

The list could go on and on.

 

But what about the so-called game changers for our beloved game of golf?

 

I value the opinions of others here. I personally believe that the equipment overall has improved across the board but what one single thing would you cite as a "game changer"?

 

Based on my own experiences and to get things started in this thread I see the modern oversized and ultra light drivers as an incredible advance in the technology used in the game. The hot faces, incredible aerodynamics, and amazing shaft tech have all come together in a symphony of longer, straighter, and more consistent shots.

 

So, what are your thoughts? Is it the balls? Perhaps the way courses are maintained now versus 25 years ago? Or perhaps it is something else.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

The multi layer, solid core (non-wound) ball is the single biggest innovation, excepting maybe steel shafts.

[Piper26]

Erasers

[6thFairway]

ProV1

60* Wedge

original Callaway Big Bertha

[PeanutsDaddy]

Tiger in his prime.

[Cwing]

PING

[oldschoolrocker]

Harry Vardon
Arnold Palmer
Tiger Woods

[Sebmour]

Metal woods, Titanium, [color=#282828]multi layer solid core (non-wound) ball[/color]

[HighSpeedScene]

Modern ball most important by far - solid, multilayer, urethane cover. Changed everything, including the clubs we use now.

[southpaw72]

Distance- Most golfers will buy any club that promises an extra yard. It affects the production of all golf equipment, shafts, heads, balls... Courses are being lengthened now to compensate. Fitness is playing an increasing role as well because everyones looking for a few more yards.

Its not a tangible thing but I think you get what im saying.

[steedorf]

Karsten Solheim - we wouldn't be where we are today in club technology and club fitting without him.

[Sean2]

Ping Eye 2.

Anser style putter design.

[teckneeklyperfect]

today= cheap balls but most courses expensive to play

Yesterday= Balls were more expensive than playing. Balls used to cost more than most greens fees- each !

Biggest game changer is the amount of "kids" with a full compliment of pro coaches. Everyone thinks their kid is the next Tiger or Yani

[skylargolf]

How about when players started using yardage books. I believe it was Jack that really got it started. They used to just play by feel. A more modern technology version would be rang finders.

[Splitter]

I don't know how it could be anything but balls. Even the best driver couldn't hit a stuffed leather ball well.

IMHO, a decent 2nd would be hybrids. Balls have changed a ton, but hybrids have single handedly enabled more people to confidently play long 2nd shots and in turn kept more people playing than any other club in the bag.

[stuey01]

[quote name='Sebmour' timestamp='1399081481' post='9221723']
Metal woods, Titanium, [color=#282828]multi layer solid core (non-wound) ball[/color]
[/quote] what he said.

[Medic]

[quote name='Splitter' timestamp='1399095087' post='9222761']
I don't know how it could be anything but balls. Even the best driver couldn't hit a stuffed leather ball well.

IMHO, a decent 2nd would be hybrids. Balls have changed a ton, but hybrids have single handedly enabled more people to confidently play long 2nd shots and in turn kept more people playing than any other club in the bag.
[/quote]

Thanks! Had not even considered hybrids. But does anyone know the true history of them? Wasn't a variant of them used back in Bobby Jones' day? The modern hybrid is indeed a game changer especially when combined with the modern multi-layer balls.

[Medic]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1399087149' post='9222319']
Ping Eye 2.

Anser style putter design.
[/quote]

Sean, did Scotty get the foundation of his ideas from Ping? The Anser putter design is timeless. If you watch players coming into any course odds are a majority will be carrying something that resembles the overall design.

[tatertot]

Golf cart. Without them, 75 percent of American golfers would quit the game.

[xan_user]

Mowers.

[Jon H]

Laser range finders absolutely changed the game.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

[quote name='Jon H' timestamp='1399163718' post='9226475']Laser range finders absolutely changed the game.[/quote]

Not really. They don't do more than a good yardage book and pin sheet.

[teckneeklyperfect]

[quote name='tatertot' timestamp='1399130511' post='9224043']
Golf cart. Without them, 75 percent of American golfers would quit the game.
[/quote]
why is it in all my travels I see more twenty somethings ( or at least youngn's) in power carts and seniors walking? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

[Pert1862]

[quote name='Cwing' timestamp='1399080376' post='9221603']
PING
[/quote]

+1

[ralvar]

[quote name='Medic' timestamp='1399071560' post='9220791']
Everyone knows I work in medicine. (Duh, the handle) We had a "game changer" a few years back when CPAP was introduced to our pre-hospital world. Suddenly people who would have spent 14 days in the ICU were completely released in 2 or 3 days. Good stuff.

Other game changers in society:[list]
[*]Electricity
[*]The Internet and home computers
[*]Cars
[/list]
The list could go on and on.

But what about the so-called game changers for our beloved game of golf?

I value the opinions of others here. I personally believe that the equipment overall has improved across the board but what one single thing would you cite as a "game changer"?

Based on my own experiences and to get things started in this thread I see the modern oversized and ultra light drivers as an incredible advance in the technology used in the game. The hot faces, incredible aerodynamics, and amazing shaft tech have all come together in a symphony of longer, straighter, and more consistent shots.

So, what are your thoughts? Is it the balls? Perhaps the way courses are maintained now versus 25 years ago? Or perhaps it is something else.

Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

Ultradwarf Bermuda varieties.

[Medic]

[quote name='teckneeklyperfect' timestamp='1399164315' post='9226531']
[quote name='tatertot' timestamp='1399130511' post='9224043']
Golf cart. Without them, 75 percent of American golfers would quit the game.
[/quote]
why is it in all my travels I see more twenty somethings ( or at least youngn's) in power carts and seniors walking? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
[/quote]

Perfect! And dead on.
And how come I can marathon it with my 50-something buddies but the one 23 year old is "worn out" after only 18.

[Jon H]

[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1399164225' post='9226525']
[quote name='Jon H' timestamp='1399163718' post='9226475']Laser range finders absolutely changed the game.[/quote]

Not really. They don't do more than a good yardage book and pin sheet.
[/quote]

Who has those? Before the range finder I had a score card map and a decent guess.

[Jon H]

[quote name='Medic' timestamp='1399165227' post='9226613']
[quote name='teckneeklyperfect' timestamp='1399164315' post='9226531']
[quote name='tatertot' timestamp='1399130511' post='9224043']
Golf cart. Without them, 75 percent of American golfers would quit the game.
[/quote]
why is it in all my travels I see more twenty somethings ( or at least youngn's) in power carts and seniors walking? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
[/quote]

Perfect! And dead on.
And how come I can marathon it with my 50-something buddies but the one 23 year old is "worn out" after only 18.
[/quote]

Got stuck behind two groups of them today. One of them left their brand new wedge behind and we watched one of them 5 putt, after they waited for a green to clear sitting 290 out on a par 5.

[BillyZ2]

Driver club heads. Compare these to your 460cc driver head. Not only do the 460's hit farther, the forgiveness is so much better:

[Conrad1953]

GolfWRX.