Technology and the future of golf

[Saskwatch]

I really do believe that in next decade we will see some pretty spectacular technology becoming integrated more with the game of golf. I'm not talking equipment wise, but more so on the game improvement side. With the likes of SkyCaddie, game golf, launch monitors and etc...I feel it's only a matter of time before we see more stuff available at our finger tips to help understand the game better. Here are my thoughts. A device or an app that will offer golfers adjustments for temperature, altitude, humidity, wind, ball changes, swing speed changes and club changes and so on. Think of the modern day PCM in your car that automatically changes the air, fuel and spark tables when you drive from 1500 ft to 4500 ft elevation. Wouldn't it be cool to have a device that knows your stock 7 iron (say 170 or whatever it may be) will "likely" go this far today based on algorithms, averages and tables that spit out data based on your collected data for certain temperatures, humidity, altitude and wind levels??

 

Think like game golf, but way more analytical. It would be like a pocket caddie. Hell, I'm going to go design the app now and sign up for the patent!! Lol. The technology exists already, it's only a matter of time before it becomes wrapped together and formulated in a way that one can use in the palm of our hands.

 

Thoughts?? Feel free to call me crazy

[ilovenewtech]

So the first issue would be it would be pretty non-conforming to the rules of golf.

 

However I agree that technology will totally change 'amateur' sport in the next 10 years and golf can be at the forefront of that.

[Shambles]

About 30 years ago the range finder was closer to practical but cost about $ 3,000 or something equally impossible for just about anybody. It was also about the size of some hefty binoculars and just as heavy. Fact is, the one thing that just about every golfer needs is a reasonably reliable means of measuring distance from wherever they stand and with that help, they would all play better. Today we all have access to such technology and it's pretty much affordable and way small and portable both as GPS and as rangefinder. You don't really need anything more than your eyes and a reasonable amount of sense.

 

 

 

Shambles

[BrianL99]

 

... I feel it's only a matter of time before we see more stuff available at our finger tips to help understand the game better. ...

 

A device or an app that will offer golfers adjustments for temperature, altitude, humidity, wind, ball changes, swing speed changes and club changes and so on.

 

Thoughts?? Feel free to call me crazy

 

 

Most of us already understand the game fairly well. The point is, to get the ball in the hole with the minimum number of strokes.

 

& you would have to be way more consistent than a 4 handicap, to benefit from knowing the exact temperature, altitude and humidity and how that might affect your distance on a given shot.

[Saskwatch]

 

... I feel it's only a matter of time before we see more stuff available at our finger tips to help understand the game better. ...

 

A device or an app that will offer golfers adjustments for temperature, altitude, humidity, wind, ball changes, swing speed changes and club changes and so on.

 

Thoughts?? Feel free to call me crazy

 

 

Most of us already understand the game fairly well. The point is, to get the ball in the hole with the minimum number of strokes.

 

& you would have to be way more consistent than a 4 handicap, to benefit from knowing the exact temperature, altitude and humidity and how that might affect your distance on a given shot.

 

My point wasn't to insist or suggest most people don't understand the game. I was rather offering my ideas on technological foreshadowing I see coming to the game of golf to help everyone. Sure my idea is pretty precise and most people won't care, but the reality is these factors all matter.

 

Believe it or not, at just a 4 handicap I can notice that where I live in April my 6 iron is flying 10 to 12 yards less than it does at peak heat in August. We're talking a 20+ degree Celsius temperature change. I'm my world, that's pretty significant. If I jump in my vehicle and drive just 5 hours I can go play in Calgary where the elevation is up 2,000 some feet....you better believe I'm going to notice that.

 

These numbers are all somewhat finite in the grand scheme of things, but I'm a numbers guy and data intrigues me.

 

It is what it is.

 

[larrybud]

Calculations for what you speak of are pretty simple, and your smartphone already has all of the sensors required.

[ParHunter]

I guess we will see useful affordable LM (<$500) and shot tracker (game golf)/swing analyser (think SkyPro) in every club. Then you can actually analyse and compare that snap hook on the 8th with your Sunday best in the 3rd.

 

A lot more driving ranges will have Protracer or LMs installed.

 

But the ball manufactured will make sure that there won't be a system to find your golf ball even though it would be possible to implement.

[Argonne69]

I'd be happy with a simple chip in the ball to allow one to locate it. Yeah, the performance of the ball might suffer a wee bit, but it would certainly help speed up play.

[The Chicken Connoisseur]

I'd be happy with a simple chip in the ball to allow one to locate it. Yeah, the performance of the ball might suffer a wee bit, but it would certainly help speed up play.

 

I've always thought about this, and Sharper Image used to have a ball like this, but the companies want you to lose your balls so you buy more

[Argonne69]

I'd be happy with a simple chip in the ball to allow one to locate it. Yeah, the performance of the ball might suffer a wee bit, but it would certainly help speed up play.

 

I've always thought about this, and Sharper Image used to have a ball like this, but the companies want you to lose your balls so you find more

 

The golf balls used at TopGolf have tracking chips, so the technology is certainly feasible. No doubt the manufacturers wouldn't like it, but eventually a ball becomes unplayable, or dunked in a water hazard.

[ParHunter]

I think it won't be long until you can do a Protracer on your iPhone. That would help with finding your ball as well I guess.

[Gollie]

I think it won't be long until you can do a Protracer on your iPhone. That would help with finding your ball as well I guess.

 

As Protracer and GC2 come down in price getting good will become more accessible (training at home).

[J_Birdie]

I'd be happy with a simple chip in the ball to allow one to locate it. Yeah, the performance of the ball might suffer a wee bit, but it would certainly help speed up play.

 

I've always thought about this, and Sharper Image used to have a ball like this, but the companies want you to lose your balls so you find more

 

The golf balls used at TopGolf have tracking chips, so the technology is certainly feasible. No doubt the manufacturers wouldn't like it, but eventually a ball becomes unplayable, or dunked in a water hazard.

 

They have passive RFID chips in them. Not really tracking chips. It requires a scanner at each point. So it scans your ball as it is dispensed and then it is scanned again as it passes through the target (if you hit a target)

 

In order to track a ball like is being said around this thread would require GPS and a battery. Not exactly practical.

[larrybud]

It absolutely is practical, and is already in practice. RadarGolf has been around for some time:

 

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