Posted on 01/04/2009 5:31:33 PM PST by PotatoHeadMick
Golfers face going deaf from the "sonic boom" created when their clubs strike the ball, doctors have warned.
A report in the latest edition of the British Medical Journal claims that some players are at risk if they use a new generation of thin-faced titanium drivers that help propel the ball further.
The booming noise the metal club head makes when it strikes the ball was found by ear specialists to have reduced the hearing of a 55-year-old golfer.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
“thwock” is the sound of dolly parton taking off her bra
I’ve got you beat. I decapitated a crow, in flight, with a drive. PIssed me off too, it was an awesome drive and after the collision the bird head went furthur than my ball.
Unfortunately, it was also the only birdie I got that round.
ummm that would be “thwock” “Thwock”, unless the bra strap popped in which case it would be ‘SPROINGGGGGGGG”
Oh yes, sports injuries in non-sports. Carpal tunnel syndrome in checkers champions!
That's the noise persimmon makes. These modern clubs sound like hitting the bottom of a beer can. I can't think of an onomatopoeia for that sound.
I play pool and I am losing my hearing. It must be the sound of the pool balls clicking prior to them going into the called pocket. I guess I’ll have to start wearing hearing protection. Never liked the mouse ears though.
BAN 'EM! BAN THE NEW CLUBS, and all copycats of course!
That's their answer to EVERY PERCEIVED ILL in their increasingly pussified NANNY state.
What’s the difference between a golfer and a hang glider pilot?
From one, you hear “Whack”, “Damn!”
and from the other you hear “Damn”, “Whack!”
:)
I don’t swing nearly fast enough to cause a sonic boom. However, what comes out of my mouth after I swing, telling the club/ball/tree/wind/etc. what I think about them.... well, I suppose you’d be better off not hearing that.
What about “whuuiinkkk!”?
Golf has equipment rules that are quite lengthy.
Do you remember a few years ago when everyone was complaining that the new Calloway driver was illegal under USGA rules?
Personally, I use a driver that is 285CCs. Pretty small compared to most drivers out there today. And it has 11 degrees of loft.
I also cut down the shaft an inch and a half for better control. Causes a slight loss in distance.
Its also about 15 years old.
And I will out drive any of you with it.
I used to play for Penley Shafts, and one of the hardest things I tried to accomplish with average amateurs, and even family and friends who knew I know what I am talking about is that the new fancy big head $500 driver is not what they need. What they need is a properly matched shaft.
You can have any head you want out there, and if you do not have the correct shaft connecting your hands to the head, you won't hit it well.
Amen, amen and AMEN. I play a pretty good bit and people are always asking me what I think of this iron or that driver. My standard response is that they are all close to the same but the most important thing is to get fit properly. The right shaft (length, flex, etc.), the right lie, the right grip size are far more important than the latest material. I played with a +1 handicap guy who continued to hit 1960's era Powerbilt Blades because they "fit" him.
There ya go. You want me to call Webster's or do you want to do it?
I’ve found it’s really a combination of both.
You can take your favorite shaft and it won’t work the same with every club head since there are so many variations in weighting and loft.
Realistically, they can go out and buy a club from last year or the year before for a steep discount and just get fitted for the proper shaft for that club head.
A great book to read on the whole subject of equipment is “The Right Sticks” by Tom Wishon, who really is a genius when it comes to golf equipment.
Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Right-Sticks-Equipment-Myths-Could/dp/1587264986/ref=pd_sim_b_1
The battle was overcoming the impression that what was hitting the ball (the head) was the most important part of the equipment.
While I am not old enough (I am 35) to have played such clubs, I still play the 3 and 5 woods I got in junior high. Why? Because they work.
My father, who is 61 still plays an actual wood Ben Hogan 5 wood that he got in college. Why? Because it works!
No, I agree completely, a person needs to be fitted period when ever they buy golf equipment, if they got fitted properly once they wouldn’t bother buying new clubs every year.
I did get a new driver last year, though it was a birthday gift from my fiance, got fitted by Ping for a G10 at the Golf Expo.
Should of seen the look on the other guy’s faces when they saw that I was fitted for a 7.5* driver with a ProLaunch Red X-Stiff, thing works wonders for me though.
I remember one time when I went to a local golf shop to get some numbers off the launch meter and head speed measured. I knew the manager of the shop and set me up with one of his new guys to mess with him.
As he introduced me to the kid and sent us on our way he said to him "don't be surprised by what you see."
After a couple minute warm up, I proceeded to put up numbers the kid just couldn't believe. Swing speed of 158 MPH and ball speed of 203.
Of course, it wasn't a "standard" club either.
Had a 50" Penley Ultron XXX shaft, and Titleist 975D 5.5 degree head on it.
But it was sure fun to watch the kids reactions to the numbers coming up.
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