The spirit of golf hasn't changed since the 1400s, yet the golf club has evolved incredibly, thanks to new materials and innovative technologies. The golf ball is also being revolutionized, and today's players can practice swing perfection with the assistance of cutting-edge designs and high-tech gadgets. Below is a glance at how technology continues to improve the sport of golf.
Ball
Golf enthusiasts were elated after news that OnCore's Evo Ball was recently approved by USGA and conforms to the Rules of Golf, according to Golf Getaways. OnCore's introduction of the Evo Ball into the golf community opens doors for new approaches to golf ball construction and the ability to tailor balls to meet various skill levels. Designed with a rigid, hollow metal core, the OnCore ball enhances the golfing experience and performance.
Clubs & Drivers
Who would win in a tournament between legendary golf champion Bobby Jones and today's most successful golfer Tiger Woods? Despite impeccable skill and remarkable talent, the title for golf master could come down to their respective tools. In the 1930s, rubber balls and hickory drivers were the foundations of a golfer's game. Golfing equipment has advanced as technologies have advanced, and the hickory driver lacks in comparison to the modern club.
PGA.com's Craig Sager visited a liquor store workshop in Selma, Ala., to learn about master club designer Tad Moore's perfectly crafted hickory golf club. Crafted with flexible wood and expertise, the strong hickory club with low torque still fell short to Nike Golf's metal club. Segar met with Tom Tites, Nike Golf's director of product creation, to experience the "Oven," where Nike cooks up new ideas for research and development that make the game of golf more fun and athletic. Cad Manager Tyrone Northcut creates digital club models to simulate specifications. For example, developers learn about center of gravity and inertia without having to build prototypes.
Nike also uses an electro-server to test swings and a series of doplar radars to watch the performance of the ball. Testing modern golfing equipment using advanced technologies provides data such as ball speed, launch angle, spin rate and landing angle. After testing a modern club, the tech-designed club was incomparably better than a retro hickory club.
Swing
Along with a superior-crafted club, perfect technique helps a golfer move from amateur to pro. Attach an app to your club to access swing data on a smartphone via Bluetooth. Compete in golf tournaments right on Pebble Beach via an HD golf simulator and a fast Internet connection.
- GolfTEC: Helps build golfing skills and techniques with Personal Club Fitting designed to improve swing and playing preferences using motion measurement and digital video; GolfTEC's CaddyMaster, g-SWING and g-PUTT systems also help with player improvement
- Swing Byte: Empowers the golf game by recording and analyzing swings using real-time data; app attaches to club, connects to smartphone and displays club speed, acceleration and angle as well as static and dynamic loft
- HD Golf Simulators: Simulates world-renowned golf courses using state-of-the-art image processing software, high-res digital images and geophysical data; provides shot analysis and swing dynamics
About the Author:
Gayle Allen
Gayle blogs about new technology when she is not watching her favorite sci-fi series.