Acceptance

Why is it that when things are new to the game of golf they are so hard to accept? It really doesn't matter if it's new fashion, a new swing methodology or if it's the debate of working out and it's place in the game. There is always a flip side to a coin... you know the head to the proverbial tail? It's this ongoing "struggle" that makes for great conversation by the water cooler. Here is my take.

Starting with working out and the game of golf. It was in the news this week when Brandel Chamblee of The Golf Channel stated he knows that it (golf) is in a different era and that he was concerned about Rory McIlroy and the degree to which he was working out after Rory posted video of himself performing squats in the gym. Concern that Rory was rapidly bulking up which could be detrimental to his career down the road. Mr. Chamblee is definitely correct in saying that it's a different era. The days of looking like Joey Sindelaar, Tim Herron or Craig Stadler are for the most part gone, Remember when Tiger was lanky and lean? Then, from almost seemingly nowhere he started to look like a linebacker in the NFL. I think that fitness definitely has a place in golf. Golf has become big business and student athletes playing golf in college have gotten bigger and faster like almost every other sport. Look at hockey... remember when a big hockey player was 6'0"? Today, that is no longer the case. But it is in my opinion that working out and golf has to walk a very fine line. In my experiences when I've gotten bigger my swing changed (the vice versa can occur too) but I can tell you this much. I had more power, got longer and more importantly I felt great. Brandel let Rory decide what's best. Working out never hurt World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player.

Fashion. If there is one part of the golf industry that has seen a ton of growth it definitely has to be the golf apparel business. This is a fact that is quite evident when attending the PGA Merchandise Show. The number of booths present for just apparel is hard to describe other than to say that it easily occupies a third of the exhibition hall. But still, it's a hot topic for debate. Remember when the mock neck caused a stir? Much of that had to do with the aforementioned Tiger Woods. It was edgy but did it ever look athletic...on him. Then there was the advent of Loudmouth Golf. Just when you thought that it was safe to come out after the infamous "Tabasco" polos worn on tour... out came this brand. Loudmouth has readily gained acceptance among golfers and personally speaking I love the brand. It's fun and fresh. I admit that I have talked about Rickie Fowler a fair amount recently but the shockwaves that he has sent through the golfing world this January has been earthshaking. The styles that he is wearing from Puma Golf has been talked about since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. High Tops and "inspired by" jogging pants bottoms. Say what you will (and many will disagree) but the high tops are here to stay. You know that there will be a plethora of "millenials" and junior golfers that will adopt the fashion. Look at the chukkas that Nike Golf  just released. There is a way to "grow the game" and part of that is to introduce cool, cutting edge fashions that appeal to the next generation of golfer.

New swing methods. Why is it that every time a new swing methodology or thought comes out it's met by naysayers who do nothing but try to destroy it? Why is it that the golf swing has to be a "cookie cutter" where everyone has to be the same? We saw this a few years back when Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett introduced the "Stack and Tilt" swing. Similar cynicism was met in 2015 when David Leadbetter introduced "The A Swing". I have bought and read the e-book and I had the opportunity to discuss it with Mr. Leadbetter himself and one of his top guys from the Leadbetter Golf Academy (Ron Grotjan). Mr Leadbetter clearly states that it is not a swing methodology as it's an alternative way to achieve a repeatable back swing. I have dabbled a lot with it and I will be talking about it more at length in the future but the premise of this swing is to make the back swing easier... and it does. I will not elaborate more on the subject as I will be writing an article about my findings. But here we are again a new idea and cynics arise. Tripp Isenhour of The Golf Channel is sort of trying to debunk the swing stating that the backswing is "too vertical" which could lead to issues with not enough rotation. Well Mr. Isenhour there is no need for concern as the rotation and flattening of the plane is very easy to accomplish. The golf swing as we know is as much "down turn" as there is "horizontal turn". Has being too vertical hurt the careers of Jim Furyk or Ryan Moore? If the "A Swing" makes achieving a repeatable swing a little easier which might help grow the game than why not? Not everyone has hours of each day to work on their game. 

Until the next tee.