I'm sorry, but that article sounds like just nonsense. There is a significant difference between walking 1 full mile, then hitting 20 balls in a row, than hitting a ball and walking (hopefully!) 300 yards to hit again. Also, there is no point where you have to walk 1 mile continuously in golf -- holes are what 600 yards at the most? That's not even 1/3 of a mile. Unless the course is dead empty, there are times when you are going to have to stand around and relax and wait and recharge -- not continuously walk. Finally, it doesn't take into account that by walking you get a better feel for the ground and the playing conditions -- which I think can definitely save strokes.
It would be interesting to find out where the source of the funds for this research come from -- the electric and diesel golf cart makers?!?
Oh, and 7 people is hardly a statistically significant number. Especially if they aren't typically walkers anyway! If the 7 of them weren't typically walkers and they were asked to suddenly walk 6 miles and hit some balls every 1 mile, I'd be downright shocked if they didn't get worse after every mile. But, the article doesn't actually say...
Interesting, while certainly walking a mile rather than 600 yards would emphasize more accute the effects walking would have on a golf swing, I think it would still be neat to see more information on how the angles of the knee and ankle changed over time.
Quote:
Researchers found that over time, the golfers were less able to properly transfer weight to their front leg on a swing, resulting in less club head velocity that could affect how far the ball would travel. The study also showed that over time, the angles of the front knee and ankle at the top the swing changed, a development that could affect a shot's accuracy.
I don't know if I play better when I walk, but I feel better when I walk on a flat or rolling terrain course, and mainly when the weather is warm and comfortable. When it's too hot I sometimes feel a bit sluggish, so a cart works well for that.
Last edited by billybogey5 1/2 : June 7th, 2008 at 01:42 AM.
Reason: changed content
There is some truth to it, but I honestly feel the weather is more of an impact than just the walk. I usually walk and carry my bag at my club, but also purchase the annual cart plan and use carts when I want to play very quickly (2 hour 18 hole rounds) OR when it is hot and humid. Last year in our club championship I think I misjudged the impact of the toll walking our 18 in that heat had on my body. It really impacted my back nine in my rounds.
There is a counter arguement that walking keeps you more focused and provides you a better judgement of distance and feel for the shot.
All in all its a wash in my book, but if its 90+ with humidty I am riding...this from a guy who made a living off caddying for 12 years.
In the first place, NOBODY walks more than a couple of hundred yards at one time, then you stop a make another shot. You might hit your drive a bit farther, but you get my point. Also, I don't carry my golf bag...I put it on wheels. Humans invented the wheel some 7000 years ago, and it still works very well, expecially on a three wheeled push cart. I still think it's idiocy to carry a bag on your shoulders/back when you can roll it.
June 6th, 2008, 02:39 PM
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