jonnygrouville
New
Is coverage of any other sport as bad as that to which we are subjected watching golf?
Watching the US golf from the UK is a dire experience if you are not able to use a soon-to-be-worn out fast forward button. Whilst the US coverage seemingly inexplicably moves from one channel to another or is delayed by a late finishing basketball game or whatever, we have three guys sitting around chatting about the golf. Ex-pros, the odd coach in, nothing against any of them personally, but they end up talking drivel.
One particular coach they have in for the swing analysis is dreadful. But is a little knowledge a dangerous thing? Is this what the golfing masses want to hear about? Can't see how stuff like this can help, other than by perpetuating old school thought and keeping the lesson coffers brimming.
The golf itself is a lot of putting, a lot of time spent on two or three groups even on Thursday and Friday and, dare I say it, pretty dull even with the odd SwingVision or BallTracer.
The European Tour coverage is better. A couple of good on-course guys, the odd trip to the range, better chat from the booth. Still not great though.
The coverage we have from the BBC I enjoy. More knowledge in the chat, some good on-course stuff, no adverts, and they don't just show one or two groups putting. Pretty much stay away from swing analysis. Sadly, they are losing all of their tournaments to the guys with all the cash.
I also watch formla one and, although they are sometimes held hostage to local producers deciding to show the local hero too much, the overall coverage is far superior, in my opinion. Now I admit I do not know as much about F1 as I know about golf, but they just do more interesting things. Before a race is about to start when hundreds of people are milling around on the grid, they have an ex-driver roaming around nabbing people for interviews. Even drivers about to be subjected to a gruelling race, he shoves a microphone in their face and asks them about the first corner. He asks mechanics about tyres, technical guys about down-force, all really probing stuff. Then the chat during the race itself can get really technical. What is golf afraid of?
Racing cars are exciting, yes, but I even prefer cricket coverage to golf. It is funny, for a start. They are also not afraid of shying away from the more technical aspects of the game, and there is a lot of credible discussion on strategy and the like.
You will always get a smart-alec, 'wouldn't have done that in my day' guy, but I don't mind that (unless it is one particular rugby commentator who is shockingly partisan) so much. It is more concerning that we are subjected to dummed-down one-dimensional dirge.
So how will I change golf coverage when I am Emperor of the World? Strategy is one area that isn't touched on enough, but this is probably more to do with the pervasive strategy in most of professional golf nowadays being 'Hit driver'. Even when there is a rare strategy hole, would be good to see more scatter-chart-things of where people have made the birdies or bogeys from, some statistics, and better on-course coverage showing what the second shots would look like from the ground for the different options.
Definitely some more stuff from the range. I can't see why they can't talk to more players, coaches, caddies and whoever! More nosing through bags, asking coaches what someone is working on, what they are trying to do or whatever. Would love to see more of that.
I would also love to say more swing analysis, but you only have to spend a short time browsing YouTube to see how many people have varying opinions and realise this is a bit of a mine-field. Saying that, what is wrong with pointing out a few key features from an individiual swing without trying to say why one shot or another happened? If you have a weak grip like such and such, you might want to try this, for example. As well as just documenting how the tournament works out, there could be a lot more interest and value from the coverage for the fans.
Watching the US golf from the UK is a dire experience if you are not able to use a soon-to-be-worn out fast forward button. Whilst the US coverage seemingly inexplicably moves from one channel to another or is delayed by a late finishing basketball game or whatever, we have three guys sitting around chatting about the golf. Ex-pros, the odd coach in, nothing against any of them personally, but they end up talking drivel.
One particular coach they have in for the swing analysis is dreadful. But is a little knowledge a dangerous thing? Is this what the golfing masses want to hear about? Can't see how stuff like this can help, other than by perpetuating old school thought and keeping the lesson coffers brimming.
The golf itself is a lot of putting, a lot of time spent on two or three groups even on Thursday and Friday and, dare I say it, pretty dull even with the odd SwingVision or BallTracer.
The European Tour coverage is better. A couple of good on-course guys, the odd trip to the range, better chat from the booth. Still not great though.
The coverage we have from the BBC I enjoy. More knowledge in the chat, some good on-course stuff, no adverts, and they don't just show one or two groups putting. Pretty much stay away from swing analysis. Sadly, they are losing all of their tournaments to the guys with all the cash.
I also watch formla one and, although they are sometimes held hostage to local producers deciding to show the local hero too much, the overall coverage is far superior, in my opinion. Now I admit I do not know as much about F1 as I know about golf, but they just do more interesting things. Before a race is about to start when hundreds of people are milling around on the grid, they have an ex-driver roaming around nabbing people for interviews. Even drivers about to be subjected to a gruelling race, he shoves a microphone in their face and asks them about the first corner. He asks mechanics about tyres, technical guys about down-force, all really probing stuff. Then the chat during the race itself can get really technical. What is golf afraid of?
Racing cars are exciting, yes, but I even prefer cricket coverage to golf. It is funny, for a start. They are also not afraid of shying away from the more technical aspects of the game, and there is a lot of credible discussion on strategy and the like.
You will always get a smart-alec, 'wouldn't have done that in my day' guy, but I don't mind that (unless it is one particular rugby commentator who is shockingly partisan) so much. It is more concerning that we are subjected to dummed-down one-dimensional dirge.
So how will I change golf coverage when I am Emperor of the World? Strategy is one area that isn't touched on enough, but this is probably more to do with the pervasive strategy in most of professional golf nowadays being 'Hit driver'. Even when there is a rare strategy hole, would be good to see more scatter-chart-things of where people have made the birdies or bogeys from, some statistics, and better on-course coverage showing what the second shots would look like from the ground for the different options.
Definitely some more stuff from the range. I can't see why they can't talk to more players, coaches, caddies and whoever! More nosing through bags, asking coaches what someone is working on, what they are trying to do or whatever. Would love to see more of that.
I would also love to say more swing analysis, but you only have to spend a short time browsing YouTube to see how many people have varying opinions and realise this is a bit of a mine-field. Saying that, what is wrong with pointing out a few key features from an individiual swing without trying to say why one shot or another happened? If you have a weak grip like such and such, you might want to try this, for example. As well as just documenting how the tournament works out, there could be a lot more interest and value from the coverage for the fans.
