Fudgepuppy
Banned
Curling is pretty goddamn physically demandinf, so is bowling and motorsports.
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Do golfers consider themselves "athletes"?
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Curling is pretty goddamn physically demandinf, so is bowling and motorsports.
Your list is shit, for one. Half those things you listed are legit athletic endeavors. Playing pool? No. Darts? No. Driving f1/Nascar? FUCK yes. Bowling? Yes. Croquet? No. Curling? It looks more like a test of skill rather than anything else, which would make it more like darts or billiards ( i say this with absolutely no idea of what Curling involves)
Half of your list are activities that require exertion and strength while the others don't. So your point that golf is exactly like those things, because they are all similar to each other is completely terrible. And way to go putting words in my mouth with that paralympic example - those people are most definitely athletes as well.
Anyone that compares paralympic 100m to someone throwing darts at a bar is off their rocker.
Calamari41
41 > 38
Just because your fat lazy friend can drink while playing a sport doesn't mean that the activity isn't a sport, is basically the bottom line here. Anybody can casually play any sport out there, and even eat or drink at the same time. Doesn't mean that the people who take it seriously and try to be competitive in it aren't athletes.
Yeah, if your fat roommate calls himself an athlete because of his Tuesday Beer Baseball league, that's laughable too. Same as the guy in the OP's story.
Yeah, if your fat roommate calls himself an athlete because of his Tuesday Beer Baseball league, that's laughable too. Same as the guy in the OP's story.
Oh, certainly agreed; I just think that the pga/lpga players are the easiest example of athletes. I have a cousin who is close to being skilled enough to make the Tour, but doesn't quite have the head game. Definitely an athlete; he's out there practicing just about every day of the week, too. When I think of the vast majority of golfers I meet out on the course, it's usually the type that go out round after round, making the same mistakes over and over (never even attempting to diagnose what's going on with their swing), and drinking a 12-pack of Miller Lite, paying more attention to the drink-cart girl than their game. Not athletes. ..I seem to run into these guys every week during the spring/summer.
Edit: ^^^ Yes, Calamari says more succinctly what I was getting at.
I don't know why you threw Nascar/F1 into that list.
It's almost as if you were implying that professional racing isn't physically exhausting and doesn't require beyond-average (here, I'm providing an understatement...) levels of fitness.
Correct. Would I ever consider myself an "athlete" because I am a casual golfer? Hell no.
Does the average joe consider himself an "athlete" because he plays pickup basketball sometimes on the weekends vs the other guys on his street? Probably not.
But golf, for reasons already mentioned, IS most definitely a sport and most definitely is athletic. If we defined basketball by the hordes of casual players out on the playground or at the court in your apartment complex, that might not seem very athletic either. But we don't. So why do it with golf?
entremet
Member
Because it requires decent physical exertion and condition in competitive levels.
Sure any overweight middle age person can play a few holes in a country club for fun, but golf requires some athleticism at the higher levels. Driving the ball for adequate distances isn't something everyone can do.
For anyone that thinks that hitting a golf ball requires no physical conditioning at all or is easy, here's a chart of swing speeds (how fast you swing a club) and the carry distance.
Keep in mind that most professionals are carrying their driver in the 280-320 range.
That means swing speeds of over 110mph. They are swinging their drivers 110-130 mph - the average male golfer (in decent shape) is somewhere between 85-95 mph.
My swing speed with my driver tops out around 83 or so last time I was on a trackman and im not that strong. More often than not im right at 79 or 80. Ladies and seniors generally are in the 60-70 mph range.
Keep in mind that most professionals are carrying their driver in the 280-320 range.
That means swing speeds of over 110mph. They are swinging their drivers 110-130 mph - the average male golfer (in decent shape) is somewhere between 85-95 mph.
My swing speed with my driver tops out around 83 or so last time I was on a trackman and im not that strong. More often than not im right at 79 or 80. Ladies and seniors generally are in the 60-70 mph range.
No, you said that a golfer is an athlete because they use their entire body when competing, alleging that if you don't you're not a true athlete.
It's funny that you're so butthurt that I even made a post saying that players from other sports would be considered athletes as well. The amount you're projecting is hilarious. Where did I even say a golfer isn't an athlete? The fact that you're even trying to say that someone that played in a specific competitive activity isn't an athlete tells me you like playing favourites.
All I'm saying is that the people saying that golfers are for sure athletes shouldn't try to say that their sport is a magic exception and most other competitive activities found outside the generally accepted definition of athlete somehow aren't.(because lets face it, the reason this discussion comes up so much is that a golfer isn't generally held to be within that definition, just like the other sports I listed) That's it. You've already proven that you definitely fall within that description.
Is a golfer an athlete? Sure, why not. Are the other people who play the sports I listed athletes? Well if a golfer is, I dont see why the others on the list should be deinied that claim as well.
Those are all sports that don't typically fall under the accepted term of 'athlete'
Calamari41
41 > 38
Great chart, Enron. I honestly think one of the big causes of the whole "golf is easy as shit physically" thing is the fact that the pros make it look so effortless. They swing that shit 130mph and it looks like they are just casually swatting a fly.
I didn't say that at all. Someone isn't very good at reading. I said that golfers use far more muscle groups than some of the activities that you implied were just as fit or more fit to be called a sport than golf.
We are done here. Your argument looks pretty shaky in the light of the last 20 posts or so on this thread.
Dreams-Visions
Member
For anyone that thinks that hitting a golf ball requires no physical conditioning at all or is easy, here's a chart of swing speeds (how fast you swing a club) and the carry distance.
Keep in mind that most professionals are carrying their driver in the 280-320 range.
That means swing speeds of over 110mph. They are swinging their drivers 110-130 mph - the average male golfer (in decent shape) is somewhere between 85-95 mph.
My swing speed with my driver tops out around 83 or so last time I was on a trackman and im not that strong. More often than not im right at 79 or 80. Ladies and seniors generally are in the 60-70 mph range.
I clocked in at 122mph on my driver last time I checked. I swing pretty hard.
And yea, the only people who'd suggest golf isn't a sport are those who haven't played it. You try walking 6500 yards (average 18-hole golf course length) in the beating sun while retaining the focus and swing consistency despite the fatigue to continue to swing a club anywhere from 2mph - 120mph accurately. That's somewhere between 70-115 swings (depending on how bad you are).
Your body will let you know the next morning you just played a sport even if your ego refuses to permit it.
Calamari41
41 > 38
Damn that's impressive. Was that a normal controlled shot or were you just trying for pure speed? When I got fitted for my clubs at the Callaway plant in San Diego (great experience) a decade+ ago, I think I clocked in at about 100 even. But I was just a year or two into playing at that point.
Someone isn't very good at writing. See how this passive aggressive thing works?
I still find it funny that you think I'm saying a golfer isn't an athlete. Keep projecting bruh.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Normal, controlled. Had it clocked after taking a lesson from the head pro at the course. Those swings felt so good, lemmie tell ya.
Calamari41
41 > 38
No athleticism involved in that, nope. Anybody could recreate what you did while "8 pints deep."
It must be nice to be tall
It's the same thing as throwing darts! STOP PROJECTING!!!1!
gatdamn someone is butthurt lmao.
Why would I be? I couldnt care less if a golfer is considered an athlete or not.
Why would I be? I couldnt care less if a golfer is considered an athlete or not.
Calamari41
41 > 38
Is it you?
Dude Abides
Banned
It's a sport but just barely on the sport side of the sport/game divide. Like bowling or badminton.
CornBurrito
Member
Really?
Bubba Watson 124.7 129.4
Bubba Watson leads the Tour in swing speed
Tiger is 120mph
Tiger is 2mph slower than you?
Well anyone can recreate lying on the internet. lol
I take it you haven't played badminton. You need incredible endurance to be competitive.
The Albatross
Member
This sounds like a subtle revision to "Is golf a sport."
"So what about you, you an athlete at all?"
Just doesn't seem like something somebody would ever say.
I don't know if I consider someone who plays a sport an athlete automatically... I play basketball three times a week, but I'd never describe myself as an athlete, just a normal guy who likes to play basketball. But, if I saw a pro-golfer who was in really good shape, I'd probably consider him an athlete. Jon Daley on the other hand? eh.
"So what about you, you an athlete at all?"
Just doesn't seem like something somebody would ever say.
I don't know if I consider someone who plays a sport an athlete automatically... I play basketball three times a week, but I'd never describe myself as an athlete, just a normal guy who likes to play basketball. But, if I saw a pro-golfer who was in really good shape, I'd probably consider him an athlete. Jon Daley on the other hand? eh.
Now I've heard it all.
block tower
Member
yeah no one wants their feelings hurt because they aren't athletes, so now everyone is an "athlete". slip n'slide? your an athlete. drive a tractor trailer? your an athlete. play beer pong? your an athlete. use neogaf? your an athlete.
You can't be an athlete without also being athletic it doesn't make any kind of sense.
"Athletic" means "like an athlete". How can an "athlete" not be "like an athlete"???
There is a far more fundamental issue here than whether or not players of X are athletes, which is that some of you apparently don't know how words work.
"Athletic" means "like an athlete". How can an "athlete" not be "like an athlete"???
There is a far more fundamental issue here than whether or not players of X are athletes, which is that some of you apparently don't know how words work.
Athletic can mean being strong , fit and active... I don't have to be an athlete to be strong or active... Relax
Dude Abides
Banned
And you can also play it in your backyard and exert minimal effort. Like golf.
liquidspeed
Member
Megalosaro
Banned
You can pkay basketball in your driveway and exert minimal effort. What is your point
Christ.
I used to be on my school's golf team and not only we did we have to walk 18 holes, but also carry our own clubs. Tournament days were worse as we would be out there all day. As someone said, it's exhausting but only at first. For example, I'm an avid cyclist now and four hours on the bike compared to four hours on the course are lightyears apart in both endurance, strength, and stamina. Basically, my perception of golfers being considered athletic has completely changed and whenever my friends suggest we spend the day golfing for exercise, I tell them to join me on the bike instead. Crickets.
Most people don't realize the average swing on Tour is at 60-70% effort. They swing easy for better control - and as a result the ball typically goes where it should. If Bubba Watson swung for the fences he'd be over 150 mph - if not more. The long drive guys get higher than that.
I haven't touched a club in 2+ years and have no idea what my swing would look like, so I'm not playing internet commando. However, when I worked in golf my swing speed was ~115, and I was typically the shortest hitter of the group. Hell, I know 10 guys right now who's swing speed is over 120 mph, but their accuracy is nothing like an average tour player.
Elfforkusu
Member
But in their defense, bike seats are uncomfortable as hell.
Dude Abides
Banned
You can't play 5 on 5 basketball in your driveway. The kind of thing you can do in your driveway with minimal effort is akin to putt putt. I doubt anyone but Enron would call putt putt a sport.
perfectchaos007
Member
Has anyone pointed to British Open winner John Daly yet as an example? I think golfers are athletes, but its definitely more of a mental sport than a physical sport. An 11 year old girl shot a 68 at Half Moon Bay. Sure it was from the Junior/ladies tees, but that just means she got a 40-50 yard head start on each hole. Golf is a game of focus, precision, and technique more than physicality. However, there is enough physicality involved to classify golfers as athletes....and I can't say the same about poker players and scrabble champions
I played five on five basketball last monday and my ass and calves were sore for almost a week. My quads cramped up while I was playing too :/
So cycling takes more strength and endurance, it doesn't make golfers suddenly not qualify as athletes.
aren't we clever. you've just boiled the sport of golf down to putt-putt.
johnny_park
Member
I was about to ask what are ass calves? Good thing I read it twice.
True Olympians. Like Hercules and Perseus of old.
Dude Abides
Banned
Well, you haven't known true pain until you've walked 18 holes, with a couple beers along the way.
No, that's not what I did. I said golf is a sport. A golfer is an athlete just like a football kicker or DH in baseball is an athlete.
Why so mad? Is golf the only sport you play?
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