While reading an article I happened upon a comment suggesting that the belly putter should be banned. Belly Putter? Ban? You have my attention.
It turns out the belly putter is not someone laying on their belly to putt, nor is it someone so fat they can putt a ball with their belly. Now I’m less interested. Although there is still the issue of a ban, which means there’s a controversy. So I’m not moving yet.
So what’s the controversy? Opponents of the belly putter argue that by locking the putter up against your body, you are making it easier to control the motion of the putter, thus making it less likely that bad form or nerves will cause you to make a mistake.
That sounds like a reasonable complaint. If you’re competing at the highest level of the sport, you shouldn’t be allowed to control your nerves with anything but alcohol; though that does have some side effects.
The flip side of the argument is that you still need to be good. Using the belly putter would still leave me coming up short, missing to the left, or shooting it into the parking lot. And even with the recent trend of wins amongst the belly putter community, they still have 2 to 3 other shots per hole before they can use their nefarious belly putters. So back to my earlier question, what’s the controversy?
The belly putter by itself is not an issue. The issue is technology vs. tradition. This was argued nonsensically in an episode of the short-lived drama, Century City, where a baseball player with a bionic eye was prevented from playing in the major leagues (please watch this episode, if not for the bionic eye nonsense, then for the holographic pre-trial arguments). The belly putter is not as absurd as a bionic eye, but isn’t it the beginning of a slippery slope? If we allow a player who can’t control his nerves a chance to improve his putting, then won’t a golf club manufacturer invent a club that helps to control a player’s nerves on the tee, or on the fairway, or out of the sand trap? When will we know to draw the line? Will it happen after a golfer hits the ball 400 yards off the tee or after a golfer who previously had a handicap of 15 wins the Masters after buying the new Super Hybrid Ultra Elite Extremes from Nike?
Equipment shouldn’t be the dividing line between winners and losers. Tiger Woods could have won the 1997 Masters or the 2000 U.S. Open with clubs he found in a dumpster; his skill was what separated him from the pack. I understand that the golf manufacturers just want to make money, but don’t let the tools for the amateur change the way the pro game is played. Tell the manufacturers to stick to finding ways for players to sneak beer onto the course so they don’t have to pay $7 for one at the clubhouse bar.
- Otto
Otto,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun read. It's interesting how a sport evolves through improved equipment, training technique, even nutrition. Look at the NBA and NFL and you see genetically superior athletes today. The rules keep changing to accommodate these "improvements" to our time honored sports.
You do a nice job of introducing your subject, then stating your thesis. But are you undermining your authority when you say you are "less interested" in the subject, after learning what a belly putter is? (I don't know) What you've written is funny, and you manage to maintain this tone throughout, but it may come off as ad hoc knowledge.
I'm knit picking, of course. What you have is written well, and entertaining.
Golf is one of those "insider" sports. If you're too irreverent, and come across as an outsider poking fun at the sport, you might not reach an audience who plays golf. On the other hand, if you want to connect with readers who think golf is silly, then you could have a really good time with this. Right now, I feel like you haven't settled on which approach to take.
E.B.
Thanks for the feedback. I think my goal is to be an outsider looking in. But I'll try to work more at making that obvious to the reader.
DeleteOtto,
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big golf fan, but you make golf accessible to a different audience. This makes your posts an enjoyable read.
Your humor is always appreciated. But sometimes you over deliver. You say, "If you’re competing at the highest level of the sport, you shouldn’t be allowed to control your nerves with anything but alcohol; though that does have some side effects." It is just as funny to leave it: "If you’re competing at the highest level of the sport, you shouldn’t be allowed to control your nerves with anything but alcohol." The extraneous "side effects" line weakens the punchline for me. Leave some to the imagination.
I also think that I'm getting lost in some of the extended sentences such as, "Will it happen after a golfer hits the ball 400 yards off the tee or after a golfer who previously had a handicap of 15 wins the Masters after buying the new Super Hybrid Ultra Elite Extremes from Nike?" I get lost in sentences like these. This again weakens the wit and humor.
Thank you for making golf fun to the non-golfer!
Thanks for the feedback. When I read your comments I realize now that those lines are weaker than I'd like them to be. I've got to do a better job of thinking as the reader when I edit.
DeleteI use the DA to provoke you. The only way to write about an issue is to give it some spin, a fresh take. I end up with all kinds of answers for this assignment. It is my favorite. Some people post disclaimers. Some students become the opposition like a lawyer cross-examining her client. Some of you surprise yourselves by thinking anew while writing. One way to do that successfully is with comedy.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big golf fan, but you make golf accessible to a different audience.
That is a really nice compliment from ComTech and I agree. I also agree you have to clean up your work a little better, but there is a lot of good material here.
I get a little confused in the last paragraph. You say Tiger could have won with any equipment, but then you lament the technology that the manufacturers might invent.
Are you for or against new technology? Does it affect the game or not? Regardless of the bionic eye and belly putting silliness, underneath the humor there should be a consistent argument.
My goal with the DA is to get you thinking with the writing. Write a piece. Go back and pull out the best lines. Go back and extract the ideas that surprised you. Then start again. Keep beating the material until you have something concise yet fresh, like comic would.