Has anyone ever told you that video games don’t translate to real world skills? In some sense, that’s true; a simulation of something, at least in our current historical context, will not contain the same nuances or depths as the original activity. Video games teach certain ideas, but that does not mean they translate well to the “real world”, so to speak. That goes especially for sports games, which attempt to make good video games out of real world sports. The requirements for both, I find, demand very different rule constructions and ideas.
So, I went to a driving range this prior weekend and tried out the very barest basics of actual golf. How the heck do you hit that tiny ball? As it turns out, video games make it seem a whole lot easier than it is. Just for example, while arcade-style golf games often use a “power meter” to determine the stroke’s power, distance, and straightness, in real life much of the actual drive comes down purely to technique and feel. Think of it like this: how does one quantify the perfect stance for the individual? That takes a whole lot of time and practice. What’s the right length of club? Again, practice. There’s no magical measure which tells you how far this drive will go, or how close you need to swing in order to NOT hit the tee repeatedly. I, for one, have a bit too much strength when it comes to the swing. I often end up losing control, “brooming” (i.e., hitting the ground), and lessening the shot’s overall distance as a result. Strength does not really help you in this game; rather, accuracy usually wins the race.
And yes, I’m saying most of this from just a cursory dive into the driving range, but I imagine that’s applicable to the actual game itself.
I found out later that much of my problems came down to both positioning AND grip. You see, golf requires a super strange, super awkward grip. Grip can change the direction of the ball mid-flight (if you can even achieve that much!). The rules of a good golf swing, unlike video game golf, strike one as slightly un-intuitive by comparison. Just for a cursory example:
My grip is the far left one. Swinging the club like a baseball bat literally causes the ball to hook right (at least for me, since I’m right-handed) like its life depended on it. While this might demonstrate suitable methods to, say, get around trees and less desirable terrain, it’s not something you want to practice right at the beginning. One should know from video games that muscle memory, good or bad, can present both strengths and problems down the line. You really need to learn it straight out, and by golly did I ever NOT learn how to do it right.
Also, one often forgets the physical nature of golf. You wouldn’t imagine it from watching the sport, given that it often involves people in polos and khakis hitting tiny balls with a club, then slowly walking/driving to the next location! Still, you need a lot of force to drive the ball to reasonable lengths, and that can take a whole lot out of your arms. That’s not to mention that hitting the ball often requires the whole body, since you need the torque from your core muscles to swing accurately! Add in the occasional “I hit the ground, now my arms hurt a whole lot”, and things can turn sour quick. Obviously, continually driving balls exacerbates this effect greatly, but you do need a sort of endurance to (in heat and fatigue) continue to hit shots well. I work out pretty consistently, and my whole body ached after playing. I, apparently, used some muscles and body parts I didn’t know existed.
Even with all this, I found the experience highly enjoyable. There’s a great feeling in hitting that ball just right – I’m not sure whether golf ball and club companies knows this or not, but a well-placed shot gives a distinctive “crack” that pretty much marks a shot as great or below the standard required. That occasional occurrence, especially when you see the ball simply fly out there, makes you want to consistently hit in the exact same way. Still, I can see quite a barrier of entry right here! It’s enough to just get the ball up in the air, let alone with accuracy and then trying to direct your ball’s path towards a putting green. All in due time, I suppose!
I’m not sure if I can really “recommend” much of anything, but if there was any sport I underestimated, it’s probably this one.
