Strength Over Precision - has the game of golf changed forever?

It has become very clear that the ‘one method fits all approach’ is not applicable to success in golf and neither is it applicable to the recruitment industry. From market to market, recruitment can vary, where at times volume really can be important. However, as we know, longer distance off the tee doesn’t always produce the best outcome in golf, so too, does a hiring manager when he receives a high volume of CVs for a vacancy. Granted, a hiring manager may appreciate a high volume of applications for the new role of a general manager for example, however, it is the job of the recruiter and its’ agency to refine and condense this number to find the most suitable candidate overall. Recruitment looks to match the individual to the specific role, just in the way that certain golf courses are set up to suit a specific style of golfer - which is better, the longer hitter or the more accurate and precise player?

The second major of the year since the Covid-19 lockdown has attracted a lot of attention due to the style in which the major was won. Bryson DeChambeau averages 325 yards off the tee and it is inevitable that his increase in overall strength, as well as swing speed has attributed to his success.

Golf fans around the world have varying opinions as to whether distance is King or whether the art of precision and accuracy still has a huge part to play in the success of tournament golf. Physique, training regimes, diet and advanced technology all continuously contribute towards the promotion of distance - the further and longer, the better.

It’s not very often that a professional golfer would feature in world renowned ‘Men’s Health Magazine’, in-fact Rory McIlroy happened to be the first professional golfer to feature on the front cover back in 2015. Was this the start of an end to the stereotypical golfer? In years gone by, golfers didn’t necessarily train as athletes, with the slight exception of previous generation Gary Player. Player is known to still train in the gym 4 times per week and is notorious for doing thousands of sit ups, running on the treadmill and his weight training regime. All with the common goal of gaining strength to hit the ball further - it has become an obsession. The modern day professional golfer is more than just skill and technique, it has become the lifestyle of a true athlete.

Out-with DeChambeau's training regime he has managed to use the latest club technology to his advantage. DeChambeau believes in each iron being the same length and 10 degrees more upright than the standard golf club - all with the goal of being able to swing faster and hit the ball further. To go one step further, he is now looking at testing out a 47 inch driver, in order to get driving distances consistently up to around 460 yards. Some might begin to question has distance finally compounded the art of precision?

Having said that, DeChambeau recognises that his way of succeeding in the game of golf isn’t the right method for all, he says he is hopeful that it encourages others to say “maybe there is a different way to do it” and that “in general there are different ways to do things”. As a result, golfers should begin to recognise that there are many components which make up the game of golf, driving distance is not the only one. For example, Jim Furyk currently ranks 255th in the PGA Tour’s driving distance, however, he makes up for this in accuracy and precision off the tee with his 5th in driving accuracy percentage. Evidently, playing/competing in golf and hiring within the sport should be viewed subjectively, as there is clearly many ways to reach success.