The golf ball that made golfers too good

Golf's distance debate, explained.

These days, pro golfers are hitting the ball far. Really far. And it's creating a problem: because modern golfers can reach the hole with fewer shots than before, older courses -- like Augusta National Golf Club, Oakmont Country Club, and others -- are becoming obsolete. Now, professional organizations, like the United States Golf Association, are struggling to find a solution for big powerful golfers like Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, and Tiger Woods. While the jump in distance is due to lots of factors, conversation is centering on the controversial possibility of redesigning the golf ball to reduce distance. It'd be the latest turn in the ball's long history: Golf balls have evolved from "featheries," to gutties, to balata balls, and eventually dimpled modern balls. But the biggest, and most recent change? The almost-instantaneous switch from wound balls to solid core multilayer balls like the Titleist Pro V1.

A previous version of this video contained an audio glitch at 2:35. The error has been corrected.

[Vox]

Happy Friday everyone, thanks for watching our vidyas!

[Keely]

Have they tried installing a windmill? or perhaps a small moat with castle?

[chezmix]

Golfer: performs insane shot
Other golfers: “we need to do something to stop this”
This is why golf is a boring sport

[ilikegamestoo]

100 years later...

Golfer: **taps ball**
Ball: **Flies 400 yards**
Golfer: Oh god dammit!

[personalemail]

This is only really a problem for elite golfers. Average golfers have more flaws and the obstacle have more of an effect

[Cornwall]

That hole is also a bit easier for Bubba because he’s left handed

[graafixzgaming]

The 13th hole at Augusta national golf club is just that wii sports golf course why has nobody noticed

[mlg_lame]

Graphic designer: what kind of thumbnail would you like?

Vox: Yes

[devvydoesstuff]

Imagine getting kicked out of a championship for being too good

[HaitianHero]

That Bubba shot was the shot everyone would try to hit on Wii Sports Golf.

[javagoblin]

I've never picked up a golf club in my life, and yet, I'm here. idek.

[Andrew-svck]

Worker at a PGA course here. We recently fixed an issue like this on one of the holes by moving the tees up about 40 yards and making it a par 4 instead of 5. Much harder hole now.

[shakotanstyle]

Lmao bruh at 0:49 they use a sound clip of a driver hitting a ball, but the club that Bubba Watson is using is an iron

[RickShielsPGA]

My favourite part of this video is at 3:16 🤣🧔🏻

[Lcwtex]

I was a caddy In Michigan when the prov1 was released. These balls were five dollars a ball in a sleeve. I thought it was absolutely crazy that people would spend five dollars on a golf ball. But when I saw the difference in flight and distance this golf ball could provide. I saw my golfers handicap drop a little

[seanpark]

4:32
“Players are overpowering golf courses made in another era”
The par 5 is 615 yards
Bruh

[EsculatedPingu]

How do you go about finding random news articles about golf from 1936?

[chilling-boy]

Bubba Watson sounds like a new star wars villain

[davidbuschhorn]

My golf instructor said, "If you can hit a 250 yard drive, you can compete with the pros *_IF_* you never more than two-putt."
I spent more time on the practice green than on the driving range and my game improved a *_lot._*

[couldbeanybody]

Graphic designer: how would you like the thumbnail?

Vox: *yes.*