Improve televised golf

So I know this is about half the discussion of the NLU podcast, but I had an idea for improving golf on TV that I don’t think I’ve heard before. On approach shots, draw a virtual ring (like the first down line) around the hole at the average proximity a Tour pro leaves it from the approach distance he’s facing. The viewer has immediate knowledge of whether the shot he’s seeing gained or lost strokes—and whether the announcer is speaking nonsense about a golfer “expecting” to get it within 10’ from 100 yards.

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I love this. Throw in a mute button (or unemployment) for Faldo and Nantz and show actual golf shots. Winning combo.

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This makes way too much sense, so they won’t do it :joy:

Azinger is perhaps the worst offender in this department :man_facepalming:

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You’re right! I completely forgot Azinger because he’s just so forgettable.

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I got tired of Johnny’s routine at the end and was ready for him to be gone. Azinger makes me want Johnny back.

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Johnny being gone is the only reason I didn’t include him. He was so unwilling to concede that anyone has possibly ever done anything better than he did it. He and Jack’s “back in my day” nonsense.

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I love the idea. Jon is probably right that it won’t happen but the use of technology in TV golf coverage has increased for the better in recent years.

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Could also add things like make percentage and average leave for putts on the green.

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Love this idea! I think if Fox still had broadcast rights to some events we would see it happen sooner, I feel like they were always trying something new and adventurous.

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They give make percentages sometimes, but rarely inside 10 feet it seems. 1% make from 60 feet isn’t worth showing on the screen

I’ve seen a few 8 footers with about 50/50 which is promising

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But then Azinger can’t enlighten us about how tour pros are hitting it inside a 3-foot circle from 150 yards :upside_down_face:

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Fox had the best visuals, but it looks like they cost them too much money. Also, they had Joe Buck calling golf :grimacing: - seems like we can’t get it all!

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Love this idea. Also I always laugh when I hear the expected shot and disappointment when they knock it to 15 feet from 100 yds, And then in a greenside bunker or rough, they talk about how this shot is almost impossible, and inevitably the ball ends up a couple feet away.

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I’d take Miller/Azinger/Faldo 100 times out of 100 over Joe Buck.

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I love shot tracer, so the more they can do that, the better.

Bottom line, show more golf shots. Less walking, lining up putts, etc.

I like the idea of the “playing through” thing they do with commercials, but it just doesn’t seem to work. With the smaller view and no sound, it’s hard to tell what’s going on anyway, and if something consequential happens, they should go back and replay it after commercial.

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Yep! Was gonna say that - if you took out a stopwatch and timed… commercials vs looking at commentators vs tee shots vs putting + setting up for putting + reading the line for putting vs regretting else … I’d wager you’d see some numbers that might (or might not) surprise you…

I really like the idea of more on-screen visuals - add interest and context - as long as it doesn’t come with even more analysis/armchair coaching!