Thoughts on 'Bomb and Gouge’ Era

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By Diego D

  • 1 Like
  • 32 Replies
  1. Diego D

    Diego D
    Miami, FL

    After watching 'Bomb and Gouge’ players such as Wolff and DeChambeau manage to score under par up until Round 3 in the US Open, do you find it amazing or would you rather delight yourself with Oosthuizen and English and their more traditional course management style?

    Only time will tell; the ball still has to go in the hole.

    What are your thoughts on the 'Bomb and Gouge' Era?

  2. Is that a TT yardage book which DeChambeau’s caddy is using?

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  3. JC-B
    Perhaps he borrowed it from Trevor P from Brentwood (regular contributor on TT UK&I), though Trevor's is more of an ostrich leather number....
    JT
  4. Joey L

    Joey L
    Walnut Creek

    JCrowder-Barton said:

    Is that a TT yardage book which DeChambeau’s caddy is using?

    Post Image

    I saw that too.. I think it’s just his personal Tim Tucker lolgo.
  5. Andrew A

    Andrew A
    Charlotte, NC

    I am not a fan o fthi sstyle at all and I fear the next generation will all be on this train.
    Ugh!
  6. Hi Diego:

    I have to admit I am old school. I would love to see the bomb and gougers play with equipment, balls and clubs, from 30-40 years ago. I doubt they would try and play the same style.
  7. Mark J

    Mark J
    Charlotte, NC

    honestly couldn't care less. play the game however you feel works best for you or if you play competitively by whatever method you think will get you the win. I do me and you do you.
  8. Dechambeau has put the final nail in the ‘taking golf seriously is a form of cheating’ coffin.

    I have so many friends who have glaring faults but never speak to their pros, and they’re the self-same people who turn up and tee off without so much as a practice putt and then whine about double-bogeys all the way around.
  9. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military
    Every era had it's Bashers and Gougers. It still comes down to the flatstick. I had to turn off the TV sound of the "talking heads" to enjoy the Open. With all the TV technology and 20+ people searching, Harris English's lost ball in a flat, wide open area was a black eye for the Tour.

    Deno
  10. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    Well they've been bombing and gouging for years... And been trying to "Whomever Proof" courses as well. You cant really sop it unless you roll back equipment, mainly the ball as Jack has been requesting for 20 years! Not a fan of BAD, but it was mostly gouge as Rory and a few others outdrove him in length and accuracy. Guess his gym routine paid off. I dont see an answer!
  11. Military
    At the end the only successful bomb and gouger was Bryson , as he was the only one under par. Dustin and Rahm could not handle the rough. I think Bryson was the winner because of his putting.

    Semper Fi
  12. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    I really loved the days when physical strength was not as important as the skill to maneuver the ball. The days when someone like Corey Pavin could compete with Davis Love. My fear is that golf will go the way of men's tennis. From a sport fun to watch with long volleys and great shots, to the power serve aces with no returns. Since making courses longer is not working, maybe we need to shorten them and cut down the rough so at least everyone in the field has a chance. The big hitter will try to drive every green but will likely get into more trouble than the short hitters who now can play their driver, short iron game. I don't mind that the field will be shooting lower overall scores, the best golfer that week will still be the winner.
  13. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    The PGA is not on board with the USGA on cutting back distances. Who gets the (paying) crowds excited? It's the bombers as if they were Stephan Curry tossing 3-pointers. The USGA can restrict driver length to 43 inches for competition and leave the 45.5 inches available for us mere mortals. That will fix the USGA Open and the PGA can choose to ignore it at pro events. Courses don't need to be lengthen to try to "Tiger-proof" the sanctity of a par score for a course. Making more par 4 hole drive-able is what the crowds, not the purists, want. Just add some more water next to greens so the risk of driving a par 4 has real risk. Bunkers are no big deal to the pro's.

    It's already not the same game I play. Let'em grip and rip it w/o lengthening the courses. Yankee Stadium didn't get rebuilt with 500 feet down the left/right field lines. Why should golf go to 8000 yards for the supermen in logo'd sportswear?
  14. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military

    Don O said:

    The PGA is not on board with the USGA on cutting back distances. Who gets the (paying) crowds excited? It's the bombers as if they were Stephan Curry tossing 3-pointers. The USGA can restrict driver length to 43 inches for competition and leave the 45.5 inches available for us mere mortals. That will fix the USGA Open and the PGA can choose to ignore it at pro events. Courses don't need to be lengthen to try to "Tiger-proof" the sanctity of a par score for a course. Making more par 4 hole drive-able is what the crowds, not the purists, want. Just add some more water next to greens so the risk of driving a par 4 has real risk. Bunkers are no big deal to the pro's.

    It's already not the same game I play. Let'em grip and rip it w/o lengthening the courses. Yankee Stadium didn't get rebuilt with 500 feet down the left/right field lines. Why should golf go to 8000 yards for the supermen in logo'd sportswear?

    Take every other tooth out of the rake.....

    Make it a real penalty if you hit the ball into a grandstand (see latest LPGA Major)...

    Do something with the ball...

    Shag the rough up a little to limit roll...

    Actually enforce slow play...
  15. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    I like the idea of more creative ways to punish poor shots up around the grandstands. Long at 17 at TPC Scottsdale is in the hazard. The winner of the ANA chipped in on 18 to get into the playoff after hitting a backstop with no stands - just the water hazard. If I played that hole long, I'd be dropping 4, playing 5 further from the hole. A drop zone with an awkward attack angle to the pin as punishment if you are up against stands?

    Better athletes are the problem. I can't blame them with the millions at stake. Longer courses, shorter balls - none of this disadvantages the better athletes to equalize with the shorter players. They will be shorter still as well. Jack was longer than just about everyone else on tour, I don't see him volunteering to return any of his trophies for having more athletic skill.

    These guys are going to be prone to long-term injury. So are professional football players including early dementia. If the choice was kicking around the Korn Ferry and the PGA for 3-5 million in a 10 year career or 30-40 million plus endorsements on a stellar PGA career, why not go for it?
  16. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    If it works for them then it works for them. But I don't think it can be sustained for decades, maybe years but not decades.... IMO



    DM
  17. Bentron

    Bentron
    Fort Worth, Tx

    I find hitting driver then 60 degree to the green is more enjoyable than anything else on the golf course.
  18. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    Bentron this was the best answer ever!!
  19. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    Bomb an gouge is the dumbest term ever. I dont like that its called that. Doesn't make any sense. I personally dont root for Bryson, but what he did is unbelievable. It takes just as much skill to hit it that far and that straight as it did to hit some bolata. He chipped an putted just as good as anyone else as well. That wasn't cause of the ball. Its ridiculous to think we have a "problem" in golf because 1% of the 1% hit it "too far". These guys are good. thats all that it is. If the USGA wants to take our game and make it go backwards then they are leading the death march of the game. Play on a saturday morning at a muni and see how many ppl think its easy to "bomb it an gouge it."
  20. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    When Bobby Jones was asked to comment on watching a young Jack Nicklaus play at Augusta he said "He plays a game with which I am not familiar with", as Jones watched Nicklaus crush drive after drive and hit long irons with amazing accuracy. This was in the early 1960's. Nicklaus could hit the ball 300 yards with a persimmon driver and steel shaft.
  21. Darron K

    Darron K
    Fate, TX

    It's not a TT scorecard holder. Tim Tucker.
  22. Gsoup

    Gsoup
    Nashville

    Regardless of the the type of swing or the game you play, you still have to execute. The rest of 98% us are still trying to get into the sub 80 club on a regular basis with our 250 yard drives. No ball or equipment change is going to get me into Brysons league.
  23. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    There have always been bombers out there for their eras and always will be. During the Tiger's reign he beefed up and there was talk about his increase in size. With his size came issues later in his back and most like Bryson will face the same thing. The back can only take so much torque. Like mentioned earlier, even Jack was bombing persimmon woods with steels shafts over 300 yards in the early sixties but without the muscle mass. Cheating is not a word I would place on physical conditioning. If he were a football/baseball/basketball player we would be praising him for his condition to improve his ability in his sport, but as a golfer his is breaking away from tradition and hitting the ball too far and with too much strength. We have always asked ourselves, can golf be tamed and maybe the answer is maybe a little, with more hard work and conditioning. He tamed Winged Foot and now some are questioning him. He played great golf. Let's give him credit where credit is due. But with that could come a price down the road, because the back can only take so much. How many of you love to watch the long ball competitions? Those guys are pretty well conditioned and can move a golf ball. Bryson is different as was Big John Daly when he first came out an all everyone talked about was how far he hit it and wanted to follow him. Give this kid a chance and let's see what he can do. In today's society it is all about drive for show, putt for dough. Life is about choices and which route you choose is up to you. I like the middle of the fairway. With respect to all opinions. Cheers.
  24. I'm torn. As a younger golfer I love when sports that are traditionally less "athleticism" based begin to start valuing strength training and sports science. However, I completely understand why some don't particularly enjoy it. At the end of the day, the game has seen several players who've changed the way its played over the years. Some are welcomed more than others.
  25. I may be wrong here but years ago I remember the USGA did something to the grooves of the wedges in order to take some of the spin that was being produced away from the players. Wasn't that a result of an increase in length and then having wedges into the green? If I'm right it would seem as though the pros figured out how to gouge with the "new" grooves. So regardless of what the USGA does, someone will figure out how to get past it.

    I know that bifurcation of the rules is a taboo subject, but I feel that the rules people should finally realize that there are two different games and create two sets of rules. One for the pros and a reasonable set for the rest of us. I don't want them to dial back the ball I use just because DJ, Rory, Bryson and the rest can hit it 330 yds. At 72 yrs. old I'm lucky to get 210/220 yds so I sure don't need a shorter ball ( with all due respect to Mr. Nicklaus).

    Mark F
  26. Lance P

    Lance P
    Hillsborough, NC

    As Chuck repeated the "drive for show, putt for dough" saying I believe Bryson actually putted better than anyone at Winged Foot. It wasn't all brawn and power. Some finesse was involved and credit must be given.
  27. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Lance P said:

    As Chuck repeated the "drive for show, putt for dough" saying I believe Bryson actually putted better than anyone at Winged Foot. It wasn't all brawn and power. Some finesse was involved and credit must be given.

    Bryson is a well rounded golfer. He has pushed the envelope and he is reaping the rewards of his hard work. When others have gone home after their rounds he is on the range working on went wrong that particular day. I call that dedication to your profession. I enjoy seeing good golf and he has been entertaining and shot some great scores. I cannot wait until the masters. Think this puts him in the mix with that putting stroke. I will be watching him, JT, DJ, and John Rahm.......oh what the heck could be anyone......at least they will not have to worry about rough.....not allowed at the Masters......it's all placing the ball in the right spot on the green and getting it to hold, and putting, putting, putting.......in the pines, in the pines where a winner never shines......should be fun.
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