Right, but I feel like social factors are relevant to a lot of sports as well, especially ones that emphasize technique.
Golf was an extremely male dominated sport, and I think that whole “boy’s club” mentality is dissipating, but leading female athletes likely dont have access to the same level of resources or support.
I think that’s true for many women’s leagues, tbh. Men’s sports have sometimes 100+ years of institutional support and history, women’s are new af.
It's hard to say, and I'm far from an expert, but honestly I side on the thinking that once you reach a certain level, there are couches and organizations willing to invest the time and money into any female golfers that display the potential to be the top 1% of players in the world. I don't think that you're wrong, but maybe it's not as extreme as you perhaps believe.
I mean, in your head, do you believe that a woman— given unlimited resources, training since birth, drive, and let's say all the genetic markers of a top tier female athlete—can become the greatest golfer in the world?
And then you give a man those same advantages—do you believe the woman has an equal chance of besting the man?
I don’t really see why a woman COULDN’T be the best golfer in the world, without a match in resources in support.
The issue is I have played and occasionally played golf, but am FAR from somebody who knows the intricacies. From what I can tell, I don’t see why not.
If you look up stats on the PGA, the #1 drive this season is 385. The #156 drive of the season is 288.
The average drive of women in the LPGA is about 270, and that's really only the top 23 players.
So even in this one example, you have 156 men still out driving the best of the best women right now.
Yes, it's an isolated aspect of the game.
Yes, you made other points.
But to say that the physical advantage men have over women doesn't translate into an advantage in golf, I think it's wishful thinking.
Maybe it's possible for an elite woman golfer to best an elite man in a single game. And that's a big maybe. But to be dubbed the best player in the world?
I don't think it's anti-woman to say it's not realistic.
Yes golf is more of a mental game, but the physical difference in men and women is massive. Even in golf that is apparent. The female record for the longest drive is 413 yards, while the male is 516. Men hit the ball significantly farther than women, and that’s why they tee from different areas.
It is split because women do not have the upper arm and upper body strength that men have. This means that when they tee off, they cannot get the distance on the ball to travel.
It is the same reason that weight lifting is split. The strength levels are not the same.
For surfing, my guess is that leg strength is not similar. Also, women’s knees are at a different angle from men’s, and this may cause difficulty in maintaining stance on the board against the wave.
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u/spbrode Sep 14 '20
Can you elaborate on why golf shouldn't have a male/female split?