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The relationship between technology and athletes of different skill levels is complex and changes depending on the sport and the political landscape of its governance. Some technologies that make the sport easier and may be deemed to compromise the challenge may do so for only those developing their skills. Balls that reduce hooks and slice like the Polara golf ball had minimal impact on the professional golfer who was less often plagued by such inaccurate shots. Some technologies like the large-head tennis racket make a huge impact on the recreational market and struggle at the professional level. Other technologies like the Ping golf club, are proven successes at the visible professional level and then spread into the recreational market.
Elite athletes have, by definition, a different skill set from recreational athletes, thus, technology policies that differ for the elite and the recreational athletes could still preserve the core challenge of the sport. The problem with differing standards is philosophical, political, and financial. Philosophically the rules, including technological regulations define the sport. Thus if the rules were different, they would philosophically be playing different sports. Politically, in the cases where different organizations govern professional and recreational (PGA Tour and USGA) different rules often exist which may or may not be good for the sport. Financially while the recreational athlete buys the bulk of the equipment it is often the visibility on the elite athletes that drive sales. Thus, if technology existed that pros were not permitted to use, it would require new and creative sales and marketing strategies.
• Costs of Wood
• Composite ski revolution
• Spaghetti controversy
• Touring pros and the spaghetti racket
• Banning the spaghetti strung racket
• Problems with Wood Rackets
• Pros and Steel
• Spalding Smasher – aluminum racket
• Prince Racket
• Prince as Business Success
• Prince and the Professional Player
• Prince Pro
• Golf ball standard
• Polara ball and the integrity of the game
• Pros and the Polara
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