WSJ: “Athletes Are Conquering Distance. Sports Will Never Be the Same"

Thanks to reader John for Ben Cohen and Joshua Robinson’s look at the long distance movement in several sports under the headline, “Athletes Are Conquering Distance. Sports Will Never Be the Same.”

The story looks at the efforts of marathoner Eliud Kipchoge to use technology to refine technique and tactics, the increase in basketball’s three-point shots, baseball fastballs and golf. Not surprisingly, the focus is on Bryson DeChambeau’s physical overhaul and the tools he has used to get longer.

It’s not just DeChambeau. The average carry distance for drives on the PGA Tour a decade ago was 268 yards. This year it was 280 yards. DeChambeau’s was 314 yards.

Darned agronomy!

Dustin Johnson’s comments on optimization were used in the context of the piece and as the primary reason golfers have outsmarted the rules.

The solution is not to make the courses longer, Johnson said, but to make them more varied. The golfers have too much sophisticated technology at their disposal for architects to play defense. Their drivers are larger and lighter. Their balls spin less and fly straighter. They can drill their mechanics to the point of perfection. “It allows people to completely optimize their golf swing and their equipment,” Johnson said.

Check out the full story here.