Biggest gap between professional & enthusiast?
Discussion
TheFungle said:
I've played golf a grand total of twice in my life, second time was at a 'good' course in Ireland where I was invited to tag along and I have to say I didn't disgrace myself, several holes I shot on par and played (some) better than my vastly more experienced companion, of course I'm trying to say I'm some sort of prodigy 
but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.
I thought you died on 17th December last year? I was rearry rearry sad and ronry. but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.pablo said:
Snooker. it never fails to amaze me how accurate the pros are, when they make it a mistake everyone is surprised.
This was my first thought...Darts is in a similar position. Whilst it is possible to debate the definition of "sport", and I don't want to start that, the level of skill in these sorts of things only come from epic amounts of practice.
I would say that the more popular the sport is, the more participants and therefore the greater pool from which pros are drawn. So a popular sport will have relatively the best pros.
So I go with football.
And from anecdotal experience of playing football all my life in various local teams, I would say that most Sunday league players would get murdered by a professional team.
So I go with football.
And from anecdotal experience of playing football all my life in various local teams, I would say that most Sunday league players would get murdered by a professional team.
Zaxxon said:
TheFungle said:
I've played golf a grand total of twice in my life, second time was at a 'good' course in Ireland where I was invited to tag along and I have to say I didn't disgrace myself, several holes I shot on par and played (some) better than my vastly more experienced companion, of course I'm trying to say I'm some sort of prodigy but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.
I thought you died on 17th December last year? I was rearry rearry sad and ronry. but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.FloppyRaccoon said:
TheFungle said:
FloppyRaccoon said:
TheFungle said:
I've played golf a grand total of twice in my life, second time was at a 'good' course in Ireland where I was invited to tag along and I have to say I didn't disgrace myself, several holes I shot on par and played (some) better than my vastly more experienced companion, of course I'm trying to say I'm some sort of prodigy but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.
You've played twice in your life? What did you shoot? No chance a normal person could compete with the pros. but golf to me seems possible that on the right day a 'norma' person could compete with the big boys.I'd agree with the suggestion of golf. It's how consistently close the pros can stick it next to the pin that amazes me. And that's on the hardest courses in the world. Tiger broke 80 by the age of 8, I still struggle to do that more than once in a while at 20.
The point I was trying to make was that as an absolute beginner I could thrash my way round the course and still not be a million miles away from being close to a good score.
Even 10 shots is a lot in golf terms, I don't think someone playing for their second time ever would be within 30 shots of a pro.
The run of fluke shots required for Dave Normal-Golfer to shoot 72 off the yellows on his home course (so still miles off a pro in good form) would be literally comparable to winning the lottery.
Then to do it off the back tees at Augusta in front of tens of thousands of spectators, and tens of millions of TV viewers, for 4 rounds on the trot, to write your name in history and win millions of dollars? That'd be like winning the lottery every week for a month.
This year, no, this decade, no, this century, not a single true 18-handicapper in the whole world will play to scratch, despite most of them being capable of parring any given hole on the course. Not even one golfer, not even once. Despite literally millions of attempts.
My lowest ever handicap was 9, which makes me better than average, but still basically rubbish. I've played hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Yet my best ever round out of all those attempts? I played to 6, which would get me laughed out of any professional tournament, never mind a PGA tour event.
The consistency required over 18 holes to beat your own handicap by even 20% is a huge challenge if your handicap is fair.
Zaxxon said:
MotoGp or F1?
On or in the same kit an amateur would be 10-20 seconds off the pace (if they could even ride/drive the thing). And yet the hardest and almost impossible part is the final few hundreths.
Even more so if you look at the old 500gp two strokes.
In respect of F1, I think this is probably a pretty fair reflection of how the average 'enthusiasic amateur' would get on (from about 5 mins onwards)...On or in the same kit an amateur would be 10-20 seconds off the pace (if they could even ride/drive the thing). And yet the hardest and almost impossible part is the final few hundreths.
Even more so if you look at the old 500gp two strokes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo
TheFungle said:
What sport would you guys say has the biggest difference between professional and enthusiastic amateur?
My personal vote goes for top level cycling.
As aforementioned enthusiastic amateur it astounds me just how much speed those guys can carry day in, day out, not to mention their bike handling skills.
Maybe you're just a poor amateur ?, how fast are you? what are your watts etc etcMy personal vote goes for top level cycling.
As aforementioned enthusiastic amateur it astounds me just how much speed those guys can carry day in, day out, not to mention their bike handling skills.
Enthusiastic amateur? what does this mean, fat bloke or top club cyclist and Domestic pro.
Amateurish said:
I would say that the more popular the sport is, the more participants and therefore the greater pool from which pros are drawn. So a popular sport will have relatively the best pros.
So I go with football.
And from anecdotal experience of playing football all my life in various local teams, I would say that most Sunday league players would get murdered by a professional team.
Some sports are so difficult that hardly anyone takes them up.So I go with football.
And from anecdotal experience of playing football all my life in various local teams, I would say that most Sunday league players would get murdered by a professional team.
I am thinking of sports like high jumping and pole vaulting.
At the end of the day virtually anyone can kick a ball around, so yes the pool of players is huge, but at least anyone can take part and compete with pro's.
Pole vaulting for example. Unless you practiced a lot, you wouldn't even get off the ground.
Depends on the sport, a team sport would be easier to 'hide' an amateur. A good sunday league player, assuming they're fit, could play in a League 2 football team and as long as they were well-supported by the rest of the team, might not look too out of place over 90 minutes. Over the season they'd be recognised as not good enough, but they might manage a game, if they're keeping it simple.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
BarnatosGhost said:
Depends on the sport, a team sport would be easier to 'hide' an amateur. A good sunday league player, assuming they're fit, could play in a League 2 football team and as long as they were well-supported by the rest of the team, might not look too out of place over 90 minutes. Over the season they'd be recognised as not good enough, but they might manage a game, if they're keeping it simple.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
That's true.A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
And in sports like athletics, unless you could make the starting height, say 4m.50 in pole vaulting, you wouldn't even be allowed to compete.
superkartracer said:
Regards F1, there are many many amateur karter's club races that could jump in and knock out good lap times , the main prob would be the neck not the actual driving, this would take the most time to sort.
+1I've karted with people who have gone on to do well at other Formulae, even an ex F1 driver. They didn't particularly stand out. At the highest level, the main barriers to entry are financial.
BarnatosGhost said:
Depends on the sport, a team sport would be easier to 'hide' an amateur. A good sunday league player, assuming they're fit, could play in a League 2 football team and as long as they were well-supported by the rest of the team, might not look too out of place over 90 minutes. Over the season they'd be recognised as not good enough, but they might manage a game, if they're keeping it simple.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
I'm not sure I agree. I reckon that having a Sunday League player in a League 2 Side would be like playing with 10 men, or worse. A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
eta
Does anyone remember Ali Dia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Dia_(footballer)
Edited by Amateurish on Monday 16th April 14:02
Amateurish said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Depends on the sport, a team sport would be easier to 'hide' an amateur. A good sunday league player, assuming they're fit, could play in a League 2 football team and as long as they were well-supported by the rest of the team, might not look too out of place over 90 minutes. Over the season they'd be recognised as not good enough, but they might manage a game, if they're keeping it simple.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
I'm not sure I agree. I reckon that having a Sunday League player in a League 2 Side would be like playing with 10 men, or worse. A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
They'd still be the weakest player on the pitch, but it wouldn't be a total non-spectacle like a best of 33 frame match between me and Ronnie O'Sullivan (which would absolutely certainly finish 17-0, less than 30 points scored by me in total).
Amateurish said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Depends on the sport, a team sport would be easier to 'hide' an amateur. A good sunday league player, assuming they're fit, could play in a League 2 football team and as long as they were well-supported by the rest of the team, might not look too out of place over 90 minutes. Over the season they'd be recognised as not good enough, but they might manage a game, if they're keeping it simple.
A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
I'm not sure I agree. I reckon that having a Sunday League player in a League 2 Side would be like playing with 10 men, or worse. A solo sport like tennis, golf or snooker, the amateur would quickly stand out like a sore thumb.
eta
Does anyone remember Ali Dia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Dia_(footballer)
Edited by Amateurish on Monday 16th April 14:02
True enough, he was not very good (ok, he was bloody awful) and as such is an excellent example to support your case. But his Southampton adventure/disaster was at Premiership level, and says more about Souness' gullibility than Dia's football ability.
I'd still opine that a 'safe-and-simple' style Sunday league player with a good engine and half a brain could hide or be carried in a League 2 side for 90 minutes without destroying his side's chances.
After all, scholars from professional sides' youth squads regularly make their league debuts at 9 stone and 16 years of age. They don't all do well, but neither do they all disgrace themselves.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff