Technology and sport.

[johntheexpat]

So, Alain Bernard is the first man to swim 100M in under 47 secs (although 4 french swimmers actually achieved it in the same event) but now there is considerable controversy surrounding his new swimsuit.
France 24
BBC sport

It rather got me wondering, should there be limits as to what science can do? Obviously jet packs in the swimming togs are a no-no, but a costume that makes it easier to glide through water?

But then where does it stop. Golfers have clubs which are specially designed, cyclists spend a fortune on their bikes, sharp shooters have special weapons and sights, the list is endless.

Should we say, this is the kit you are allowed, now do your best with it because its a level playing field, or should we allow technology to push the barriers, because eventually everybody gains from it although those with rich sponsorship deals benefit first?

[IAN P]

I though this suit had been deemed ilegal by the swimming governing body?

And weren't there certain football boots outlawed because they were thought dangerous.

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by IAN P

And weren't there certain football boots outlawed because they were thought dangerous.

...like those worn by Pepe at the weekend?

[BlackCountryBob]

I have always thought about tennis and wondered how many of todays top players would still be around at the top if they were forced to use wooden rackets rather than the graphite ones they use currently. Same for footballers if they were using the old orange heavy balls as opposed to the nike things which weigh less than the plastic bag they are delivered in.

I guess the thing is, technology has changed the way sport is played. Graphite rackets have seen tennis become much more physical and power oriented from the baseline rather than volleys from the net. Same for football, it is much faster and you have to think that players would be slower and also less able to play the number of games in quick succession if they were expected to use 60s era balls.

The fact that the original technology with which the sports were founded has been replaced so it would be odd to draw a line and say this is the line and 2009 tech is the line for all eternity. I guess some limits would be nice to establish a fair playing field (especially in tech oriented sports such as cycling) so everyone had the same but this really needs to be allowed to move on but at a pace and price with which every competitor can afford.

[LFC_SL]

Athletes have progressed alongside technology. You cannot talk about wooden rackets without forgetting Nadal is the fittest guy on the circuit, and the biggest fighter as well. Murray spent the off-season training in the Miami heat.

As for football, they can only play around the fringes. Nice boots do not make up for God given ability

The technology argument only really applies to vehicle sports (motor racing, boats of whatever kind) and limited others like swimming and cycling. In any case you have to remember humans are incredibly inefficient swimmers in the first place so of course there is a lot of give with regards to costumes

[BlackCountryBob]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Athletes have progressed alongside technology. You cannot talk about wooden rackets without forgetting Nadal is the fittest guy on the circuit, and the biggest fighter as well. Murray spent the off-season training in the Miami heat.

As for football, they can only play around the fringes. Nice boots do not make up for God given ability

The technology argument only really applies to vehicle sports (motor racing, boats of whatever kind) and limited others like swimming and cycling. In any case you have to remember humans are incredibly inefficient swimmers in the first place so of course there is a lot of give with regards to costumes

But the point as I see it is, if players were still using wooden rackets, would it really matter about Nadals high level of fitness. He could not really play the same kind of baseline game as he does now because he could not get the power into a wooden racket and the area on the strings is so much smaller from where he could get a good contact. It is true that the top players would probably still be around minus the technology because they have the drive and the talent. However, in a tennis game which relied on serve volley to succeed it is not outside the realms of possibility that despite their effort that another player would be top dog because he is just more able to play that kind of game.

Technology has changed the way sport was played. The effect maybe more pronounced in motor sports but it is very short sighted to consider it not an effect in other sports. Talented people will always rise to the top but plenty of talented people drop off because there talents may not be in the areas which can help them beat the top guys but 30 years ago it would have been a very different story.

As for footy boots are just a small example. How about the weight of the ball, grass technology to make it shorter and more dense, ProZone and other stat and player tracking programmes. Tech does change sport, new tech has changed most sports in some way usually making it a faster game by showing players to be more efficient. It is not a bad thing but it is truth.

What could Jack Nicklaus have done with the current style clubs Tiger uses and maybe more importantly, what would Tiger do with the clubs from the 70s? He would probably still be top dog but how much would he have to change to account for the reduced drive length of perhaps as much as 40 yards.

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by BlackCountryBob

However, in a tennis game which relied on serve volley to succeed it is not outside the realms of possibility that despite their effort that another player would be top dog because he is just more able to play that kind of game.

It is the same for everyone, so not quite as extreme as a swimmer turning up with a new skin tight outfit

Another thing though is that the courts have changed. Grass these days suit the baseline game much more. That's not to say you cannot succeed with a serve-volley game, after all Fed-ex has been one of the finest exponents in recent years, but it is less of an advantage when the guy on the other side is chasing every ball down. You just have to be a much more complete all round player now
Nadal won the Aus Open playing the semi in the longest Aus Open match ever over 5 sets, then two days later won the final in 5 sets. Mind boggling

He's 22 years old and unfortunately for Fed-ex, its entirely likely he will set a record for slams when he retires. Let's just enjoy the priviledge

[markonline1]

Originally Posted by BlackCountryBob

What could Jack Nicklaus have done with the current style clubs Tiger uses and maybe more importantly, what would Tiger do with the clubs from the 70s? He would probably still be top dog but how much would he have to change to account for the reduced drive length of perhaps as much as 40 yards.

Jack Nicklaus was more than capable of hitting a 300 + yard drive in his day even with the equipment he was using. The general length in todays game has obviously been offset by much longer courses. I think if anything, if todays players were still using 70's equipment, Tiger would be even more dominant. The modern equipment IMO gives the 'journeyman' a better chance of performing well whereas if everyone were still using blades and persimmon woods, the pure ball strikers like Tiger would be far more dominant.
I think as well, although technology in golf has obviously helped length, players are far fitter and health concious than they were 20 odd years ago. Do you think Brian Barnes even knows what the inside of a gym looks like