Playing by the rules...is it enough?
 

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/de...rn=golf,216497

Food for thought.....

If there's no rule against it, then it's not only legal, it's fair.

Depends what you care about.

Rules in professional sports are meant to be followed to the letter, as any tiny little advantage makes the difference. So, if you want to win at all costs and make those sponsors proud, you HAVE to take the rules to the edge.

If you're one of those hopeless romantics who play sports for other reasons, there's that thing called the spirit of the rules, and those take precedence. But who does that nowadays...

Amateurs. And I say that knowing full well the meaning and origin of the word. Professional sports are played for money. It's business.

I only bring it up because interesting parallels can be drawn between golf and kendo in terms of shiai, other than the paycheck part....

Golf is still considered as a gentleman's sport....

I answered based on that assumption, really. As most people practicing Kendo are not looking at paychecks or prize-moneys we can actually stop to think wether we want to follow the letter or the spirit of the rules.

I wouldn't be doing it if not for the spirit. I generally see it as bad sportsmanship to try to bend the rules and find loopholes all the time.

They're whining because no one likes Phil. He routinely gets "guy I'd least want to be paired with" in polls of PGA players. I'm surprised though that 10 year old technology was good enough that the grooves are worth it compared to all the other advances since then. Interesting article, thanks.

Oh - as it relates to Kendo - I agree with Abramo.

While kendo certainly has "sportive" aspects, it is not a sport. I don't think many folks would be overly concerned about the "spirit of golf."

And when it becomes a sport, and all that matters is pushing the rules in order to win, it won't be worth bothering with anymore.

-Charles

While I agree that it is within the rules and should be allowed until the PGA bans them, I think the similaritry stops there. I think in kendo we dont really look for "spirit of the rules" we look for "spirit" period.
and to the best of my knowledge back in the day no one died at the end of a golf game. BUT, the would increase ratings and I might watch and or give a SH*& about golf. I make a lousy scotsman in that respect.

How do you think rules on shinai tip diameter came to be? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

I think that for a wedge, the ability to stop the ball on those rock-hard tour greens would trump everything else. It's not like they're looking for more distance out of their wedges.

Exactly. If the PGA dont like it.....theyll nix it. I didnt know about shinai tip diameter. But its sounds like the same deal.

That's a good point, plus I suppose they could fit the heads with modern shafts.

Playing by the rules isn't enough...It's the only thing. At the end (beginning?) of the day you have to be able to wake up and look yourself in the mirror.

If you don't have a conscience, that's really not an issue...