Golf Channel New Technology
New swing technology analysis coming to the Golf Channel
It appears the Golf Channel is going high tech for the 2008 season and beyond. Starting in January, the Golf Channel will begin using a software made by Interactive Sports Games that will track a player’s tendencies such as ball-landing coordinates and spin rates. In addition the system will show its viewers visual analyses of a golfer’s tendencies such as ball flight, and side-by-side looks at how different players approach the same hole. It will include multiple views of swings and ball movement. Sounds like CBS Swingvision on steroids to me.
Before they get all freaky on us, maybe the Golf Channel should stick to basics first. Like how about showing tournaments until their end. And how about more live shots and less highlight packages. One of my biggest peeves about watching golf is not being able to see the tournament or at least the leader’s rounds from beginning to end. These two hour segments are just brutal. You can’t get a feel for how a player is playing if you’ve cut in mid-round. The absolute worst is the leaders are heading into the final two holes and then the coverage has abruptly ended for infomercials. Show us the whole match until the end.
As for the new technology here. I think it’s a good idea, but I’d rather see it as a compliment on the Golf Channel website. If I want to see a player’s tendencies, I want to be able to control who I see, what I see and how I see it. I don’t want a cookie-cutter thing that the Golf Channel has selectively chosen to feed me. If I want information, I want all of it.
My final gripe with the Golf Channel, stop subscription services. I’ve never been a fan of subscription content. I don’t consider myself cheap but I don’t pay for content. I feel content should be free. Information shouldn’t only be available to those you have money.
Well, it’s Christmas so I guess I should end my rant there.
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