Why are hockey players good at golf?

[Fishboy*]

I understand the similarities in swinging a hockey stick vs swinging a golf club, but in reality it's not even close. The difference in grip really throws things off. I'm decent at golf, but it's a very mental game where even the tiniest thing could throw everything off. When I play hockey (or even baseball) for a while, it completely wrecks my golf swing until I practice to get it back.

Why are they so attracted to golf? Why not Tennis or Baseball or any other sport?

 

[sepHF]

I don't know about everyone else but growing up I always played hockey all winter and golf all summer. Clubs and sticks are somewhat similar tools so I can see why it attracts hockey players.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Idk i play hockey tennis and basketball

 

[Paris in Flames]

Both are rich man sports - entirely possible a lot of them got into it early.

 

[Yourself]

As noted above there are a few reasons.

1) Golf was the summer sport with hockey being the winter sport. Basically 90% of the people I grew up with and played hockey with also golfed.
2) Both are richer sports. Maybe moreso in Canada (golf prices in the states are wayyy cheaper than here) but yeah not cheap to do either one.
3) I will just state this, but I am pretty sure these NHL players would be good at almost any sport they play. Professional athletes are just that good at sports.

 

[Bieber fever]

Low risk injury white people sport

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Status sport.

 

[Elvs]

Hockey players aren't good at golf because they play hockey. They are good at golf because they golf.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Because they have the summer off and aren't allowed to play many other sports.

 

[tacogeoff]

Fun offseason game involving driving a cart, drinking beer and standing around socializing with friends between shots. City courses are overpriced but ones outside of the city in smaller towns are very realistically priced. good? I am sure some are good, I have played with a lot that are not...but then again none of them made the nhl....so there is that ha

 

[Frank Drebin]

Never got the appeal of golf.

 

[puckpilot]

As mentioned, these are elite athletes. If they put their mind to it they can become pretty good at almost any sport. Maybe not elite but pretty good.

I'm far from an expert, but it seems there are overlapping skills, like hand-eye, weight shift, head positioning, and turning the core of the body to face your target, which are important for swinging a hockey stick as well as a golf club.

These are sports that don't necessarily over lap in season and in intensity. Don't get me wrong, golf can be as intense as any other sport, but for someone just out with a bunch of team mates for fun, they can just relax, have a couple of wobbly pops, and hack away without over taxing their bodies.

And if they're enjoying golf, they have the time and the money to spend at the range and on instructors that most average people don't.

 

[1specter]

Both are rich man sports - entirely possible a lot of them got into it early.

Very true. Seems to be the old rich white Canadian family tradition. Spend fall and winter on the ice, spring and summer on the greens.

 

[Not So Mighty]

They're aren't choosing golf because they're naturals. They're playing golf because it's not a contact sport and you don't have to run AKA less risk of injury.

 

[Steve]

Little chance of being injured and it's also played during their off season.

 

[TopShelfYzerman]

Lot of practice hitting spherical objects with their shaft

 

[Sojourn]

Hockey players aren't good at golf because they play hockey. They are good at golf because they golf.

I really feel like it's that simple.

If you get enjoyment out of something as a hobby, aren't you going to put in the time and effort to improve? Plus, let's face it, these guys are natural athletes, with the reflexes, conditioning, and hand-eye coordination to go with it. Many of them likely grew up playing multiple sports.

That type of athleticism is pretty universal, even in very different sports/activities.

 

[Straight Fire]

Golf is pretty much the funnest sport on the planet.

If I could afford it I'd probably play 4 or 5 days a week (at different courses).

 

[Syckle78]

Lots of professional athletes across all sports are good at golf. Probably because they're professional athletes and also have the time and money to focus on honing their skill.

 

[GerbeSonOfGloin]

I understand the similarities in swinging a hockey stick vs swinging a golf club, but in reality it's not even close. The difference in grip really throws things off. I'm decent at golf, but it's a very mental game where even the tiniest thing could throw everything off. When I play hockey (or even baseball) for a while, it completely wrecks my golf swing until I practice to get it back.

Why are they so attracted to golf? Why not Tennis or Baseball or any other sport?

Risk of injury is too high for most other offseason sports, I'm guessing.

 

[Machinehead]

Athletes being good at multiple sports is just very common.

 

[coldhands]

We ain't talking about the game. We talking about practice. Practice!

Literally, lots of time to practice during the offseason. And money, golf is expensive.

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Excellent hand-eye coordination with a stick

 

[Ozz]

Happy Gilmore theory, I guess.

I've never golfed, but I have visited a driving range. As basically a lifelong hockey player, I was able to drive the ball like a m'fer from pretty much the get-go. I don't have the patience for the actual game though.

 

[Fear the Wushu]

As mentioned, these are elite athletes. If they put their mind to it they can become pretty good at almost any sport. Maybe not elite but pretty good.

I'm far from an expert, but it seems there are overlapping skills, like hand-eye, weight shift, head positioning, and turning the core of the body to face your target, which are important for swinging a hockey stick as well as a golf club.

These are sports that don't necessarily over lap in season and in intensity. Don't get me wrong, golf can be as intense as any other sport, but for someone just out with a bunch of team mates for fun, they can just relax, have a couple of wobbly pops, and hack away without over taxing their bodies.

And if they're enjoying golf, they have the time and the money to spend at the range and on instructors that most average people don't.

No they are not elite athletes... We use to call the kids who played hockey or soccer in high school the kids who couldn't cut it in football, wrestling, etc.. Sports that have a much larger talent pool who are all much faster and stronger than hockey players. Most of these dudes in the NHL combine have pretty pathetic showings and don't even look like athletes.

It's the same talent pool as sports like Lacrosse where kids in rich towns play it but outside of that is not really popular. Just stating the truth here but I know I'm going to get some major criticism.