Why Should Golfers be Concerned with Hearing Health?

If you’re a regular golfer, you know that swinging the club and hitting the ball with just the right amount of force and at the right angle is an intricate skill.   

Golfers may not realize how much their hearing is used in the game. Here are five ways that better hearing can help you while playing golf. 

1. Hearing the Clubhead Hit the Ball 

Every experienced golfer knows that perfect hit. It’s when you hear the sound of your clubhead striking the ball at just the right spot. The scope and precision are usually guaranteed when you hear that sound.    

Being able to hear that strike is also necessary when you don’t hit the ball correctly. Learning from that mistake lets you make adjustments for the next shot. This is critical in order to chip and put, where you want to focus on skill rather than the force of the strike. 
 
2. Socializing during the Game

Playing the game with others is a huge part of golf culture. Coming up with a strategy, heckling, and mingling with each other is part of the fun. You may even run into other people that you know, or meet new people, in other parts of the course.

All of these instances require communication, so it’s important to have good hearing.

3. Would You be able to Hear a Warning?

Being on a golf course can pose a danger at times.  

The common, and most obvious, one is the possibility of being hit by a golf ball. The person who strikes that ball will hopefully shout a warning if the ball is headed towards anyone. 

Then there are the less common risks of encounters with animals - like bears or rattlesnakes. 

4. Walking the Course and Balance

Hearing loss can affect a person’s balance, and golfing requires good balance. Poor balance can lead to missed shots, falling from throwing your club, or an accident involving the golf cart.  

5. Focusing on the Game

It takes a lot of concentration to play golf. That’s why brain health is so important. We’ve mentioned many times how poor hearing can impact cognitive abilities. One study reported that seniors with hearing loss had a 30% to 40% higher rate of cognitive problems than peers who did not have hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid can significantly reduce cognitive decline by nearly 75%.    
  
Thin-faced titanium drivers started becoming more popular in 2009. The sound of some clubs hitting a ball has been known to cause a very loud noise, so if you prefer using these clubs you should probably also wear hearing protection. Earplugs are a simple and discreet way to do this. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.

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