|
|
From a poster (shown), golfers estimated the size of the hole by selecting one of nine black circles, ranging in size from 3.5 to 5 inches (9 to 13 cm). In reality, the diameter of a golf hole is 4.3 inches (10.8 cm). CREDIT: Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger. |
Did Santa bring you one of those thin-faced titanium, long-distance drivers to put in your golf bag? Did he also leave behind earplugs?
A case study in last month's British Medical Journal warns against the possible damage to a golfer's hearing from the loud "clank" sound made by these clubs when they hit a golf ball.
Dr. Malcolm Buchanan, an ENT specialist at Norfolk and Norwich
University Hospital in England, was diagnosing a 55-year old man who
came into his clinic complaining of unexplained tinnitus and reduced hearing
in his right ear. Their hearing tests confirmed that his symptoms were
similar to those experienced after exposure to loud noises.
They ruled out other age-related hearing issues but he did complain about the loud noise his King Cobra LD driver made whenever he teed off. He had been using the club for the last 18 months, playing three times per week.
Buchanan, an avid golfer, had also heard these clubs on local courses and decided to investigate.
In addition to his patient's King Cobra, he gathered five additional titanium-faced drivers,
including brands like Callaway, Nike and Ping, along with six
stainless-steel faced drivers which represent the previous generation
of club heads. Placing a decibel measuring device 5.6 feet away from
the club head, the sound levels of each club were recorded as a
professional golfer hit three balls per club. The safe limit for these
types of impulse noises to the human ear is 110 decibels.
All six titanium drivers produced sounds greater than the safe limit
with the Ping G10 topping out at 130 decibels or similar to a gunshot
or firecracker. These new generation thin-faced clubs were also louder
than all but one of the thicker-faced stainless steel models. See the full results here.
"Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce
sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage
in susceptible individuals," Buchanan concluded.
Before he can recommend ear protection for all golfers, Buchanan would
like to expand his study, by testing the hearing of professional
golfers at the 2009 British Open. In the meantime, you can continue to
annoy your foursome with not only the sound of your new driver, but the
extra yards you'll be walking to get to your tee shot on the fairway.
MORE FROM LiveScience.com
Image Albums
Countdowns
Topics
Infographics
