We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

Can Golfing Make You Deaf?

Discoblog
By Nina Bai
Jan 9, 2009 12:58 AMNov 5, 2019 8:47 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Golf might seem like a relatively safe sport, but a new report in the British Medical Journal suggests there's a hidden danger: hearing loss. Turns out, the loud thwaak! of the new thin-faced titanium drivers is about as loud as a gunshot or firecracker—loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage. British doctors first tuned in to the problem after a 55-year-old male patient sought treatment for mysterious tinnitus and reduced hearing in his right ear. The doctors confirmed that his symptoms matched those of noise-induced hearing loss, although the man's occupation didn't involve loud noises. The puzzle finally came together when the man revealed that for the past 18 months, he'd been teeing off with a King Cobra LD titanium driver three times a week. But the sound from the club had become so irritating that he'd already ditched the club. The doctors also found other golfers online who'd had similar complaints about the "sonic boom" created by the new drivers. To investigate the agents of "golf ear," the doctors recruited a professional golfer to whack golf balls with six thin-faced titanium golf drivers and six standard thicker-faced stainless steel golf drivers, while a sound meter measured the noise levels. The titanium drivers were noticeably louder, and all six produced noise impulses greater than the 110 decibels considered safe for the human ear. The loudest, the Ping G10, reached 130 decibels. Some experts suggest that the boom may have little to do with the actual performance of the drivers and are specifically engineered to give players a more satisfying sound. The doctors plan to continue their research at the 2009 British Open. Meanwhile, they suggest earplugs for frequent golfers. Related Content: DISCOVER: Fairway Physics Discoblog: What's in a Name? Real Diseases Suffer From Silly Name Syndrome

Image: flickr / mhofstrand

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.