Pro golfers wearing power bands are delusional and irresponsible

Why are so many professional golfers still wearing wrist bands that have been deemed a scam?

At the British Open in July, it was suggested that around 25% of all players (and caddies) were wearing some form or another of the power balance wristbands. Just watching recent golf tournaments on TV, I’d be inclined to say the number is probably much higher. More like 50% of the field.

Power Balance admitted their wristbands have no scientific basis at all and the Australian website of the charade has now been shut down. The tricks used to show their magic has been shown to be nothing more than applied kinesiology in a number of online videos; the most famous and succinct by Richard Saunders. In short, any enhanced performance from these pieces of plastic is only due to the placebo effect.

So what is going on? With access to the best technology, physiotherapists and psychologists, why are so many professional golfers still wearing them?

Any professional golfers who are wearing the wristbands expecting some magical process to help their balance, increase their power or help their ball striking, are simply delusional. But some golfers may actually be well aware that the rubber bands do nothing more than induce the placebo effect, and are simply wearing them for that very reason.

But you don’t need a $50 power band to get the placebo effect. 

Fuzzy Zoeller got the placebo effect from a coin, Tiger Woods used to get it via a red shirt on Sundays, and Jesper Parnevik gets it from just about anything, having more superstitions than a Stevie Wonder song.

Golf equipment will also induce the placebo effect of course. We all know how great it is to have new clubs in the bag and the feeling that your golf game will be better for it. And sometimes it is, which for the most part is due to the new equipment itself, but you also get the added placebo effect, free of charge.

But at least there is some element of physical truth to new golf equipment. Longer shafts, more dimples, softer cores. There is possibly even some truth to the new white drivers giving better performance due to better contrast and depth perception as you look down at the ball.

Like Tiger’s red shirt, the placebo effect can be very real if you just go out in a new pair of pants or a nice-looking shirt. But at least these things don’t pretend to be anything other than what they are. Apart from only one instance, I can remember, no golf brands have tried to sell shirts, clubs or balls based on holographic, ionic or natural frequency nonsense.

Paid endorsements
But in addition to Power Balance admitting their wristbands do not work in the way they were promoted, they have also admitted to paying athletes to endorse and wear the products. This works as a clever marketing ploy, enticing non-professional athletes and their kids to fork out for the $50 wristbands.

I don’t have a problem with promoting aesthetically pleasing pants, golf bags or bracelets for that matter. But when they are paid to knowingly promote products that do not work in the way they are promoted, this is irresponsible.

What’s the harm?
The harm is predominantly in a golfer’s pocket. Weekend and junior golfers are forking out $50 for what is nothing more than a rubber band.

It astounds me that professional golfers, with access to limitless resources and the best psychologists in the business, would resort to such superficial nostra. Whether professional athletes like it or not, they are looked up to and emulated by kids who watch their every move. And while a $50 plastic wristband is a small change to these guys, it’s the price of a golf lesson for your weekend hacker.

 

There is another, potentially more harmful problem that leads to a very slippery slope. Once one form of quackery is acceptable for elite athletes to sell to the unknowing, much poorer masses, where will it end?

Take back responsibility
Like it or not, Tour golfers are in a position of influence. Take for example the charity work some of these guys do. Some of them play charity events or take time out to help raise money for some truly great causes. The time and money invested for medical research and assistance to those suffering is truly understated.

The first thing many of them should do right now is to ditch the plastic and show that golf success is not something you can buy based on quackery.

Golf fans can then save the money for something that can actually help their game. A golf lesson, new shoes, or a brand new red shirt perhaps. On second thought, maybe red isn’t the best choice right now.

7 thoughts on “Pro golfers wearing power bands are delusional and irresponsible

  • Here, here, well written AG. I think we should send this to every pro athlete on the planet and try to educate them! This powerbalance band nonsense is the biggest scam in sport, I always wondered why you only wore one? Why not one on each hand, surely that would be balanced….right?! Or why not get a whole outfit made of the stuff and become “Superpower Balance Man” you would be unstoppable!!! Oh and the reason Pro shops and sports stores are happy to spruik this junk…..out of the $50 retail price they make loads and loads, how do I know that, I asked a good friend of mine who owns an outlet, it’s all margin folks! And thankfully here in Aust. it’s been outed. Now an end to all this nonsense…..if we could just get athletes to stop thanking God for their win, as that must have been the most important thing their god had to do that day….!

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  • An excellent summary on a topic that has effected more than just the golfing arena. It make you wonder what other forms of “quackery” sports men and women have tried over the lifetime of their careers. I bet there is a plethora waiting to be exposed…hmm now there is an excellent idea for a documentary. Could be quite entertaining.

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  • The sad thing is people are bought by these shenanigans. I still see these bands advertised and they are not cheap. Here in the UK they retail at £40 which is damn well outrageous for a pathetic coloured band which does nothing.

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  • I think it’s just a fashion statement. I wear a similar type of band myself but not for the scientific benefits as I know there isn’t any.

    For me it’s just for looks as I don’t like wearing watches. I think for the pro’s it’s just for show as well.

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  • I think you’re right Troy. I just wish they were marketed in that way then. Like the ‘Live Strong’ bands. They had a charitable cause behind them but never claimed to do anything but show your support and look good!

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  • These golfers have their belief which is surely wrong and doesn’t have any significance on game they play..If they are wearing this for fashion then its fine but if they are wearing it for improving game then i don’t understand how its possible

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  • I spent a great deal of time to find something like this

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