Seeing a thread about Bubba Watson wearing his Richard Mille while golfing (or Rafael Nadal wearing his while playing tennis) got me thinking about wearing one of my Omegas while golfing as well. Can you guys think of any potential damage that could occur to the movement from the force of a golf swing? Or am I totally overthinking this? For reference, I would be wearing a DSotM or ST1. Thanks for your help!
Manual wind watches are safer for impact sports, simply because there's no large weight to fling around inside. I play tennis with an automatic watch on - a Watchco SM300. I've also played with my 1971 Speedmaster, and on occasions with a Nomos Tangente, and I forgot to change watches once and played with my JLC Master Compressor Memovox once. All on the non-dominant hand, so less forces at play than if it were on my racquet hand. Golf I don't do, but likely the forces are greater in golf if you hit the ground with the club. Personally it would be a no for me, but lots of people do it.
I just leave it in my bag when I play. Phil Mickelson has worn a Rolex Cellini Prince for most of his career, but I don't know if he changed a watch per week, and I guess breaking a 10k$ watch wouldn't change his life
Haha, yeah he carries $10k in cash everywhere he goes so this probably isn't a concern for him. After doing some research there seems to be an equal number of opinions on both sides. There was an article on Fratello in 2017 that seemed to indicate that Omega's official statement was that it wouldn't cause any issues with the movement. https://www.fratellowatches.com/watches-and-golf/
Keep in mind professional sportsman are being paid to wear those watches. I mountain bike and would never wear a mechanical watch doing that, so really its a no for any high motion sport. I recall there is a video of a KISS drummer playing with a standard Ball mechanical and then a Ball Springlock. The std model lost several minutes due to the extreme movements(the Spring Lock version only lost a few seconds). BTW, back in 2010 Richard Mille had Nadal wear sensors on his wrist during practice sessions in order to record force and movement. Nadal’s serve alone measures between 800 and 1,000 Gs. He broke the first 6 prototypes of the RM027 Tourbillon they wanted him to sponsor and wear during play.
I don’t like wearing a watch while golfing. Feels weird and gets sweaty. My friend just got a Submariner and his short game has gone. I said the 5 pounds of steel has thrown off his balance
You definitely bring up an interesting thought, that the comfort could be the biggest detriment. I have never tried wearing one while golfing and wanted to know if it was even an option before trying it out. It is definitely possible that I wouldn't like the way it feels (similar to why I don't wear my wedding ring).
I wear my Glycine Combat Sub (shoutout to dougiedude) on a NATO strap when playing golf and leave the Submariner home. But I do wear the Sub when playing pickleball, which like tennis, the left arm (if you're right handed) doesn't get involved in any real force.
I don’t wear a watch when playing my sport, but as that sport is boxing, it’s hardly a surprise. For running and cycling I use a Garmin - far more useful.
I'll be staying tuned in for other opinions, but I've been wearing my Speedy on the course, mainly because I'm still in that 'wow, I finally have one' mode. Maybe it's time to get a G-Shock for the links
+1 and I’ll add that a loose watch (on a bracelet) distracts my swing as it slides up my wrist. A watch that’s right on my wrist restricts my ability to break at the top of my swing. But I sometimes still wear one... so I have something to blame for my miserable play.
This is a big part of it for me, I just love to wear it so much I want to find a way to wear it all the time!
I completely agree with this, and I've found that a watch on a strap (DSotM or a Speedy on the Silver Snoopy strap) stays in place really well.
I only put the watch on to take a wristy. I never take an actual swing with it on. Too uncomfortable!
Ive worn my Seamaster for Golf over the last 19 years or so. Its only been in the last couple of years when i have bought other watches that i have started to remove them to play. It certainly didnt seem to ever cause it any accuracy issues during that time.
That’s what Quartz watches were made for. Used to wear a TAG link quartz when I used to play golf. ( discovered fishing where you pretty much take a cooler full of beer on a boat for the same amount of time and don’t have to walk anywhere ) Wear a quartz Luminox when swinging a axe and chopping wood camping and never had a issue.
