I’ve played quite a few sports growing up, and am recently trying to learn golf. There’s quite a bit of technique involved in a golf swing and then I got thinking “how do we know this is the right/most efficient way to swing?”. Same thing for a hockey slapshot, diving, etc. Who comes up with the “proper” technique and why is it standardized? Does it come the best performers, and then everyone mimics (like the famous high jump technique)?
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The thing about sports is that it always evolves. Techniques that were the thing 20 years ago are now seen as not viable. Someone tries something new, it works out, then others also try. It’s “right” because it’s been tested against other methods. In 20 years the techniques we have will similarity be outdated.
Let’s look at combat sports. Prior to heavy gloves, boxers would aim more at the torso since punching someone’s face with your knuckles would destroy said knuckles. Then once gloves became widespread you see a lot more hits to the head. Additionally, over time the jab became more prominent as it allowed boxers to find range and set up punches due to changes in stance and where their arms were positioned.
Additionally changes to tastes and rules can drive technique. Like look at fencing. In the 1980s and 1990s epee was seen as the defensive only weapon, where people would sit around and wait for the other person to go for a touch. Now it’s much more aggressive in terms of footwork and timing.
So basically, everyone is trying to experiment to get one up over the other guy, and what makes technique “right” is determined by how much you win within the rule set.
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