The Open coverage

[Sportswatcher]

Surely its not just me that thinks the the ball coverage into the greens is terrible. The ball has usually come to a halt before the cameraman starts to focus on it (if at all) after blindly shifting around 'looking' for it. Most golfers want to see the ball flight and bounce as it moves on to the greens, but this coverage is less than average. 

Do SKY subcontract out the camera work to the same guys who cover the football? Don't they understand that golf is played with a somewhat smaller ball!

[lettice]

The coverage for the Open is done by European Tour productions along with Sky Sports and the R&A.

European Tour Production also works along with IMG Media.

ETP also produces and distributes coverage of the DP World Tour, the Open, Ryder Cup and all of the DP World Tour plus some of the  PGA TOUR events that are outside the US.

That partnership has been doing Golf for more than ten years, so I think they know what they are doing.

You could try contacting ETP (not sure how to do that, leave that to you) or send an email to the Sky Viewer relations team to pass on your comments;
[email protected]

They do respond to emails with any updates for your queries or problems.

[nigea99]

---

@Sportswatcher wrote:

Surely its not just me that thinks the the ball coverage into the greens is terrible. The ball has usually come to a halt before the cameraman starts to focus on it (if at all) after blindly shifting around 'looking' for it. Most golfers want to see the ball flight and bounce as it moves on to the greens, but this coverage is less than average. 

Do SKY subcontract out the camera work to the same guys who cover the football? Don't they understand that golf is played with a somewhat smaller ball!

---

hi @Sportswatcher 

I don't know specifically for this weekend's coverage but I have spoken to crews at other golf events who had been working  a few weeks before at that Year's open.

I suspect it will be the case this year - they use the same company & crews that tour with the DP World Tour in Europe, so are likely to be very experienced at covering golf.

I guess for the Open, where coverage is longer and probably covering more holes at any one time, there may be some temporary camera crews who are less experienced but I don't know.

I think like many sports, they do have to rely on their experience on where the ball will go - seeing a small golf ball in the viewfinders may not be the easiest for many shots. Personally I find most coverage is spot on and I am amazed at how well they do cover such action - especially from the very high platforms where the zooms must be mostly working near their maximum (I think these will be some of the most experienced - let alone brave - crew).

Edit : I see @lettice  has given a more up to date perspective whilst I was typing

[BHP1]

I agree. 

Many times the camera is just focusing on the green, with no indication where the ball is.  

Usually coverage is very good, but for this coverage, when the ball is coming onto the green, from a drive or lay up, the coverage has not been good.