Strong Opinions
In defense of ... bold sunglasses
BRIGHT FUTURES Clockwise from top: Vontélle Eyewear The Lenox Avenue Green, Ria Eyewear Model One Semi-Rimless Shield Golf, Tumi 514 Classic Clubmaster, Ralph Lauren Automotive Pilot
It's a bird! It's a plane! It’s a golf ball coming right at you that you couldn’t see because of harsh sun!
OK, sure, that’s a pretty rare occurrence, but it might be time to switch from your overkill of hats to one trusty pair of sunglasses. It’s a hell of a fashion change-up—we understand the hesitation—but what if this is what you need to finally break 80?
Check out all of our "Strong Opinions": In Defense Of ... Shorter Shorts / In Defense Of ... Baggier Pants / In Defense Of ... Not a Blue Blazer / In Defense Of ... Loud
Non-polarized sunglasses (polarized can distort vision, which is the last thing you want) don’t just boost your sight and depth perception on the course to help you play better now. They can even help you play longer as they will hold off cataracts, macular degeneration and sun damage.
Rickie Fowler has become synonymous with the look despite the potential fashion faux pas. “I always struggled with seeing more than, say, 150 yards and little things far away,” the six-time PGA Tour winner said. “I saw that I wasn’t squinting as much, I wasn’t stressing my eyes as much, especially with it being bright out, too, especially in Florida, so I said, ‘Shoot, why don’t we try prescription?’ Now I can actually see the ball land.”
Fowler is one of many—recall David Duval and Annika Sörenstam—who have transitioned to the sunglasses world and for good reason. A Golf Digest experiment run by Sports Vision Optometrist Dr. Craig Farnsworth backs up the switch. Our testers could see “sharper”—as if they had a slight prescription—experienced less dry eye and found their green-reading skills improved, especially with a color tint. If you’re wondering, warmer hues like rose, amber and brown lenses work best to see the course clearly while also spotting the ball in the air.
Looks like the decision’s been made for you. Find the sunglasses that fit your style (and face) and play some great golf. It might take some time to get used to, but we all deserve to have it made in the shades.
