Do Titanium Golf Clubs Cause Hearing Loss?

Could golfers soon be sprouting ear plugs on the green?

According to a report in the British Medical Journal, the noise made when a titanium golf club hits a ball is loud enough to damage a person’s hearing.

Dr. Doug Chen, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Allegheny General is not quite convinced.

Chen said the article in the journal was a case study involving one man. He said the man noticed a problem with his hearing after playing golf and after testing was found to have some hearing loss.

Researchers recreated the situation and measured the sound level of a titanium club hitting a ball.

The noise level was 130 decibels.

So just how loud is that?

The noise made by conversation is 40-60 decibels. A jet engine 120 decibels and the sound of a high powered deer rifle is around 170 decibels.

The loud, high-pitched sound of a club hitting the ball is called an impact noise.

That is a one-time sound that is loud. Chen said it could be troublesome for a person who may be susceptible to a hearing problem.

Chen said an impact sound is more harmful than a continuous noise. He said hair cells in the inner ear can be disrupted and even cell death can occur.

Chen says more tests need to be performed before golfers should get to concerned and if a player is worried they can always wear ear plugs.