Netflix Sports Documentary Craze: Is Viewer Fatigue Setting In?

For the third season of Full Swing, premiering on Netflix this Tuesday, the producers are doubling down on the winning formula that made the show a hit in 2023.

This season is a big year for the series and the ever-expanding world of behind-the-scenes sports documentaries. The big question is, can these kinds of shows keep viewers engaged in the long run? Will people stick around for yearly sports-themed series, or will one-off projects tied to big events and stars be the way of the future?

“This season will really put that idea to the test,” said Chad Mumm, executive producer of Full Swing, in a recent phone interview.

After last season’s focus on the heated competition between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, leading up to the Ryder Cup, this season will once again highlight the personal stories of individual golfers.

“I think that most casual viewers aren’t all that concerned about the state of professional golf,” Mumm explained. “They just want to meet interesting characters and get a glimpse into the wild traveling circus and glamorous lifestyle of pro golf. So we really made a conscious effort to get back to that this season.”

The first episode, which was the last to be completed, is “our best advertisement,” according to Mumm. This year’s premiere includes behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of Happy Gilmore 2, along with plenty of real-life drama from 2024 to showcase. From Scottie Scheffler’s $100 million year and unexpected arrest to Rory McIlroy’s reconciliation with his wife after a divorce filing, there’s no shortage of compelling stories to follow. Mumm also predicts that viewers will be drawn to Neal Shipley, the low amateur at the 2024 Masters who played alongside Tiger Woods on Sunday, much like they were with Joel Dahmen two years ago.

“It’s easy to fall into the trap of only focusing on the top players or strictly following the ups and downs of every big victory or defeat, but what we always stress to our filmmakers is that it’s all about character, access, and authenticity first,” said Gabe Spitzer, VP of sports at Netflix. “As each season unfolds, it becomes even more important to ask: What will surprise viewers? What will get them talking and keep them coming back?”

Six years after Formula 1: Drive to Survive premiered, no other show has quite matched its impact in the same format, despite numerous attempts. Shows based on surfing and tennis each lasted for two seasons. A cycling show centered around the Tour de France won’t go beyond its third season. Even Peyton Manning couldn’t get enough player buy-in for a second season of Quarterback, showing just how challenging it can be to sustain the momentum of a sports docuseries.