Mickelson's wedge

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birdieman

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Bit of a furore developing in US golf where it is still legal to use pre-1990 u-groove ping wedges but only in USA and Mexico despite u-grooves being outlawed for Pros now worldwide.
I'm a big fan of Mickelson but I am very disappointed in him 'taking advantage' of an obscure lawsuit from years ago.
Watched him play that low shot from the rough that checked so fast and partner Glover stood there shaking his head - not good. Scott McCarron even called him a cheat.
The club has been re-shafted with a project x shaft and a new decade grip - not like he is playing it as it was found in a dusty garage.

On another note is was a fabulous shot to watch and I think this groove rule is all wrong. Rules are rules however and utilising this Ping loophole will taint Mikelsons reputation in my opinion.
 
I think the powers that be should have exhausted all there avenues before bringing in the rule.......While im not in favour of what michelson is at i think that he is doing it to highlight the holes in there armour......It is a joke though that a club that was used 20 years ago has had such an impact on the present situation......I think that they'll be back to the drawing board monday morning......
What will really stir things is if he wins with that club....The headlines will be interesting.
 
I was under the impression that a few more of them were using the same wedges. I know JD has some.

Rules is rules and if he isn't breaking them then I think it is unfair to call him a cheat, but then it did come from Scott McCarron.

Big fan of his too and enjoy shots like that one.

It is an interesting point with these clubs but would appear that there is nothing the USPGA can do about it.
Do the U grooves on the ping wedges put more spin on the ball than the illegal Square grooves??
 
Do the U grooves on the ping wedges put more spin on the ball than the illegal Square grooves??
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have thought quite as much but way more than the new v ones.
 
If I was Mickelson I'd be inviting McCarron out the back of the lockerooms for such a slur.
It sounds like sour grapes because they didn't think of doing it as well.
Rules are rules. None were broken. I don't see what the fuss is about.
I can't remember anyone calling Tiger a cheat when he got 6 members of the gallery to move the boulder in Arizona.
 
Outrageous.

Is the club legal?
Yes
Whatever the reason for it being legal it is legal.
Are 460cc drivers legal?
Are balls that spin low of the driver and high off the wedges legal?

He's done nothing wrong and is just utilising the rules to his advantage - something every other PGA Pro could do. Sometimes the rules work in your favour.
Idiots like McCarron should get the brain in gear before opening their mouths.
 
Mickelsons such a wizard around the green with these wedges its hard to criticise him, its up to the USGA to sort out this loophole. Picking on players isn't fair.
 
Why does Mickelson, who is the worlds No.2 player, need to use a loophole in the rules to gain an advantage over the other players on the PGA tour?

He's a class player and if he put his mind to it could easily mater the new grooves. To me it just shows how insecure these top players are even when they have a talent the rest of us mortals would die for.
 
Rules are rules. If its legal, its ok. Its not as if this isn't a level playing field, anyone could use them.

Scott McCarron has made a very expensive error of judgement in saying what he did. Its going to cost him one way or another. The man's an idiot for thinking he could publicly call someone a cheat and there would be no repercussions.

Ping must be loving the free publicity.
 
This has a relevant quote or two. I think it's from The Canadian Press :

After a dispute with USGA, Phil Mickelson goes with square-groove Ping wedge
By Doug Ferguson (CP) – 3 days ago

SAN DIEGO — Phil Mickelson has been one of the strongest critics of the USGA's new regulation that bans square grooves, so it was not surprising that he became the latest player to put the Ping-Eye 2 lob wedge in his bag.

The Ping wedge, which has square grooves, is not affected in this new era of V-shaped grooves because of a lawsuit Ping filed against the USGA that was settled 20 years ago. Under the settlement, any Ping-Eye 2 made before April 1, 1990, is allowed.

Some have said players using the Ping wedges are violating the spirit of the rule.

Mickelson doesn't buy it.

"I've sent in grooves that are legal but have not been approved for play," he said. "And I feel like the Eye-2 grooves are not legal, or don't conform, but they are approved for play. And after talking about it to the tour and the USGA, the only thing that matters is, 'Are they approved for play?'

"So I don't feel that there's any problem if I were to play those clubs or if anybody else were," Mickelson said. "All that matters is that it is OK under the Rules of Golf."

Mickelson isn't alone.

John Daly has been collecting Ping-Eye 2 wedges over the last few months and used them in Honolulu. Ditto for Dean Wilson.

Among other players using the Ping wedges are Brad Adamonis and Hunter Mahan, whose caddie found the beryllium copper wedge that Mahan is using at Torrey Pines.

Mickelson had several wedges from when he played Ping clubs at Arizona State as a freshman. He is only using the lob wedge, which he had Callaway bend from a 60-degree to a 64-degree club.

Lefty said he believes he will pick up even more spin this year in his other wedges because he said Callaway was "fractionally more aggressive" with the V-grooves, and he is using a slightly softer ball.



Nothing to do with loopholes.

Golf is the most 'rules is rules' game out there. He's been open and discussed it with the relevant bodies, so where's the problem ?
 
Who would have thought that you'd rather pick an old Ping wedge over a nice new (shiny-shiny) Vokey wedge.... I mean, swinging a breeze block on the end of a stick ain't pretty.

I have even more respect for Mickleson now as he can actually get a Ping wedge to stop on the green!

I'd like to see Ping actually back down from their lawsuit and allow the PGA to remove them from the Tour, after all it has been 20 years and they've had their 20 years worth.

Anyone know what decent NEW Ping wedges are available? I quite fancy some :)
 
In the good old days people had integrity but that has been relinquished in order to rebel against the institution that made this game great. Why in Gods name did they not just stipulate that all tour players MUST use V shape grooves.
 
Scott who ? he'll be one of the guys who makes a million $ a year and never wins anything ,i think its a case of the green eyed monster ,Mickelson saw the loophole and used it to his advantage like a good pro would,as said before its like Tiger with the bolder in the desert.
 
Sorry but I'm with Scotty. A legal loophole has allowed the use of this wedge, nothing else. If the USPGA had enforced the law properly this situation would never has raised its ugly head.

The wedge is illegal everywhere bar the US and was it Mexico? Phil wont be allowed to use it at the Scottish nor the Open when he comes across the pond, nor will he be able to use it in Asia.

If every player on the USPGA Tour took Phil's stance it would just prove that the players are bigger than the ruling body and they can do what they like. Enforcing a grooves ban was meant to be for the better, not for players to flaunt it and legally cheat!
 
The grooves are outlawed by the ruling body. This wedge is only still legal due to a loophole and a law suit from 20 years ago.

If the USPGA had enforced the rule properly this situation wouldnt have arised. The USPGA have made a backside and as such players like big leftie are comming the Noel Hunt!
 
Surely the PGA should go to Ping and ask to change the ruling to only apply to amateur golfers and that the ruling will apply as is, for amateur's in the future. That would mean that the clubs would be legal for amateurs to use forever more even when the v groove ruling changes to take in amateurs after 2024 or later.

The club would the be over 30 years old and club and ball manufacturers would have got round the problem by then anyway.
 
Craw....explain how you can legally cheat?! :D

The club is legal for the competition he is in at the moment so he is using it....when he comes to The Open he won't,no cheating there is there?

Ya talking oot ya arse like ya pal McCarron. ;)
 
The grooves are outlawed by the ruling body. This wedge is only still legal due to a loophole and a law suit from 20 years ago.

If the USPGA had enforced the rule properly this situation wouldnt have arised. The USPGA have made a backside and as such players like big leftie are comming the Noel Hunt!
Click to expand...

Sorry but the grooves in pre 1990 Ping Eye 2 Wedges are NOT outlawed. They are perfectly acceptable under USGA sanctioned events. No rules are being broken by anyone in utilising these wedges.

Scott McCarron should be careful about throwing the word "cheat". Why on earth do you care so much about what legal club Mickleson uses?

Regards
 
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