New grooves rule - YOUR OPINIONS

[NeilTappin]

Afternoon all,

We are currently working on a major report for the January issue that will examine the new groove rule. I'm looking for your opinions related to four specific questions. Our intention is to print the results of this poll.

Thanks,

 

[madandra]

It is about time they stoppped chasing shaddows and focussed on the biggest threat our great game ... the ball.

Ask anyone who has played in a Niblick challenge and they will tell you it is still possible to control a new Pro V1 even with outdated equipment.

 

[viscount17]

as one who finds watching birdie fests boring, seeing the pros work for it (if only marginally) will make it more interesting.

and I am no-way good enough for a couple of millimeters of groove to make any difference whatsoever.

 

[Timh27]

There will be a time between now and the 2024 amateur change where there will be a mixed field in amateur and club competitions where it could be argued the the players with the old style grooves have an unfair advantage over the players with the new style grooves despite it being the players choice. I personally think that the rule change between professional and amateur is far to long and 5 years would be sufficent for amateurs to get the new equipment.

 

[Tommo21]

It is about time they stoppped chasing shaddows and focussed on the biggest threat our great game ... the ball.

Ask anyone who has played in a Niblick challenge and they will tell you it is still possible to control a new Pro V1 even with outdated equipment.

Spot on and they all know it as well...lets change everything else first. It's mad. Who's for an 8000 yard golf course.

 

[EaseNgrace]

I wasn't bothered by the rule change until I saw for myself the dramatic difference in the amount of spin on the ball with old and new grooves. The slow motion image showed the ball spinning twice as fast with the old grooves. I produce a lot of spin for an amateur golfer and im worried that the new grooves will make it harder for me to do this, and a change of approach/tactics for 'mid-handicap' golfer is harder to implement than it is for pro's.

 

[mono217]

I agree with the new groove rule and i dont think it will change my handicap.

 

[Ethan]

I think this is irrelevant to the average amateur, who doesn't hit the ball well enough to impart consistent spin, and who would do better without too much spin anyway.

For the pros, I think it helps distinguish better players who lost their skill advantage when these very spinny grooves started to appear.

 

[LPW]

The pro's have such sweet ball striking do they really need the grooves? Personally I get by without them so they should be able to aswell.

 

[forefortheday]

It is about time they stoppped chasing shaddows and focussed on the biggest threat our great game ... the ball.

Ask anyone who has played in a Niblick challenge and they will tell you it is still possible to control a new Pro V1 even with outdated equipment.

Spot on!

Tons of pro's have said the same thing yet it never seems to be a matter for debate, would be worth knowing how much the "balls" industry alone makes for manufacturers.

 

[Imurg]

I think its a good thing for the Pro game. You won't be able to bomb it into the rough and get enough spin to hold a green. The "flier" will return. It'll make them think a bit more.

As for us, unless you're off low single figures I don't think you'll notice the difference once you start to use the new grooved clubs.
Why?
Because the ball manufacturers will lower the compression of the balls to make it easier to get spin. We won't know the difference.
And anyway who needs backspin when you're 5 yards short of the pin?

 

[Herbie]

I didnt agree with the grooves rule as I dont think it will make a huge difference, they will just compensate with ball choice, or simply just get used to them.


As for the second question, I think it will be a good oportunity to buy gear cheaply.

I dont think the new groove rule will make the slightest difference to my h/c.

As for pro's having the stuff before amateurs, I couldnt care less, I will just wait till I have to own new type clubs before I buy any.

 

[Parmo]

Most of the Pro's are already using them this season and I see little difference.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm hoping to see a real difference, especially on the US tour where its all bomb it and play from anywhere most weeks to give a real birdie fest. Personally I prefer to see the pros having to work for their birdies and to save par so think it will be a good thing. Not sure how much difference it's going to make to a chopper like me but the single figure guys will see a change.

I won't be stockpiling any wedges and will just adapt accordingly when the time comes to change. I actually think for a lot of mid-high handicappers it'll help as we can focus more on pitching correctly technique wise and getting a more uniformed amount of role. Pick a spot and you'll be able to judge the run out better

 

[DMC]

The grooves wont make any difference to my h/cap, as it has been stated the manafacturers will make the golf balls softer and life for the average club golfer will go on as before.

 

[CVG]

I'm all for it. I'm interested to see how the big names will cope with it? Will they be forced to find the fairways more? Lets hope so.

 

[ClarkeCAGC]

Bad decision take off all the limits and let them drive 700 yard par 5s and shot in the low 30s on a par 72!

 

[kid2]

In my eyes i dont see that it will make much difference to these players.....
There ability is so good that regardless of whether they have the old grooves or the new ones they practice so much that they'll still pull off the shots no matter what tool they have in there hand..

 

[GB72]

I agree that the new grooves will make little difference. As posted by many others the real issue is the ball but what chance is there of that changing? How do you Market a ball that is guaranteed to spin less and travel shorter distances. Distance has now become the marketing tool in golf and I cannot see the R&A annoying the manufacturers by taking that away after all driver and ball technology had progressed so far by the time the driver ban came in that it made absolutely no difference in how far people hit the ball off the tee.

 

[Dodger]

As previously posted they need to look at the ball.All this is going to do is play into the hands of the long boys as the pea shooters will be the ones to suffer as these guys will struggle to create any spin whereas the hard/long hitters will still be able to create some spin.

Also those guys, and again this will be mostly the pea shooters, will need to change to a softer ball.It'll be interesting as a lot of these players have never knowing anything but spin!