williamalex1
Money List Winner
If you saw someone[ in a offical comp] using a club you knew was definitely nonconforming.
Would you say to the player or report him ?? .
Would you say to the player or report him ?? .
non conforming drivers / clubs
- Thread starter williamalex1
- Start date
DCB
Well-known member
Yes. If we're talking about drivers here, the list is easily accessible and non conforming drivers are not usually sold in golf shops now unless from the luck dip second hand bin.
Anyone using one knows what they are doing.
Anyone using one knows what they are doing.
Foxholer
Blackballed
I'd certainly query it. With him initially and others later if necessary.
Have you had an incident?
Have you had an incident?
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
The same as a leather wedge in the rough, it needs highlighting. Probably approach player and suggests he deals with situation first.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
If we're being totally honest though who can put their hand on their heart and say they no for certain which makes and models are 100% banned and would they recognise it from a distance? I couldn't. Of course it's against the rules and a FC shouldn't be allowed to use it in a comp but unless every bag is going to be checked on the first tee how is this ever going to be policed properly
Foxholer
Blackballed
1. OP stated 'definitely non-conforming'. I certainly know plenty of the more common ones - and how to tell.
2. Where suspicious, you query it. If still in doubt, you check the lists that are available on-line.
3. First tee checks were carried out at many clubs when it first came into force - and there had been plenty of warning.
4. Anyone want to buy a nice springy TM XR03 head?
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williamalex1
Money List Winner
Yes quite a while back when at my own club , playing with a new member.
Luckily the guy NRd after 6 holes I then told him politely his club was illegal, and he would have been D/Q .
He was quite new to the game, and said he didn't realise it was nonconforming, and said he wouldn't use it again. I knew it was illegal because i had one a few years ago , and had to bin it.
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out of curiosity, having started after they were banned and only having seen sports directs rebel range. How much distance did these drivers give. No tempted, just curious.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
My younger golfing friends 8/9 h/cs were at least 30 yards further, i was about 10 yards.
Foxholer
Blackballed
The difference at that time wasn't a huge amount - 5-10 yards or maybe a tiny bit more. But the limit was set to prevent even higher CoR/CT values being developed.
The XR03 that I used was seriously long though, but, as a 400cc head, it would probably perform fairly poorly compared to the more forgiving 430/460 current heads. The classic 390cc conforming 501TP is great when middled, but there ain't much of a 'middle'!
DaveM
Tour Winner
It has to be hard for a new beginner to know. You fancy having a go. So you pick up some cheap clubs, from gumtree, eBay, or even the local charity shop. You want to spend as little as possible you may not like it and times are hard.
As long as they understand they can't use them in comps when it's pointed out to them. No harm done. If they like the game they will upgrade soon enough. After all look at all the nearly new clubs about, New blood is always needed.
Better to have youngster with nonconforming clubs. Than have them standing on street corners.
So I would politely point it out to them. Explain the reason and leave it at that. But I would also look in their bag at the next comp to make sure they are not in the bag, before thecomp starts. If they were still in then I would report it.
As long as they understand they can't use them in comps when it's pointed out to them. No harm done. If they like the game they will upgrade soon enough. After all look at all the nearly new clubs about, New blood is always needed.
Better to have youngster with nonconforming clubs. Than have them standing on street corners.
So I would politely point it out to them. Explain the reason and leave it at that. But I would also look in their bag at the next comp to make sure they are not in the bag, before thecomp starts. If they were still in then I would report it.
Coatsy79
Q-School Graduate
I panicked when I bought my R580 fairways because the drivers are non conforming but the fairways aren't (something to do with the higher lofts in fairways or something)
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
Not even that straight forward some drivers are still good! Depending on the groove pattern, my nephew has one and I printed conforming list pic off for him to carry in his bag.
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
But isn't a major ingredient of the game it's self policing honesty. It is all of ours responsibility to ensure we played within the rules and if spotting an infringement highlight it?
If we're going to have every bag checked then we'll all need an individual marker following us around on every shot?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Agreed
It's the same principle as the groove sharpeners - it's our responsibility to be within the rules - whatever the rule....
dufferman
Journeyman Pro
I've been playing for a good few years now and could name one non-conforming club - that driver with a heated head cover. Other than that, if someone took out a driver which wasn't your usual TM, Nike, Titleist etc, then I'd just think they've found an exotic brand. I'd not think to check it's illegal!
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Unfortunately the Boom Boom driver is legal - it's using the heating element in the head over that isn't.
LinksTurf
Assistant Pro
Not sure this is really much of a problem now. Drivers with high COR's became illegal in 2008 and the vast majority of people will have upgraded by now. As well as that, new technology has meant the performance advantage of most of those old springy drivers will have been overtaken by the latest models. Certainly my latest (legal) driver is longer and more forgiving than my old non-conforming Big Bertha II+.
I agree it is better to have newcomers use these old clubs than not play at all. Folk need to get into the game to see if they like it without spending a fortune and where you can get these old clubs (becoming increasingly difficult) they are very cheap. Whether a newbies equipment is illegal only really matters in a competitive setting.
I agree it is better to have newcomers use these old clubs than not play at all. Folk need to get into the game to see if they like it without spending a fortune and where you can get these old clubs (becoming increasingly difficult) they are very cheap. Whether a newbies equipment is illegal only really matters in a competitive setting.
Foxholer
Blackballed
That'll probably be a TM one then.
Conforming ones, not otherwise marked, have 2 circles of grooves. Non-conforming ones only have the outer circle. I've adjudicated in one of those discussions a couple of times!
Mastercracker
Assistant Pro
I had a non-conforming TM R580 and it went at least 25 yards further than my current square Nike Dymo 2, which is well overdue an upgrade.
Gave the R580 to my mate who plays about 5 times a year and goes round in about 130. He'll never have any intention of joining a club nevermind playing in a comp.
Gave the R580 to my mate who plays about 5 times a year and goes round in about 130. He'll never have any intention of joining a club nevermind playing in a comp.
