Playing with non conforming irons

[shivas irons]

Just wondered what members here think about playing with non conforming irons.I use a set of Cleveland TA-1 blades that are some ten years old so obviously dont conform to the 2010 groove rule set in place for elite players,thing is there seems to be some club golfers(Ive experianced this) who frown upon the idea that people are players with non conforming irons and think stupidly that they have an "unfair" advantage.Its obvious that with the standard of club golfers the grooves will make little if any difference to their game at all and in fact I would go as far as saying they actually make no difference to even the elite golfers game.An example of this must be Lee Westwood,he plays Ping I10 irons that were regrooved by Ping to make them conforming,now Lee seems to be playing He`s best golf ever(he`s words not mine) with the non advantage V grooves I10`s.Personally I think the R&A are looking pretty stupid now expecting a huge difference in the world of elite golf when in fact it has made no difference to the game at all.And as for club golfers thinking club players have an unfair advantage with their non conforming U and box groove irons.......

 

[User20205]

Unless you are a pro or a top amateur I thought you didn't have to change them until 2024.

Advantage or not (and I don't know if they are) you are perfectly entitled to use them for 12 years yet.

 

[Imurg]

The groove rules don't come into force for us until 2024 at the earliest.
Only Elite Amateur and Professionals have to conform.
The manufacturers only make conforming products now so they don't have 2 sets of everything in the brochures.

Anyone who calls you on using any irons at the moment is wrong as long as the iron has gone through normal R&A testing - which they all have.

There is a difference in the grooves and it has made the Tour Pro adjust his game a little. It makes little or no difference to us though.

 

[shivas irons]

Hear what you are saying guys and appreciate your replys.I`m totally aware that club golfers can use non conforming irons up until (and maybe after)2024,thing is myself as well as friends with non conforming irons have experianced this ridiculous attitude from players who have conforming irons.Locally a chap won a club tournament with he`s old Taylormades and some idiot seriously then suggested that he had a false advantage.Mad, guess its a sign of the times with some people :angry: .

 

[Hobbit]

Not only are they wrong in respect of when it comes in for club golfers, any advantage gained is balanced by a player's handicap, e.g. if they improved a player by one shot then their handicap, ultimately, would reduce by one shot.

 

[Oddsocks]

I really like hobbits approach here, just wish that attitude was more common

 

[shivas irons]

Not only are they wrong in respect of when it comes in for club golfers, any advantage gained is balanced by a player's handicap, e.g. if they improved a player by one shot then their handicap, ultimately, would reduce by one shot.

Exactly Hobbit,any advantage is dismissed by the handicap system.I would be very suprised if the R&A implement the groove rule at all for club golfers in the future.

 

[Imurg]

.I would be very suprised if the R&A implement the groove rule at all for club golfers in the future.

Up to a point they wont have to - the manufacturers are doing it for them.
By 2024 how many of us are still going to be using the clubs we have now - assuming they are old enough to be "non-conforming" anyway?
THose clubs will be 13+ years old and probably well worn out by then. Ok there will be some still around but the grooves will surely be shot so there would be no advantage anyway.
So the fact that the manufacturers only make conforming products now means that the rule is being implemented as we speak (or type!)