This has just been released, summary attached..
https://www.randa.org/News/2021/02/Distance-Update-2021
https://www.randa.org/News/2021/02/Distance-Update-2021
R&A/USGA report on equipment standards
- Thread starter MarkT
- Start date
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I don’t see the point - what difference does it make ?
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
I hope the ball rule does not change for quite some time (if it does) with all these lockdowns I probably have enough new balls for about 5 years.
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
The point about LRs for competitions at club level I thought is a good one.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I've said before that I don't really care what they do with the Pros as long as the amateur is left alone.
Excess distance is a problem for 0.01% of the golfing world.
If the powers that be determine that the Stars are hitting too far and dial back the equipment - fine by me.
Excess distance is a problem for 0.01% of the golfing world.
If the powers that be determine that the Stars are hitting too far and dial back the equipment - fine by me.
Golfnut1957
Newbie
So in 10 years time when I'm watching the PGA Tour on TV I will see Rory hit driver 9 iron to a green instead of driver wedge. It will make zero difference to my perception of what is being impacted in the professional game.
In 10 years time will I still be able to reach the top of the hill on 4 with my drive and play an 8 iron second? Or will I be hitting a 5 iron second an finding that my game has been impacted massively.
In 10 years time will I still be able to reach the top of the hill on 4 with my drive and play an 8 iron second? Or will I be hitting a 5 iron second an finding that my game has been impacted massively.
rulefan
Tour Winner
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I couldn’t think of anything worse
Why would a club want to limit what equipment is used in club comps ?
How many clubs are seeing players “over power” the club - none at ours
Golf bodies at times seem to have this habit of reacting to small areas - the longest will always be the longest in the comp , regardless of what ball or club they use. It is what it is but it only affects the very smallest percentage of golfers
What are you going to do - make sure the ball only goes 300 yards ? 280 ? 250 ? .
This will hopefully clear up a few bits in the report
https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/to...dies-propose-drastic-equipment-changes-218506
https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/to...dies-propose-drastic-equipment-changes-218506
Golfnut1957
Newbie
So Pro's will be confined to a shaft with a maximum length of 46 inches but amateurs will be able to continue using one of up to 48 inches.
Anybody know or play with anyone who has a 48 inch driver. Me neither.
rulefan
Tour Winner
This is simply an opinion not clarification.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
And most Pros use 45 1/2 " maximum length anyway so that's not going to make a difference except to the few that have put in 48"ers like Bryson.
rulefan
Tour Winner
Only if the pros or elite amateur competition organisers (EG or Counties) invoke a Local Rule.
Jimaroid
Journeyman Pro
The equipment standards changes are very interesting, especially Proposal 2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on 2 August 2021.
The reason I find that one particularly interesting is because it strongly suggests that the way balls have been tested for the last couple of decades has been less than ideal. It is conceptually similar to the VW emissions scandal in that things can be engineered to pass a test instead of being engineered for real world use.
The reason I find that one particularly interesting is because it strongly suggests that the way balls have been tested for the last couple of decades has been less than ideal. It is conceptually similar to the VW emissions scandal in that things can be engineered to pass a test instead of being engineered for real world use.
hovis
Tour Winner
So does this mean we're all going to have a load off balls that we can't use anymore?
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I doubt it. The run out on the square groove wedges was a good example. For Pro's it was pretty much instant, for ams it was around 10 years. Drivers with hi cor faces also had a decent use up period.
Crow
Crow Person
What a wishy-washy waste of time.
They need to get some proper limits in that will restrict the average Pro's good drive to 275 yards and the average single figure handicap golfer's good drive to 250 yards, IMHO.
They need to get some proper limits in that will restrict the average Pro's good drive to 275 yards and the average single figure handicap golfer's good drive to 250 yards, IMHO.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
I think the restrictions should be for everyone playing the game. Us amateurs have no chance of getting a club to do what probably any pro could do with it if we gave it to them.
I suspect the aim is to reign in the pro game, not the amateur one. At most, elite amateur.
Unless you are going to be rocking up at an Open qualifier I suspect the balls in your garage will be legal to use ?. If you are an elite amateur I'll give you 10p a ball when they become useless to you ?
Steve Wilkes
Well-known member
Is it possible to limit how far a ball goes or how far a club will it hit. If we are just thinking about reducing length of courses then fine, reign back the technology. So if 320 yard par 4 become a drive and 7 iron for an average tour pro, the bigger hitters will still be able to go Drive/Wedge, so in reality it's the same as now
