What equipment would you restrict in golf ???

[madandra]

For some time now I have been of the opinion that the only thing wrecking this beautiful game is not grooves on wedges or C.O.R. .... It is the bloody ball. I think that restricting the ball would reward those who can manufacture golf shots and use their brain instead of brawn.



What do you think the R&A need to focus on?

 

[Imurg]

I've voted ball but there's a problem here. Hasn't the ball been restricted for ages? Isn't there a maximum speed or distance that they're not allowed to exceed? Or am I dreaming that one?
No matter which element of the game is restricted the manufacturers will find a way round it. The new groove rule for instance - most pros are going to be playing a softer compression ball to compensate for the reduction in spin.

 

[Tommo21]

The great thing about restricting the ball is it’s fair for one and all. Golf courses could be shortened for the first time ever. Well, maybe not, but this non stop lenghthening of courses could be halted with a stroke of the R&A pen.

 

[kid2]

I voted the ball.
But there lies another problem.
Who decides the spin rates the compression the no. of dimples , there depth and there substance..
And how many manufacturers do you think would survive loosing there high end balls....


Imagine the Pro's using a Dunlop LOCO

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Imagine the Pro's using a Dunlop LOCO

I thought John Daly used these

 

[Parmo]

Bloody more nanny state carbage :shakeyfist:

 

[DCB]

It's got to be tha ball.

Look at the progression in the technology used in ball construction in the last 10-15 years. Can anyone remember what it was like playing a premium ball before the Pro V1 and its equivalents was like ?

The ball has made huge differences to the game.

Not necessarily for the good.

 

[THJahar]

You didn't give the option 'nothing'.
I'm thinking the current restrictions on balls/drivers etc.
are now OK.
And the groove change was probably the only one that needed doing.

 

[freddielong]

The ball first roll it back to Dunlop 65 ukpro level of the mid 80's - then change number of clubs to 12 - add a maximum loft of 56 and finally remove all square or U shaped grooves go back to V grooves.

 

[madandra]

....
And the groove change was probably the only one that needed doing.

Dont kid yourself on about the grooves because for every change in equipment the ball manufacturers manage to introduce a product that makes no difference to the initial changes.

I think we should all use yellow Pinnacle Golds.

 

[USER1999]

I would limit shaft flex. Get rid of all the X flex shafts, then the Pro's would have to swing slower, or risk being very wayward. That would limit the distance they hit offf the tee, and also the accuracy. The best would still cope. Easy to check too, a simple bend test on the first tee when signing in, just to check it is still conforming, and off you go.

Wouldn't affect us mortals either, so we all still have the same kit, and don't get lumbered with a ball which goes no where.

 

[freddielong]

I would limit shaft flex. Get rid of all the X flex shafts, then the Pro's would have to swing slower, or risk being very wayward. That would limit the distance they hit offf the tee, and also the accuracy. The best would still cope. Easy to check too, a simple bend test on the first tee when signing in, just to check it is still conforming, and off you go.

Wouldn't affect us mortals either, so we all still have the same kit, and don't get lumbered with a ball which goes no where.

So again punish the guys with skill and talent but make it easier for people who don't

 

[USER1999]

Bludgeoning a ball as hard as possible is a skill and talent? What? JB Holmes? No, he is a meat head who just hits it a long way.

 

[brendy]

I think the game should be able to progress, the ball can only battle the wind so much, can only spin so much. Irons can only go as far as the player can hit it, it can only be as accurate as the player hitting it can be.
Unless rocket powered shafts come in, I cant see the distance thing becoming any more of a problem.
Look back throughout all sports over the last 5 decades, todays sportsmen are fine specimens of human beings, 50 years ago things were different.
The average player still only hits it 230 or whatever, as far as that is concerned, nothing has really changed. It is only those who have the desire to get better, have and I wouldnt limit them to working with outdated tools.

 

[freddielong]

Bludgeoning a ball as hard as possible is a skill and talent? What? JB Holmes? No, he is a meat head who just hits it a long way.

So the only difference between you and JB holmes is distance if you actually beleive that then there is no hope

 

[USER1999]

That makes no sense at all and is not what I said.

I said that the best would still cope, others would struggle. Anyone who currently hits the ball 350 yards would have to hold back a bit, that's all. They would still be at an advantage, as if they are hitting a 70% swing 300, then they are going to be more accurate than the guy hitting a 100% swing 299 yards. It just means courses don't need to be 8000 yards long.

There is a huge gulf in skill between me and JB, I never said there wasn't, but there is also a huge gulf between JB and Tiger/Phil/etc, who have a bit more skill than the bomb and gouge mentality of JB.

It wouldn't affect me, as I don't hit x flex shafts. Limiting the ball would affect me, so would carrying 12 clubs, so would limiting loft in wedges. These are not changes that would benefit the average golfer, it would just make us all worse. As a potential rule change, this is going to alienate a lot of club golfers, where as limiting shaft flex wouldn't affect many.

 

[freddielong]

It wouldn't affect me, as I don't hit x flex shafts. Limiting the ball would affect me, so would carrying 12 clubs, so would limiting loft in wedges. These are not changes that would benefit the average golfer, it would just make us all worse. As a potential rule change, this is going to alienate a lot of club golfers, where as limiting shaft flex wouldn't affect many.

My point was that it should make it harder for everyone -you cannot just make it harder for certain levels of golfer or you totally distort the handicap system it has to be a roll back accross the board or it doesn't work.

 

[USER1999]

But why would you want to penalise guys who only drive the ball 200 yards? They aren't the ones who are causing the problems?

If you introduce a pro ball, then that isn't across the board either. If you do it for every one, then joe average is down to 180 yards. He isn't going to be happy.

You have to load it so the elite players come off worst.

 

[drawboy]

I cannot see the point of any kind of restrictions, only 20% of club golfers ever get below 18 handicap. 10% get into single figures, so restrictions would only hurt the golfers that need help the most. I played to single figures 20 years ago with persimmon head woods, steel shafts and bladed irons, balls were dunlop 65's or if flush Titleist balata's so I'm not sure if all of these so called enhancements really have an effect anyway.

 

[freddielong]

But why would you want to penalise guys who only drive the ball 200 yards? They aren't the ones who are causing the problems?

If you introduce a pro ball, then that isn't across the board either. If you do it for every one, then joe average is down to 180 yards. He isn't going to be happy.

You have to load it so the elite players come off worst.

They are they are the guys the new equipment is aimed at -everything has to be accross the board otherwise you are artifically narrowing the field and punnishing the guys who have ability and practice