I agree with leaving the ball alone. But if anything they ought to let manufacturers increase distance to allow beginners and finishers of the game more joy from hitting the ball.
Matt… it boils down to golf course design. TPC Sawgrass is an excellent example of how Pete Dye envisioned this back in the 1970s to create a golf course that is virtually distance proof. That was on display this past weekend, again. The R&A is scared about the courses in the The Open rotation that cannot be altered due to history or lack of available real estate to make them longer. The PGA Tour is in the entertainment business. Rolling the ball back does not improve their business model. If it does, it falls in the lap of LIV to gain as they will have no part of it. What ball company is going to want to produce a slower tour ball, where they make no money, and then drive up the cost of R&D and production on the recreational golfer to pay for it? This is a slippery slope, all based on fear. It is not good for the game.
If this actually materialize into something, can you imagine the amount of golf balls people would have stockpiled in their basements from the year before this rule comes in lol
The driving distance stats prove that tour distance goes up every year…so the ruling bodies are looking ahead and leading…club and shaft technology will keep improving resulting in longer distance.,,,there must be a speed limit to balls and probably metals also.
I’m sorry Matt but you talked about shorter players getting shorter than the longer players but I don’t see the logic.
Everyone on tour has gotten longer but the longest players —this includes even girls juniors— seem to benefit the most from the current ball and driver.
The truth is as you almost pointed out but didn’t seem to want to, you did say most players are too short, but you did not mention that despite all the technology most golfers have not gotten longer at all in the last 2o years or so. Most golfers can literally hit an old big Bertha as far as todays newest stuff.
Not for pros it’s been a different story. Each year we clearly see in the graphics distances going up. And up. And up. You won’t see this for most golfers, which is why bifurcation is NOT needed.
Before I get into that more, we also see just by watching golf that while most pros have gotten longer, the longest players clearly have benefitted the most. It’s almost as if these drivers put you in a special extra boos club if you can be in those crazy fast speeds.
These elite speed guys are taking these balls to unforeseen Carry’s with driver that is a problem.
If you somehow are correct the shorter players will get shorter—which as you mention everyone but you sees it different than the case you make without much actual proof honestly-it is a problem. Golf should be working to close the gap between the longest and shortest good players. This also happens from making the equipment not only shorter, but maybe also a little less forgiving as well. Make people have to think twice before wailing away to cut a huge corner. Bryson has noticed eventually there is a law of diminishing returns; that line just needs to be brought back further. .
But whatever happens it needs to be the same for everyone. Mr short game makes a ton of great points why bifurcation would be issue after issue after issue.
They want this to be an optional rule. So if the pga tour says thanks but no thanks, I just can’t see the masters and the Opens which want to use this being able to.
I do not believe bifurcation is needed. I believe as long as average players can keep hitting a 460 cc head they will not notice much difference. I also don’t believe fans watching golf will notice much difference when those guys nuking it 350 plus in the air are hitting it 325 ish. But fans will see more awesome long approach shots into par 4a and 5s which is what the game is sorely lacking.
So again I’m sorry. I don’t care how many people cried for not changing anything for the regular joes whom will be short and not that good regardless. If rollback has to happen —which is to the manufacturers credit to innovate-its something like the grooves roll back that has to happen for everyone.
To Matt’s point maybe give golfers whom buy clubs extra time. Make sure the new rules work well before making everyone buy new stuff. But the pros who get free stuff can start sooner.
Golf is a great game regardless of these changes. But as hard as this is especially for the awesome people making great golf equipment everyday, golf has clearly gotten to a point where less power and forgiveness would not be a bad thing. Some of the greatest minds like Jack and the folks at Augusta tend to agree, about the need to roll back starting with the ball.
But I just hope everyone can understand how complicating bifurcation will make life for everyone from manufacturers to players, to developing players, to tournaments, even weekend warriors whom may end up with a rolled back ball accidentally.
Some things can be different different in golf, but some things need to be the same for everyone. I for one am pretty convinced separate equipment rules is not a good idea. As much as I believe a roll back is needed, it’s just not worth it if it’s bifurcation. I don’t think that’s good for the manufacturers in the long run as they will lose the element of selling what the Pros use.
You cannot underestimate the power in keeping things the same for pros and joes in golf, especially equipment.
The rollback is intended for Tour Players not recreational players. The Tour needs a std ball that everyone plays. There are too many gimmicks out there and Bryson DeCham is one of the biggest abusers with equipment.
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0:16 Amen !!! Not much is geared strictly towards us.
I agree with leaving the ball alone. But if anything they ought to let manufacturers increase distance to allow beginners and finishers of the game more joy from hitting the ball.
LOL BAHAHAHAHAHA good luck R&A and USGA
Matt… it boils down to golf course design. TPC Sawgrass is an excellent example of how Pete Dye envisioned this back in the 1970s to create a golf course that is virtually distance proof. That was on display this past weekend, again. The R&A is scared about the courses in the The Open rotation that cannot be altered due to history or lack of available real estate to make them longer. The PGA Tour is in the entertainment business. Rolling the ball back does not improve their business model. If it does, it falls in the lap of LIV to gain as they will have no part of it. What ball company is going to want to produce a slower tour ball, where they make no money, and then drive up the cost of R&D and production on the recreational golfer to pay for it? This is a slippery slope, all based on fear. It is not good for the game.
If this actually materialize into something, can you imagine the amount of golf balls people would have stockpiled in their basements from the year before this rule comes in lol
The driving distance stats prove that tour distance goes up every year…so the ruling bodies are looking ahead and leading…club and shaft technology will keep improving resulting in longer distance.,,,there must be a speed limit to balls and probably metals also.
Clubhead speed is a skill….if tour pros hit short they are at a disadvantage….
I’m sorry Matt but you talked about shorter players getting shorter than the longer players but I don’t see the logic.
Everyone on tour has gotten longer but the longest players —this includes even girls juniors— seem to benefit the most from the current ball and driver.
The truth is as you almost pointed out but didn’t seem to want to, you did say most players are too short, but you did not mention that despite all the technology most golfers have not gotten longer at all in the last 2o years or so. Most golfers can literally hit an old big Bertha as far as todays newest stuff.
Not for pros it’s been a different story. Each year we clearly see in the graphics distances going up. And up. And up. You won’t see this for most golfers, which is why bifurcation is NOT needed.
Before I get into that more, we also see just by watching golf that while most pros have gotten longer, the longest players clearly have benefitted the most. It’s almost as if these drivers put you in a special extra boos club if you can be in those crazy fast speeds.
These elite speed guys are taking these balls to unforeseen Carry’s with driver that is a problem.
If you somehow are correct the shorter players will get shorter—which as you mention everyone but you sees it different than the case you make without much actual proof honestly-it is a problem. Golf should be working to close the gap between the longest and shortest good players. This also happens from making the equipment not only shorter, but maybe also a little less forgiving as well. Make people have to think twice before wailing away to cut a huge corner. Bryson has noticed eventually there is a law of diminishing returns; that line just needs to be brought back further.
.
But whatever happens it needs to be the same for everyone. Mr short game makes a ton of great points why bifurcation would be issue after issue after issue.
They want this to be an optional rule. So if the pga tour says thanks but no thanks, I just can’t see the masters and the Opens which want to use this being able to.
I do not believe bifurcation is needed. I believe as long as average players can keep hitting a 460 cc head they will not notice much difference. I also don’t believe fans watching golf will notice much difference when those guys nuking it 350 plus in the air are hitting it 325 ish. But fans will see more awesome long approach shots into par 4a and 5s which is what the game is sorely lacking.
So again I’m sorry. I don’t care how many people cried for not changing anything for the regular joes whom will be short and not that good regardless. If rollback has to happen —which is to the manufacturers credit to innovate-its something like the grooves roll back that has to happen for everyone.
To Matt’s point maybe give golfers whom buy clubs extra time. Make sure the new rules work well before making everyone buy new stuff. But the pros who get free stuff can start sooner.
Golf is a great game regardless of these changes. But as hard as this is especially for the awesome people making great golf equipment everyday, golf has clearly gotten to a point where less power and forgiveness would not be a bad thing. Some of the greatest minds like Jack and the folks at Augusta tend to agree, about the need to roll back starting with the ball.
But I just hope everyone can understand how complicating bifurcation will make life for everyone from manufacturers to players, to developing players, to tournaments, even weekend warriors whom may end up with a rolled back ball accidentally.
Some things can be different different in golf, but some things need to be the same for everyone. I for one am pretty convinced separate equipment rules is not a good idea. As much as I believe a roll back is needed, it’s just not worth it if it’s bifurcation. I don’t think that’s good for the manufacturers in the long run as they will lose the element of selling what the
Pros use.
You cannot underestimate the power in keeping things the same for pros and joes in golf, especially equipment.
Imho.
The rollback is intended for Tour Players not recreational players. The Tour needs a std ball that everyone plays. There are too many gimmicks out there and Bryson DeCham is one of the biggest abusers with equipment.
Matt, love your show. Why is it the PGA players always attacking the LIV players? I think you should comment.