The USGA and the R&A are set to announce a rollback of the golf ball through a chance in the equipment testing standards they use to determine if a golf ball is legal or conforming. Ryan Ballengee explains the rollback and how the equipment rules will change to make it happen. How much distance will a golfer lose off the tee? Is it with every club in the bag? When does the rollback start? All of those questions are answered.

33 Comments

  1. Its not just golf ball by itself but equipment also affects distance and control. Over 3/4 of these tour pros today can not even hit a solid shot with clubs made back in the 80s or early 90s. These clubs today are easier and improve your shots. Let alone trying to hit a 90s blade.

  2. Here is the only GOOD thing in an AMS favour WE CAN ATTACT THE HAZZARD OR PENALTY AREA we will not reach. ITS GOING TO PUT CLUBS OUT OF BUSINESS, WELL AMATURES WILL NOT REACH ANY HAZZARD . SO WHATS NEXT MOVE THE HAZZARDS .

  3. So something I find kind of funny about this. As technology improves with the clubs, will we not be right back where we are now for distance of a golf ball? Every company talks about how their driver hits the ball father.

  4. Where does the USGA post the findings of each of the balls they test so that we the public can see where our current models stand with this updated policy? Seems to me that is kind of important information that should be readily available. I find it hard to believe that the 50 compression balls I'm playing would ever be rolled back.

  5. Just looked this up, the USGA is using a 360cc driver head for testing!! How come no one is talking about that?

  6. This is stupid.
    I think (hope) there will be a major pushback by average players who already cannot afford to give up yards just because the pros are hitting it 350yds.

  7. I live in a retirement golf community! Our group of 16 -20 plays a few times a week! We play for a few bucks, have fun, and drink beer! We have not banned anything! We will not play out if divots!! We roll them! At our age, anything goes to get five more yards! We will not comply! The USGA can kiss our asses, and we stopped giving them anything! We refuse to get handicaps, play in tournaments, or buy their merchandise! They are a bunch of Karen's…With nothing better to do then ruin amateur interest in golf!!

  8. Great, the USGA is going to make golf harder for everyone plus make pro golf less interesting to watch. Hey, they have to do something to earn those big fat paychecks!

  9. Are the marshalls going to become the course police and search everyones bag prior to playing?? This rule only takes away 10-15 yards, so why do it to begin with?

  10. I am old with health issues. I am lucky if I hit a driver that will roll out to 160. Already play from forward tees. This will add 1 to 2 extra shots. Makes the game more frustrating than it already is. On positive side of things I might be dead by 2030😂

  11. I think the question that most (or at least many) of us need answered is whether the ball we play will be affected. I've read that some balls will not be and I have a suspicion that my particular ball won't be affected. Any idea how soon that kind of information will be available? And where will we best be able to find that info?

  12. What will be the visual identifier for the rolled back golf ball? Will there be a marking required? Will the ball be stamped?

  13. This is all Nicklaus' doing. He's been running his mouth about this forever. He needs to go away from this game.

  14. I would imagine this would mainly affect the ProV1 TP5s and Chromesofts, as I know Velocity, Soft Response and superhots don't go near as far, so my guess is if you play 50$ dozen balls your impacted the 35-40$ dozen you might have a marginal impact, but any less your unaffected.

  15. I had always believed that the game of golf is judged by the number of shots you take not the distance hit off the tee …….I struggle to hit the ball from 5 ft into the hole …..reference Brian Harmon 2023 British Open ….let the game evolve…..even let the millionaires make more millions …..the game is flying into the mist of time Golf RIP 😔😔

  16. Older players know the old ball was way short. And Nicklaus and those like him could still hit it way over 300 if they wanted to. I could only if I struck it perfectly. A rare thing. But those clubs were muscle backs not these easy hitting clubs today.

  17. So does this mean I'll have to start counting all those putts I take from within 2 feet too? Ok then…

  18. It is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard of. All it's going to do is PO a lot of players, many of whom are likely to quit altogether and cause a whole host of new problems in the process.

    I still don't clearly even understand why this is being done. There are some poor explanations out there, but all fall short of providing clear and justifiable reasoning. It all feels like there are just some powerful people in the shadows pulling strings and "regulating" for regulating sake.

    Who is pushing this? Names..
    Was this something that came from professionals, organizations, courses, or general public feedback? Nothing makes sense, it just seems like it's just happening whether or not the vast majority of golfers agree with it.

    In my 30 years of golf experience, playing at every level besides professionally, I have never sensed that this was something golfers were concerned about, much less talking about changing.

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