The USGA and R&A propose a model local rule requiring the use of golf balls tested under modified launch conditions to address hitting distance and The CEOs of R&A join Golf Today to discuss why. #GolfChannel #GolfToday #USGA
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USGA, R&A propose model local rule to address hitting distance | Golf Today | Golf Channel
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32 Comments
Goodbye ProV1
This rule would be dumb
I don't even know how I feel about this right now. I think most of the fans at home like seeing guys pump a drive 350 down the fairway when watching. Look how much air time Bryson got when he was showing out with the driver at the Arnold Palmer a few years ago.
It's a bloody idiotic idea. It's still going to favour the longer hitters over those that are 'short' off the tee. ( I'm thinking of the likes of Luke Donald). Wouldn't it be simpler just to grow the fairway grass longer, ( in general), to curtail roll out from 300 yards or so, or grow a patch of semi-rough across the fairway at whatever distance worries the USGA/PGA, thus making it more tactical? Also letting the grass grow would be a cheaper option! They could just ban gymnasiums, personal fitness trainers, launch monitors and forbid PGA pros from practicing. !!A. x
what a complete waste of time and money just let them hit the damn thing fume.
Amateur baseball use aluminum bats, pros use wood.
It would funny to make pro golf use all wooden clubs and let us amateurs use metal clubs.
This won’t pass. No player will want this
This is PURE BS local rule that a committee would consider to implement. So if a player happens to have worked his ass off to increase his Clubhead speed past 127 MPH thus hitting a ball over 317 yards he is disqualified due to that single shot…WTF? And WTF is an "Elite Competition?" Every dam professional golf tournament on any given tour is considered Elite…hence, ALL The Majors. So what gives? You want to change a rule that helps us all: How about "free relief from a ball at rest in divot on the fairway? Give me that!!!!!
I personally think that the game is in a perfect spot right now. Don’t change the ball to go less far, but also ensure it won’t go further due to equipment. It’s great to see guys workout to get a distance advantage, but you can easily make pro golf courses harder by longer grass, smaller fairways, faster greens etc. I don’t like the idea of pros using different equipment than amateurs. They key is to make sure it stays exactly where it is now.
Thank you for the great work trying to make the game fit the course and keep it fair, competitive, and challenging. Few realize the difficult task you have and even fewer appreciate the delicate balance you walk to try and please everybody with an eye on maintaining respect for the traditions of the game.
I have to wonder though where we're headed as societies and how much longer we can continue to uphold any tradition or standard without surrender. Ten years from now balls will have to be testosterone rated and players tested to be matched with the appropriate ball to insure fair play in a gender fluid world. Fully artificial courses will be moved into virtual spaces to minimize plastic usage. In other words thanks and holy crap! Good luck! More is being asked from you all the time and less accommodation given.
No one is trying to see short 250 yd driver swings. We want 350 if they can do it. Stop trying to make golf boring lol
So glad they are addressing a problem that doesn't really even exist. Nobody's sniffed a 58 since Furyk (and he's by no means considered a long player) so where is the scoring advantage? You'd think if the ball was that juiced that sub-60 scores would happen every season with regularity.
How about just move away from the courses they shoot 20-30 under on? Get some new venues that play truly difficult.
Hmmmmm… Did they speak with all the players on every tour?
The shorter hitting players may want to shore up their resumes.
How about taking away the greens book, removing spotters on the course (huge change) and don't allow spectators assist in locating balls in hazards, shortening the time to locate a potentially lost ball, change from 14 clubs in the bag to 12 clubs, or heck, have the players carry their bag for 9 of the 18 holes (bit of a stretch).
These are just a few things that will make the game more challenging for the pros without changing the equipment.
LIV looking better and better
This proposal coming from the very bodies who have allowed the problem in the first place.
I assume they are setting out a bargaining position by going with this proposal. This local rule does not make any sense really
This is all BS! There's no need for any golf course to change its layout to accommodate a player's skills ability. In fact, the players should adjust their game or skill lever to tame the golf course. If you can hit your driver 350yds and playing a par 4 that's only 300yds, well that players need to adapt and use a 3 wood or utility club. This new rule is more like they're penalizing players for their abilities and the equipment manufacturers for innovating. Let them play the equipment that's making the game better and for those who are crying because another player can crush the ball, that player needs to man up and visit the gym more often. Who's doing the complaining? PGAT players? Amateur players? Yet, these silly rules changes are made by those it doesn't even matter to on the tee box. It doesn't matter to me either because I'm not pro but gee wiz if it's not broken, don't screw it up just because!
Booooo
Well you know…this is all rather silly, golf is the only sport run by amateurs hence amateur hour decisions ,but its getting boring now watching driver wedge to long ish par 4's and short irons to par 5's is a joke, the commentators talking absolute horse manure is also putting folks off, and its a highlight reel only showing the best players that week hence why so many amateurs THINK they hit the ball the same distances as these guys… NEWSFLASH YOU DONT AND NEVER WILL CONSISTENTLY…. these studies are ridiculous and a total waste of time, give the whole field old golf clubs and old golf balls and lets see who has the talent and who is way above their station…yes its been done here and there but lets see it over 72 holes… as for the liv tour dont get me started on that absolute hogwash WELL YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So tour l specific golf balls and amateur specific golf balls? But this won’t change recreational golf? Yes it will, average joes like myself will be playing golf balls that tour players aren’t allowed to use because I’m not a pro. So manufacturers will have to produce a whole new line of golf balls for tour use only in order for everyone to be on the same level.
This is an individual player sport, one guy with a bag of clubs (along with caddie). That’s what makes golf what it is. Tour players choose a ball that works for them and they play it to the best of their ability, but because a ball goes too far we must limit the distance now?
Why not limit the driver then, limit the spin on irons, limit the spin on wedges, limit the amount of speed a golfer can swing.
This propose rule is a joke. I bet this has to do with LIV and making PGA Golf much more reachable for players.
I don’t understand why they’re trying to protect a couple 100+ year old golf courses. I think they just need to tighten courses and thick and rough. Make fairways more of a premium. Prime example is Winged Foot. Bryson hit the ball a mile and still only shot five or six under par. When you tighten fairways and thicken rough this won’t become an issue
Totally unnecessary! Leave it alone.
What defines “elite” competition? I am an amateur and like to compete in events, some normal club events and some that might be considered “elite.” Am I supposed to practice with two completely different types of golf balls? I barely have time to practice enough as it is. I couldn’t hate this decision more.
We went through this back in the 1990' with the PING EYE2 square groove issue. The USGA really should 1)standardize one ball for tournament play and 2)reduce the COR in Drivers.
First LIV Golf Vs PGA and now this. It just keeps giving
Its funny, these golf ball and equipment companies making so much money for years and years advertising More Distance More Distance More Distance to get me to buy there bullshit and now they saying its too fkn far.
This is wrong we want to see 400yards drives and -12 score in one round!
Let the guys hit it super hard
What’s next? No drivers?
All this does is stroke egos of the old timers who are mad that young people hit the ball further now
Make a standardized ball and spring effect, etc for the professionals. Let the manufacturer keep making equipment as is and improving for the amateur.
As a PGA Club Professional member I have not much use for the USGA. The urethane ball doesn't go any further than it did in 2000. Just like with the anchoring ban, 75% of PGA members didn't care, same as the PGA Tour, but Arnold and Jack didn't like it so the USGA did it anyway, as it didn't matter what was the majority. They always have to almost justify their existence or that they have a job.