USGA and R&A: Rules on Balls and Clubs May Be Changing

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews ( R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) just announced that they are – as they say in Texas – “fixin’ to” do something about the distance problem. Of course, we will believe that when we see it, but this time, they are getting specific about clubs and balls. Bryson DeChambeau will not be happy.

One area they are reviewing for change is club specifications. Another is the distance the ball travels. And they say they are doing it “to help mitigate continuing distance increases. They are also suggesting the use of Local Rules to counter the distance problem, and that might have the biggest influence of all.

Of striking interest is that they are considering having the maximum shaft length reduced from 48 inches to 46 inches. However, most PGA Tour players don’t use drivers with shafts longer than 46 inches. In fact, according to recent information from the PGA Tour’s website, the average is about 45 inches. But several, most notably Bryson DeChambeau, are trying longer shafts, particularly in drivers.

Phil Mickelson has tested a 47.5-inch driver and has indicated it will be in his bag at the Masters. Viktor Hovland has tested 47 and 48-inch drivers in the recent off-season. And who knows how many others have tried those shafts in the interest of increased distance.

Rickie Fowler is the notable exception. He went to a shorter shaft for more control.

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So, since most Tour players don’t use shafts longer than 46 inches, that change likely won’t make any difference in how far the ball is being hit by PGA Tour players so long as nothing else changes.

But wait, there’s more. The new proposals could also affect how the springlike effect is measured. If the face is less springy, in theory, the ball won’t go as far as it has been going for the longest hitters.

Don’t get nervous. Unless you have tour quality swing speed, according to what Davis Love III told me some years ago, you probably do not swing the clubhead fast enough to take advantage of the springlike effect anyway. So, it’s likely not going to affect your drives, but it may affect a tour player’s ability to hit a ball as far or farther than he does now.

They are also going to change the way they measure golf balls. Currently, the test is done with a clubhead speed of 120 mph a ball launched at 10 degrees with 42 revolutions per second. However, they will now test at what they call optimum conditions, which they define as “those between a launch angle of 7.5 and 15 degrees, and backspin between 2200 rpm and 3000 rpm.”

However, what is really explosive is that they are considering allowing courses to adopt Local Rules for equipment for competition. This is big.

Now, just to recap, a Local Rule is something that one course uses because of conditions in the area, for instance, when you take a free drop away from newly planted and staked trees.

Here are some examples from the Florida State Golf Association:

"“Any material stacked for removal, including cut and stacked tree limbs are ground under repair even if not marked.”“All ornamental flower beds throughout the course are NO PLAY ZONES.”“The stacked rock walls or fences are integral objects, not obstructions. Free relief is NOT permitted.”"

Those are called Local Rules, used at a particular club for specific reasons.

However, expanding Local Rules could mean a tournament or a club could decide that certain length or certain kinds of clubs can or can’t be used or that certain kinds of golf balls can or can’t be used. That would really change things.

According to the USGA:

"“We will assess the potential use of a Local Rule option that would specify use of clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances. The concept is that equipment meeting a particular set of reduced-distance specifications – for example, a ball that does not travel as far or a club that will not hit a ball as far – might be a defined subset of the overall category of conforming equipment.”"

However, they will allow golfers not playing in the specific competition to “make the choice for themselves”.

Next. What is wrong with talented youngster Matthew Wolff?. dark

I don’t know about you, but this makes me wonder if the USGA, Augusta National, the British Open, and the PGA of America are about to adopt balls with certain distance limitations to be used at USGA Championships, the Masters, the PGA, and the British Open. It would certainly save courses a lot of distance headaches.

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