by The R&A has taken radical steps to protect classic courses like the Old Course by introducing sweeping new regulations that will ensure balls travel shorter distances.
Top professionals and weekend hackers will be affected by the St Andrews headquarters’ “historic” announcement on Wednesday, made in conjunction with the US Golf Association, the sport’s other governing body.
The powers that be expect the new ball testing speeds to slow big hitters by 13 to 15 yards, while claiming there will be “minimal distance impact, five yards or less, for most recreational golfers.” . The rules will be introduced in 2028 for professionals and in 2030 for everyone else.
With the news leaking over the weekend, there was no surprise, but that doesn’t mean the anger will be in short supply. In fact, moments after the confirmation was released, a memo emerged from the PGA Tour to its members, calling the changes disproportionate. “We do not support today’s announcement,” said the email sent early Wednesday.
But backed by perhaps the two greatest men’s professionals of all time – Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – and by Rory McIlroy, the most recognizable of the current world top 10, the R&A and the USGA are determined to stand firm.
They are in charge of the Rules of Golf and if anyone (from professional tours to elite amateur events and tens of thousands of golf clubs around the world holding weekly medals) wants to join, then from 2028 for professionals and from 2030. for the rest, they must ensure that only compliant balls are used in the competition.
“We are convinced that this decision is one of the key ways to achieve a sustainable future for golf, protect the integrity of the game and meet our environmental responsibilities,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A.
“The action we are taking has been carefully considered and calibrated, while maintaining the spirit of ‘one game’ that is considered so important to the golf industry. Importantly, it also keeps the impact on recreational golfers to an absolute minimum. “We are acting now because we want to ensure that future generations can enjoy the unique challenge of golf as much as we do.”
Slumbers referenced industry opposition to initial plans that would have effectively introduced separate rules for elite players and recreational golfers. The R&A and USGA have long stated during their extensive research, deliberation and consultation on the distance issue that “doing nothing is not an option.” Then everyone can play under the same rules. Throwback for everyone.
Q&A: How will the rollback changes affect amateur players?
Why has the amateur game been included in these new ball regulations?
Initially, the R&A and the United States Golf Association planned to introduce the restrictions as a “Model Local Rule,” which would apply only to professional tournaments and elite amateur events. But during the consulting period, the PGA Tour and PGA of America joined equipment manufacturers in criticizing the “bifuting the sport” proposal. So the governing bodies called their bluff and decided to implement it across the board.
What is ‘forking’?
The word means the division of something into two branches or parts. This is basically a situation where, due to the rules, professional and amateur golfers would use different equipment. Of course, the bifurcation already exists because the top pros have equipment made especially for them, but the romantics claim that having it in black and white would break the link between hackers and superstars, meaning that all golfers can play on the same ones. fields. , in the same conditions and with the same equipment as the television players.
Why were the R&A and USGA willing to ‘split’?
Because they don’t believe that the average golfer golfs far enough to endanger classic courses and that normal courses do not pose a great risk to the environment?
So what are they bringing?
Simply put, “a shorter ball” that will travel 15 to 20 yards less for larger drivers. Opinions differ, but governing bodies insist the effect on recreational golfers will be minimal, with balls traveling off the tee perhaps five yards less. The shorter the iron, the smaller the loss.
Can they enforce this?
Clearly not in a midweek game between friends, but if golf clubs want their competitions to conform to the Rules of Golf – and the overwhelming majority will do so out of a desire to stay within the World Handicap System – then they will have to follow the regulations.
Will that mean tons of balls will be thrown at enormous cost?
Almost certainly not. The rules won’t be implemented until 2030, and by then equipment manufacturers will have had new balls on the shelves for a few years (the rule will be introduced for pros in 2028). Inevitably, there will be some disputes within clubs about players using their old Pro V1s, whether due to cost concerns or to gain an advantage, and the occasional disqualification will occur. In truth, most old balls will have been discarded or lost by the end of the decade.
Will it affect participation rates that have skyrocketed since Covid?
That’s what critics claim. But as Rory Mcilroy says, “I really don’t think a recreational player’s enjoyment is affected by losing five yards on their drives.” In fact, another opinion is that professional golf will be less one-dimensional and will inspire more beginners.
How are golf balls tested to see if they meet regulations?
To decide whether a ball complies with the new rules, it will be tested under the following conditions considered optimal for maximum shot length: 125 mph club head speed (equivalent to a ball speed of 183 mph); spin speed of 2220 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The old conditions, which were established 20 years ago, are set at 120 mph (equivalent to a ball speed of 176 mph), 2,520 rpm with a 10-degree launch angle.
The revised conditions are based on analysis of world tour and game data over several years. Its goal is to ensure that the overall distance standard, the limit of which will remain unchanged at 317 yards with a tolerance of 3 yards, continues to represent the ability of the game’s longest hitters.
An analysis of ball speed among golf’s longest hitters in 2023 shows that the 10 fastest players had an average ball speed of 186 mph, while the average ball speed of the 25 fastest was 183.4 mph (the fastest averaged 190 mph).
Longer hitters are expected to see a reduction of up to 13 to 15 yards in driving distance with new balls. Average male players on the professional and elite circuit are expected to see a reduction of 9 to 11 yards, with a reduction of 5 to 7 yards for an average LET or LPGA player. The change in testing speed is expected to have minimal impact on distance, 5 yards or less, for most recreational golfers. Research shows an average swing speed of 93 mph for male golfers and 72 mph for female players.
