GOLF’S DISTANCE PROBLEM SOLVED?

This past week has been a news filled week for the game of golf. News about Tiger Woods and Nike splitting, Jon Rahm moving to LIV golf and of course the announcement the the USGA and R&A will be rolling the golf ball back. What a busy week indeed. We will be focusing on the golf ball roll back and what this means for your game.

The USGA which golf’s governing body for the United States and Mexico along with the R&A who governs the rules of golf for the rest of the world came together and decided that the golf ball was flying to far and something needed to be done. After years and years of studying the distance problem they came to the solution of rolling back the golf ball.

What does this mean exactly?

Make the golf ball fly shorter.

When a golf equipment manufacturer comes out with a new product it has to be conforming. This means it has to pass a standard test that the USGA performs. The test for the golf was that the golf ball could not fly further than 317 yards with a 120 mph club head speed, 11 degrees of launch and 2200 rpm of spin. This test did allow for 3 yards deviation tolerance. Now the test will be conducted with a 125 mph club head speed keeping the other factors the same. This means even with the club traveling faster the ball can not go any further than it has gone which translates into the golf ball flying shorter.

So how does this effect your game?

Short Answer: Your golf ball will fly and travel shorter.

But by how much?

With these test parameters the USGA believes the loss of distance will be greatest with top level players who swing it the fastest and it will effect recreational amateurs the least as shown below.

• Top Level Male Players will lose 9 - 11 yards

• Top Level Female Players will lose 5 - 7 yards

• Average Male Amateur Player will lose 3 - 5 yards

• Average Female Amateur Player will lose 1-3 yards

These assumptions are made following the USGA testing guidelines which tests the balls with center of club contact. Now I know most of the recreational amateur players don’t always hit the center of the club face. This means that the loss of distance could be greater than shown. How much loss? Only time will tell that.

These changes are set to go in effect in 2028 at the professional level and 2030 for everyone else. I don’t understand the difference in when the new rule goes into effect because I would assume most manufacturers will begin working on this new ball now and will likely be have a conforming ball for the public in 2028. One would also assume that at the professional level players will begin testing and using the new ball once the manufacturers have a conforming which will likely be before 2028. The pro’s will want to know how it will affect their game and learn to change their distances well before they are made to do so in 2028.

Why is the USGA and R&A doing this?

The USGA and R&A recognized that the game has gotten much longer of the last 20-25 years and there is no signs of slowing down. Here are some stats showing the increase in length:

We see that all distance measurements have increased since 2007. These increases are a combination of many things:

• Better equipment technology

• Better understanding of optimal launch conditions for max carry from launch monitor data

• Professional golfers are no longer just golfers but elite level athletes which results in faster swings

This trend has been continuing for a while and will likely continue unless something is done. This is probably what the USGA felt and decided to act. They had several choices in front of them:

1. Do nothing - was probably never and option

2. Stop the golf ball where it is now - would have been widely accepted by many and a reasonable choice

3. Roll back the golf ball - has not been welcomed by most and is the the most controversial decision.

The best explanation for as to why the USGA decided to roll back the golf ball was seen when Mike Whan, head of the USGA, did an interview on golf channel. He explained that the USGA has the duty to protect the game for the long term and with seeing the trends that they had to slow down the progression of distance and speed. He admitted that the top level professional will likely gain back the distance lost in the next 10-20 years but the level of progression will have been slowed down. Mike also mentioned that this decision will have no effect on the golf courses available to play elite level competitions as the roll back would not be significant enough to bring any of these historic courses back into the elite game. To me this makes sense and I understand why they made the decision they did but I would have rather seen them just stop the ball where it is at now and not make any decision that could have an adverse effect on the every day golfer.

Listen to USGA and R&A about the roll back in their interviews with golf channel below.

MOVING FORWARD

Only time will tell what the true distance loss will be for recreational golfers but if it is only a couple of yards as the governing bodies suggest then I don’t think anyone will really notice that much. After a few years of having the rules in effect most players will likely continue on playing and enjoying the game.

Secondly this decision putts a greater emphasis on manufacturers, club fitters and coaches to help students optimize their distance and their overall game to keep enjoying this game we all love.

If you want to learn more about optimizing your game and distance make sure to contact me at [email protected]. I would be happy to help.

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Dillon Baker

www.dillonbakergolf.com