USGA/R&A Distance Report

PA-PLAYA · 2020-02-07T05:53:34+00:00

Well... apparently the governing bodies have finally come to the conclusion that golf's changing distance climate does indeed exist. Without wasting enormo...

ode

Sneakylong that's essentially where it is headed, which IMO isn't a bad thing but it won't be perceived in a positive light at all. They will just be adding fuel to outfits like LIV who will use it against them (bifurcation).

Re anchoring. It should have been outlawed a long time ago. It is not a stroke and significantly takes away from skill of putting....and the resultant aftermath IMO is a bunch of guys essentially cheating right under their nose and a new method called armlock. That's where they messed up is waiting too long!

Par4QC

These old farts need to do more thinking and less quaffing of the rum.
Distances really mean little when compared to final scores. And they are not looking at scores at all while making asinine decisions as they mostly do. Distance does not equal score.

I have a great idea!!.....simply increase the Par for every hole!!! That will shut down the 'score to Par' bullshit they are complaining about.
Yeah, I'm kind of a genius, I guess. I should prolly be a member of the R&A group. 🤔

sdandrea1

Par4QC idea!!.....simply increase the Par for every hole!

That would go against tradition and we can't have that.......no, we certainly can't have that. 🤣

Sneakylong

Just heard that the proposal is to reduce the ball by 7 to 8 percent. Obviously it would affect every club in the bag. So what would go 100 yards now would go 92 to 93 yards with the reduced speed ball.

Par4QC

Sneakylong I really like that! And it is brilliant.
Instead of a 347 yd. drive followed by a 130 yd. SW, they will have to hit a 320 yd. drive and a 157 yd. PW.

We just do not give these old boys enough credit sometimes.

Eguller

Sneakylong the proposal is to reduce the ball by 7 to 8 percent.

10% would be just about right. Or - bring back the balata ball to make them play 'shots'.
While were at it, maybe no graphite shafts also. 🤣

Par4QC

Eguller While were at it, maybe no graphite shafts also.

I was going to say that, but Jack hit a lot of 300 drives. And a lot of these guys are bigger than he was.

DonM

Sneakylong Just heard Michael Breed on PGA Tour Radio and he’s totally against this. Normally he’s a huge USGA fan.

He's also a Titleist flack.

DonM

Have to say, I don't care at all about the issue. If it happens we will forget about it in no time. Pro golf will be just as interesting or not. They will still gain distance as years go by, albeit within new ranges.

Eguller

Par4QC these guys are bigger than he was.

Bigger doesn't alway compute - look at JT & M.W.Lee.
How to keep courses relevant or limit distance considering the future ?

Par4QC

Eguller How to keep courses relevant or limit distance considering the future ?

Have you ever watched those old Shell's World of Golf? Take notice of the greens, let alone the fairways. The greens looked like our muni fairways. Those old boys were 'banging' putts, just to go 20' sometimes. They were not 'stroking' the ball on the greens. That alone will add plenty of strokes to anyone's game. Limiting distance through equipment never will. Taking away 7-8% is nothing. They can carry 14 clubs. And will use them with great precision. Give them all 'woods' and it will still be the same. They cannot change the human body.
Maybe they should ban 'fitness'.??????

Typhoon

Par4QC those old Shell's World of Golf? Take notice of the greens, let alone the fairways. The greens looked like our muni fairways.

Yup… that’s what I was saying. It’ll actually cost courses less money by not maintaining to pristine conditions.

Par4QC

sdandrea1 Dammit. I want to shoot below my age.

Par4QC

sdandrea1 Damn, I'm slipping. That won't work, gotta go the other way, lower Par for every hole.
I am such a stupid. UD78 was correct after all. 😉😄

Eguller

Big dogs are discussing the new proposal now on the Golf Channel.

Funny, Nicklaus has been pushing this for quite some time.

garyt1957

Luc_Van_Daele No, there will just be 2 conforming balls, one for pro and one for amateur play.

Agree, but the reason balls had limits now were pretty much strictly for pros, not for your average hack. Could they now decide to expand those limits for us casual golfers?

ode

Eguller costs

I think consumer expectations is out of whack....wanting everything to be perfect, greens, fairways, etc. And I don't buy the land argument....at some point folks just need to say NO to expanding courses as a result of how far the pros are hitting it. Pros are how much of the golfers that play % wise🤔. I take no issue with Pros smashing drives 350 and/or being able cut corners, hit over trees/lakes/OB, etc. There are other solutions which is narrowing fairways, growing rough OR change the # on the card from a 5 to a 4!

Eguller

ode just need to say NO to expanding courses as a result of how far the pros are hitting it.

Unfortunately, it is not just the 'Pros'. I've played with a number of elite amateurs who can blow it by the average pro.
And....it is only going to get worse with the training of 'elite' juniors. Just watch the drive, chip and putt coming
up soon at the Masters. The easy fix is the ball at the elite level. Cheap.

ode

Eguller it's a mindset thing. Too much focus on how far people hit it and the fear.....yes the FEAR that the old fuddy duddies and others (😉) get as a result. IT IS not YOUR game, it is everyone's game. I don't care how far others hit it🙃. I have no interest in bomb and gauge and those ams that quest for it are losing out on all the other aspects that could make the game even better. I choose to celebrate it as a skill and accomplishment if distance going to be a focus, unfortunately it's looked.at as some evil thing. Weird!

Luc_Van_Daele

Here it is: local rule with changed launch conditions.

14 March 2023
Notice to Manufacturers
Proposed Model Local Rule for Elite Competitions to be available beginning
January 2026, requiring the use of golf balls that are tested with modified Actual
Launch Conditions (ALC) within the Overall Distance Standard (ODS)

On 1 February 2021, the USGA and The R&A issued a communication that specified a set of research
topics relating to potential Equipment Rule changes intended to address the findings from the Distance
Insights Report and the Conclusions from the Distance Insights Project: Implications of Hitting Distance in
Golf. In summary, the objectives were to identify mechanisms to address the persistent increases in
hitting distance over time that have fueled the pace at which golf courses are lengthening, as well as to
enhance the reward of a central impact. Further information on additional research areas were detailed in
the March 2022 communication and further refined in June 2022. These communications conveyed
interest in the following:

To investigate an increase to the clubhead speed used to determine conformance to the Overall
Distance Standard (ODS) that reflects the clubhead speeds of the longest hitters of the golf ball;
specifically, between 125 and 127 mph. In addition, to investigate the use of optimum conditions of
launch angle and spin.

To investigate the exploration of (i) reduction of the spring-like effect in drivers, and (ii)
changes to the Moment of Inertia (MoI) limit of drivers to enhance the reward of a central impact.
This research was specifically focused on Characteristic Time (CT) values for drivers of not more
than 200 µs and not less than 150 µs and a Moment of Inertia as low as 2,000 g-cm2
. These
potential changes were investigated specifically in the context of potential Model Local Rules
(MLR).
We would like to acknowledge that significant comments were received by stakeholders regarding these
areas of research. All the comments were carefully reviewed and considered in accordance with the
Equipment Rulemaking Procedures adopted in November 2011.
Regarding Item 1., based on the feedback received from stakeholders, The R&A and the USGA are no
longer considering the use of launch conditions that are optimized for each individual golf ball model to
evaluate conformance. We realize that the use of optimized launch conditions for each ball model may
have caused challenges in the development and testing of golf balls, including significant added cost and
time.
Considering both the industry feedback and further research by the USGA and The R&A, we have
altered our approach, and are now proposing to make available a Model Local Rule (MLR)
intended for elite competitions. Specifically, for this proposed MLR, golf balls will be tested for
conformance to the Overall Distance Standard (ODS) limit of 317 yards (plus 3 yards tolerance) at
modified Actual Launch Conditions (ALC), namely a clubhead speed of 127 mph and ALC values
of 11 degrees and 37 revolutions per second (2220 rpm).
Within the current Equipment Rules, all other golf balls will continue to be evaluated using the existing
ALC values: 120 mph clubhead speed, 10 degrees and 42 revolutions per second (2520 rpm). The
current ODS limit of 317 yards (plus 3 yards tolerance) will remain unchanged.
Equipment Standards testing for all golf balls will have their launch conditions determined by a
mechanical golfer that has been set up to produce the appropriate launch conditions, as listed above, on
a calibration ball.
Please note that interim screening and more efficient means of determining the ALC will be investigated.
In addition, the possibility of reducing or eliminating the Initial Velocity (IV) standard for golf balls (that are
not tested at the MLR conditions listed above) will continue to be evaluated, but no change is being
proposed at this stage.
The Conclusions from the Distance Insights Project noted that the USGA and The R&A were not
considering changes that would result in substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the
game. The proposed MLR would enable golf event organizers and committees to use specific balls for
certain elite championships and tournaments but would not impact the current recreational game in any
way.
It is proposed that the MLR will be available for implementation on 1 January 2026 (at the earliest).
Regarding item 2 from the March 2022 Notice, and again in consideration of industry feedback, The R&A
and USGA are not pursuing a reduction of the CT limit or changes to the Moment of Inertia limit of drivers
at this time.
While not pursuing a reduction in the CT limit, the USGA and The R&A are concerned that many of
today’s drivers exhibit levels of CT creep – meaning their CT values are appropriate at the point of
manufacturing/initial use, but can become non-conforming after repeated use, especially at the highest
level of competition. This is contrary to the purpose and intent of the Equipment Rules. As such the
USGA and The R&A are undertaking a comprehensive investigation of this phenomenon. Further details
on this topic will be forthcoming in due course.
Comments on the proposal for the Model Local Rule relating to golf ball conformance are due by 14
August 2023.

Eguller

Easy, easy fix for the ball manufacturers. We already use 'limited flight' balls in our practice facility.
If they can tweak the ball a 'fraction' for Tiger, etc.......well.

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