ode It appears that the USGA feels as if the the trend will continue with swing speed and ball speed🤔.....and that is what this about, at least in part.

Its probably a reasonable expectation. Athletes will continue to get better and stronger as they always have in every sport. technology, physical conditioning, etc will all continue to advance so I see this as not so much an attempt to dial back distances as to try and slow the progression. As per my post above, in 10 years we may well be at the same distances that pros are today, even with the change in ball

    Our, meaning the recreational golfers, opinion is meaningless to the USGA/R&A. We don't have a trade association/union, so to speak, voicing our opinion in one voice. We are just individuals offering comments and they don't care what we have to say. Individually we have no influence, even though without us there would literally be no golf. It's nice for a discussion but as far as having any real effect on their decisions they don't give a rat's azz what any of us think, nor do they care...It's the golf ball today, tomorrow it will the game improvement woods and irons...The only way to get them to listen to the 99% of golfers who actually keep the game rolling in the money is to stop buying what they try to sell us.

    Spuzz So it's play "their" ball (at what crazy price point btw?) or play those non-spinning POS balls?

    I'm sure there will be new balls for slow and average speed players. I doubt we will lose much at all with premium balls designed for 90 MPH. Just my guess from a business point of view.

        ode Yeah, supposedly all of the people playing Soft Feels and such are already losing distance by doing that. I was just trying to say that if that is your ball, you're not going to lose distance under the new rules.

          Weirfan I remember back 35 yrs. ago when I trained horses. Canada always had the 'secret' drugs.

          Please Pete.....stay off them! 🤣

          Weirfan Who knows by 2030 what equipment advances will come about to offset that and might even be hitting it further by then

              DonM Just my guess from a business point of view.

              I am not talking about distance. I don't give a rat's ass.
              I am talking about having a choice of what ball, at an affordable price, that I want to play.
              IE. a urethane ball that is not a marshmallow
              Is price collusion a possibility? Will they still make the balls that are currently available but just call them "illegal?"
              Just curious as I will have enough balls stocked up in my closet by then that I won't give a shit.
              I also have enough high lofted driver heads to not care when they fuck those up too. LOL
              🙂

                  Spuzz when they fuck those up too. LOL

                  .....and they will, eventually.

                    For those who like to get worked up, I believe that the next characteristic to be looked at and limited will be MOI and overall MOI. Hints are out there. 🤔

                      Eguller For those who like to get worked up, I believe that the next characteristic to be looked at and limited will be MOI and overall MOI. Hints are out there

                      Did more than hint at it. R&A’s Martin Slumbers said that the next thing they’ll look at is driver forgiveness. And not about making it more forgiving.😏

                        Sparky I have a couple I could part with.
                        Only $128/ea. shipped.
                        🤣 If they only go down to 400cc, I have a nice Launcher 400 for a mere $117. Free shipping as always!!

                        The 02 head is 401 cc., iirc.. Would still fall into the 400 limit with the 'allowance'.

                          Sparky I hope they roll back driver size to 350cc, I'd better get ready by stocking up on SMT Shinnecocks. Or that Root Beer head.

                          Let's go hickory, persimmon and gutta perch. That will dial shit back.......

                              sdandrea1 Let's go hickory, persimmon

                              Pro Baseball mandates wooden bats……so, good idea. 🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♂️

                                I’d love to see more than pushback. If the ball manufacturers and the Professional Tours used their leverage and aligned and said this is a bad idea and we’re not going to abide by this then they’d have the upper hand.

                                But just saying we disagree and want more discussions is useless at this point. Why the professional tours allow an amateur regulatory body to dictate what they must do is puzzeling.

                                Especially when it’s detrimental to the stated ‘good for the growth of the game.’

                                  Sneakylong Especially when it’s detrimental to the stated ‘good for the growth of the game.’

                                  I can’t imagine why someone with the USGA would state that? “Good for the game” sure, I could understand that. They’ve made multiple comments about returning skills/shots to the game, but “growth”? If there’s some logic there, I’m not following it.

                                      Stu1961

                                      Growing the game is always part of their rhetoric.

                                      https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/members/whats-next.html

                                      “What’s Next? Here’s How the Game Can Continue to Grow.”

                                      https://mediacenter.usga.org/press-releases?item=122604

                                      “USGA Increases Commitment to Growing the Game Through PLAY9 Program”

                                      https://mediacenter.usga.org/index.php?s=34180

                                      Grow The Game

                                      “Annually, the USGA directs investments millions of dollars toward breaking down barriers of entry into the game. In collaboration with our industry peers and Allied Golf Associations, the USGA is focused on a number of national and localized efforts that are leading toward a more welcoming and inclusive game.

                                      https://deloitte.wsj.com/cmo/how-the-usga-is-teeing-up-growth-01653068280

                                      “How the USGA Is Teeing Up Growth
                                      The USGA is working to engage more fans through participation, diversity, and innovation initiatives.”

                                          Sneakylong
                                          Oh, I thought your quote was in regard to the specific action of rolling the ball back as being a measure taken to grow the game. Obviously not. While they do want to grow the game, their primary mission is to ensure a stronger future for the game of golf. Returning skill sets must, in their opinion, be in that best interest.

                                              Stu1961

                                              Yeah, the problem is they’re not on the same page as 99% of golfers. Everything I’ve read says that once you’ve been playing ~ 3 years or so you’ve probably plateaued and won’t get much better. Handicaps not decreasing that much over the years bears that out.

                                              From MyGolfSpy in an article from 2014.

                                              https://mygolfspy.com/labs/study-overall-golfer-performance-by-handicap/

                                              “Only 10% of golfers who track their handicap break 80 on a regular basis. Let me say that again. Only 10% of golfers break 80 on a regular basis. 49% of golfers break 90 on a regular basis. 86% of golfers break 100.”

                                              Also, the majority of golfers don’t keep a handicap.

                                              https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jon-sherman-945497ba_there-are-roughly-65-million-golfers-in-the-activity-7096840834267897856-Y52b#:~:text=Less%20than%201%25%20of%20them%20are%20scratch%20or%20better.,a%20lot%20of%20missed%20putts.

                                              “There are roughly 65 million golfers in the world.
                                              Less than 1% of them are scratch or better.”

                                              The USGA governs like those numbers are reversed. With 99% of golfers being scratch or better.