Weirfan 3 wood distance stats compiled by Trackman show on average 3 wood carry distance is 32 yards less than the driver.
I imagine if they had no driver they could close the gap between 3 wood and driver quite a bit. They're hitting 3 wood for accuracy now, if they needed it for more distance they'd go to lower lofted fairway woods with different designs for distance.
Sure , one can also make the argument that pros aren't swinging full and for max distance many times with the driver either.
low lofted (13*) 3 woods already exist now...... hitting off the deck will never give the spin and launch variables and distances that off a tee does. Some guys will still hit it 300 off the deck with a 3 wood but they are the ones who routinely hit it 330+ with their driver .
I don't think the PGA will ever use Faldo's idea, but if reducing distances is a goal of the Associations and Tours, it would be a cheap and easy thing to do
perhaps a rule maximizing length of the 3 wood like they have with the driver. Again, I don't see the no tee thing being adopted, while there might be idle talk, I don't even think there are any serious discussions taking place about changing the game to reduce distance ongoing so expect status quo for the next 5-10 years at least
Weirfan low lofted (13*) 3 woods already exist now.
I have no idea but I doubt many pros are using 13* 3 woods. They don't want their 3 wood going as far or close to their driver. But if they had no driver they would. Then you'd see a change. Probably even 12* fairway drivers, etc. They'd cut that 32 yard gap somehow.
This whole argument is ridicules when the obvious answer, if you are truly interested of restricting yardage, is the ball.
It probably won't happen, but it is an interesting idea. If the pros can't tee it high and let it fly they would likely need a 2 wood, mini driver or whatever to get the most out of the situation. It certainly is easy to implement.
azgreg This whole argument is ridicules when the obvious answer, if you are truly interested of restricting yardage, is the ball.
Agree with you, Nicklaus, etc..They could spec the ball tightly and then let various manufacturers 'brand' them
so that the 'pros' could do their marketing/sponsorship/branding schtick versus rotating brands pros use.
The ball is the only logical answer as has been put forth for years. JMO.
scotts33 I've not seen this ever be a hindrance to Laura Davies. She's never used a tee, 'peg'. Haven't kept track of her distances, but I've never noticed her to be short. I have seen her duff a couple, though. Faldo must not be paying much attention when he's watching golf. When these guys pull out a 3 wd. and still hit over 300 off the tee, and 280+ off the turf, I'm considering him to be just another idiot. Consider how they got so good with driver....practice. What will they do if they are not allowed tees or drivers, using 3 woods only??……...practice. And still be just as long. In reality, they will be even longer considering how straight they might be.
The idea that pros and amateurs have to use the same equipment is the problem. Pro baseball players can’t use metal bats, an NFL football is bigger than a high school football. Let the pros use a dead ball and let everybody else use what they like. If they had a professional wiffle ball league I’m sure they wouldn’t let the players use a Flintstones bat.
I think this is a dumb idea period, but it will never happen anyways as the major OEM's will not like it. If you really want to take away the distance off the tee - just make fairways narrower and the rough more punishing to hit out of. Maybe add more fairway bunkers and make them deeper too. How about making the fairways harder so more balls will roll of the fairway if not hit in the optimal spot or with the right trajectory. If hitting greens with wedges from the rough becomes difficult, then the pros will have to think about using driver off the tee or they will start to hit shorter but more controllable drives instead of swinging for the fences on the tee box. Since you can't make courses longer, make them tougher. Having said that, in my opinion, I don't find golf any less enjoyable to watch because the guys on tour can drive it 300+ yards and thus see no need to reduce driver distance anyways. If you did take Faldo's suggestion to r reduce driver distances then the game would be more about who has the best long iron game - why would this be any better?
Faldo was probably distracted when he thought this brainfart up. He'd probably just attended the birth of his next wife.
Keep in mind the PGA, The PGA Tour, the USGA, and the R&A are 4 separate organizations and while they all try to abide by the same rules, they do not have to. Granted, it could be a hodge podge but it could be done.
Along the line of only wooden bats are allowed in MLB.
An easier way to get a similar result would be to limit the size of clubheads (maybe to something in the 150-200cc range, from the current 460cc - around the size of current 3-woods). Yes, the players and manufacturers would come up with solutions to get the optimal launch conditions and distance out of the small clubhead, but these clubs would be less forgiving - either players would have to swing within themselves to keep control of the ball, or take the risk of going further offline on their bad swings than at present.
Narrow the fairways, grow the rough long and let 'em bomb it.
I gotta agree with Steve -- easier to narrow the fairways the further out you go, make the rough look like the lawn when you haven't mowed for three weeks during rainy season. Miss the fairway, and if the ball sits down in rough, even with wedge, these guys aren't going to have the ball control they do now. Plant a few short evergreens down there -- if they end up underneath them, they won't be happy.
Focus on course setup and maintenance. Set the course up more like a muni and less like a birdie fest.
Make 'em putt on aerated greens. That'll keep the scores in check.
