USGA & R&A distance rollback.

Spuzz

sdandrea1 I'm surprised Simpson made that comment. Just because you're tall doesn't mean you need longer clubs.

True, but his point was what if he did need it?
Why have a rule that restricts a player's ability and skills?
My guess is they are afraid of the Kyle Birkshisers of long drive ilk "infiltrating" their old boys club.
Same as Daly and Victor Schwamkrug being called freaks of nature when they arrived on scene.

Can you imagine Zdeno Chara playing with a short stick?
lol

ode

Spuzz Webb would be better off refuting the longer in length driver being an issue by stating the facts and getting the driver length of every PGA player that was inside the top125 and then asking them WTF they are worried about.....the select few listening to themselves is the issue IMO. Distance based on current driver length is one thing but extrapolating potential distance numbers based on a problem that does not exist currently that they think could become a problem🤔....USGA needs a rollback.

Spuzz

ode USGA needs a rollback.

Agree.
As I said, Webb was asked and he answered, on the spot.
I assume if he was campaigning against the USGA, he would have a Power Point presentation handy, complete with stats.
😉
My interpretation of his tall man comment is that he was referring to just being able to stand up properly and play golf, not hit it a long way.
Same deal with my Chara comment.
Both guys would look like a greyhound fucking a football if they had to play with sticks that were way too short.

Weirfan

sdandrea1

It is probably the only intelligent thing Web said, otherwise he is just a whinebag

i've built drivers for 2 basketball players, one a former NBA pro and they needed the longest I could make and super jumbo grips.

Eguller

I'm probably too cynical, but I think 'following the money' will show the end game.

The USGA, PGA, R&A, etc. won't shoot themselves in the foot financially. There will
be enormous pressure from the golf equipment industry as well. Whatever change is
coming soon, it will be incremental. It can't be radical and financially disruptive. JMO

Weirfan

Eguller

most definitely will be incremental and as I have said already, my bet is a max length in the driver first(which Will go down as the Bryson rule) . After that they will be calculated in their next moves but dollars to donuts their will be more changes down the line.

I'm not convinced and haven't read anything from anyone that gives a reasonable explanation as to why and how manufacturers will be hurt. tour only clubs and balls exist now that we amateurs dont play so what is changing ?
Pros dont pay for equipment so no sales lost. Assuming that these rule changes are for pros and high level Amateurs only then there is no impact to us average joes , we will still need to buy balls and clubs as we do now and always have. Nothing changes. The introduction of new wedge groove rules didn't hurt wedge sales.
the best golfers will still be the best golfers, the manufacturers will pump the clubs and ball and shoes they wear as they do now. Its 95% BS and marketing bunk anyways.....that wont stop, these guys are way too smart...... they will just pump from a different angle. I doubt anyone here falls prey to what they say anyways. Who here buys a ball or club because Rory is using it ? Cant be many if any

Subsonic

Eguller I was thinking having the rules as they are for the Pro/Competitive Golfer and a set of simplified rules for the recreational golfer.

sdandrea1

Subsonic and a set of simplified rules for the recreational golfer

We have those now. Make them up on the 1st tee. 😉

Subsonic

sdandrea1 I was thinking of something a little more codified.

sdandrea1

Subsonic I was thinking of something a little more codified.

We write them down........so we won't forget them. That's codified.

Giphy - old man od GIF by S4C

rsvman2

Eguller caledonia is a great course. Royal New Kent is amazing, too. Uncle Steve, have you played Royal New Kent? It's about halfway between Williamsburg and Richmond.

sdandrea1

rsvman2
Played Royal New Kent, Stonehouse and Brickshire. Not sure if Stonehouse is still open. They were nice tracks, but haven't been down there in a few years.

bad9

IIRC the rules governing driver specs have been around since 2005 or so. During that time I recall one male pro golfer(lets be honest this discussion is 100% because of a perceived issue in male pro golf) using a longer than 45" driver. One. Bryson. And he has totally sold out body and technique to hit the ball as far as he can off the tee. Do pros hit it further today than in the past? Sure they do. Did Nicklaus hit it further than Bobby Jones? Undoubtedly. Did he play all the same courses as pros did in the 20's and 30's? No. Things change, players are better athletes, are trained better from an earlier age. Courses became outdated for reasons more than just distance. Outside of those used on pro tours what courses have become unusable by none pros? How many course records have been routinely broken because we all hit it so far? Ours has stood for 20yrs and no one has come close to it since.

Eguller

bad9 How many course records have been routinely broken because we all hit it so far?

Not many. Most are broken because a highly skilled golfer is ON, plus the greens are superb.

bad9

Eguller And yet we are constantly being told that distance making courses obsolete and that they need to rebuilt costing millions of dollars, and on and on and on.

Eguller

bad9 Eguller And yet we are constantly being told that distance making courses obsolete and that they need to rebuilt costing millions of dollars, and on and on and on.