Once again, USGA wants to kill technology

[jedioliver]

Once again, USGA wants to avoid any technology increase in golf.

How long will this continue???!!!???

USGA SENDS NOTICE TO MANUFACTURERS

By Mike Stachura

The U.S. Golf Association sent word to golf equipment manufacturers on Wednesday that it was exploring research aimed at possible new equipment rules.

In a memorandum dated March 30 obtained by Golf Digest, the USGA announced it would be specifically focusing on three areas: spin generation, moment of inertia and the adjustability of woods and irons.

d**k Rugge, senior technical director for the USGA, explained the memo was an effort to keep manufacturers abreast of the areas of interest for the game's ruling body when it comes to current golf technology. There is, he stressed, no timeline for implementing any new rules. Rugge has stated his desire to be more proactive rather than reactive in equipment rules-making.

"We have no specific rules in mind at this time, we are just doing research," he said. "This is not a proposal, and there is no rule.

"There's no intrigue here, no plot. Really, we're just trying to be more communicative."

Several major manufacturers contacted by Golf Digest declined to comment on the USGA notice.

The first of the three topics in the notice concerns ball spin. For instance, the balls being used by the elite players of today react with less spin off the driver, while retaining shotmaking spin around the greens. The notice calls spin "one of the key performance characteristics controlling ball flight and ball response on the ground." Under the topic heading of Spin Generation, the notice reads, "The USGA has been investigating how spin is generated when a golf ball is struck by a golf club. This is being done for a variety of shots, clubs, club face conditions, balls, and playing conditions. This research includes computer simulation modeling, lab testing, robot testing, and player testing. It is possible that this research could lead to future proposals for new measurements, new tests and limits for club or ball parameters which affect spin."

The USGA is apparently concerned that manufacturers may be able to design a ball that on one hand passes the USGA overall distance standard under the stipulated launch conditions, but under different launch conditions actually exceeds the standard. If players are able to achieve those launch conditions (of which ball spin is a key component), then they are able to launch tee shots that fly farther than the 320-yard limit as specified in the USGA overall distance standard.

The USGA is also conducting research under the concept of moment of inertia. According to the notice, moment of inertia in driver heads has approximately tripled since 1990, about the time of the introduction of the first oversized drivers. In simplest terms, moment of inertia relates to a clubhead's resistance to twisting on off-center hits. A club with a high moment of inertia can be said to be more forgiving of hits away from the center of the face.

"The USGA is concerned that any further increases in clubhead moment of inertia may reduce the challenge of the game," the memo reads. "The USGA is conducting this research to determine whether a limit on moment of inertia should be established."

The third area focuses not on a further restriction, but on an expansion of current rules, specifically allowing more adjustable features on clubs (although there is no movement to change the rule that does not permit adjustments mid-round). One of the most popular clubs in golf currently is the TaylorMade r7 Quad, which comes with four adjustable weight screws.

Rugge said the notice does not signal any future rule changes, or even a rollback, as some have advocated over the years, most notably Jack Nicklaus and more recently former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman.

"I would advise those who are trying to predict the future to base that prediction on our past history," he said.

These subjects, he said, are areas of intellectual curiosity, not motivated by any agenda.

"The more knowledge we have the better we're able to make a decision to enact a rule or choose not to enact a rule," he said. "To do either of those things, you need knowledge, and that's all we're trying to do."

[slicktry]

Hmmmm, wasn't Tiger the biggest proponent of controlling how long the ball goes, and saying it should be done by adding more spin off the driver???

God Bless

Jer

[jboy]

I'm probably just as long as I was in the 80's as I am now... in fact I'm a worse player now... the small persimmon and metal heads ment you had to be more exacting when hitting the ball... not now, most players are hitting on parts of the driver face that back in the early days would have been classified as fresh air shots.

The new balls don't spin as much as the old balls but they do last longer and play better in the wind (with the exception of the 384 LT.. was a great ball)

I'm all for equipement limitations, the equipment gains have helped the chumps and hacker more than the low handicapper

[johnnypro]

I don't see anything in that notice to get anyone's palms sweating. Do we want the USGA to NOT investigate / research the new clubs and balls that are being produced? I don't think so. The 460cc limit is a good one. So are the COR, club length and initial ball speed limits. They merely said they were doing research on spin and MOI. They may even expand the rules on movable clubhead parts.

Technology has its place but I personally find it ludicrous that, at 55 years old and 20+ pounds overweight, I can hit it as far or farther than I did 20 years ago. Have I gotten stronger or more athletic? I doubt it.

Personally, I think the USGA does a pretty damn good job in all phases of the game. And I do think the pros should play with a standard "tour" ball that is rolled back about 5%. It's ridiculous to see these guys hitting 9 iron into 18 at Riviera when 25 years ago the guys were hitting 3 or 4. What's next - 550 yard par 4's?

Where would the game be without limits or rules? As my wife's aunt used to say "Enough is enough and that's enough!"

[HipCheck]

I don't mind them looking into new rules/limits on technology. The slothlike bureacracy that is the USGA has to get with the times somehow.

[gjones77]

l believe there should be limits, if thigns keep up, at this rate they'll have to put the tee boxes in the parking lot.

None the less, Tiger and Nicklaus back up the idea of limiting the technology, they've basically taken all the skill out of golf with the distance you can drive things nowadays. You're a 9 irons or PW away after a drive on a par 4...

[s2h2]

I played last week with a set of MT's, Joe Powell woods and a balata.

The driver is where the tech has come into play for me personally. I was maybe a 1/2 cub different on the irons, drove the ball 15-20 yards farther with the new driver/ball.

I'm a somewhat short hitter too---the guy's that benefit most are the high-swing speed fellows.

[mossy]

At 37 years old and a conservative 20 pounds heavier(not as a result of any workout regimine) I am hitting less club into the same holes I did 15 years ago.

Guys I play with who are 50plus years old are longer now than they were at 30. Obviously the equipment needs to calm down

Interestingly, none of us are any better thanks to the distance/equipment than we were when we played blades, balatas and small headed steel drivers.(never really played persimon). WE WERE 0-5 THEN AND WE'RE 0-5 NOW. I GUESS THEY NEED SOME INPROVEMENT FOR WEDGES AND PUTTERS. LOL

[bhpdg]

i don't thnk this article is cause for alarm in the equipment world, and certainly don't get the feeling that the usga is trying to restrict any equipment maker. maybe it's limiting in a way because they're saying any future product will be reviewed under these guidelines, so it could be seen as a warning against OEMs, but nothing as strong as what the poster says.

i wouldn't necessarily call the usga's rules limitations. i mean every sport has to try and preserve its tradition but make sure that they don't hold back a modern athlete's natural abilities. golf, in my mind being one of the more traditional sports, just needs to make sure that equipment gets modernized at the same pace as the evolution in golfers/athletes and that a driver doesn't let an average joe with a crap swing dong one 300 yards.

on the range, even the luckiest trajectile-challenged hacker has a hard time hitting one 250 even with a 460 cleveland, so there is ability involved. but if that same guy launches one over the fence repeatedly, with an inconsistent swing, then you have to visit ball/driver hotness. but get these guys on the course and do they have game/creativity to get out of the places their tee shots land?

just venting. just seems like the usga equipment guidelines vs. manufacturers debate is misunderstood sometimes...

[tsg4tch]

Hurrah!

[Golf_MD]

I can understand technology making the game more fun for the average player, making guys feel like they can hit like the pros, etc. But for the pros to have all this technology is too much. At their level, there is a fine line between the best of the best. The purest ball strikers and shotmakers are penalized as the equipment will offset the minute difference in skill of a lesser player.

[el_noonan]

Finally!

USGA needs to do something about these new technologies comming out. Yes I play a 460 driver and a new era ball but that is only because I have to or weaker players will have the upper hand.

I think it would be interesting if the pro's had to play wood drivers, (as in baseball wood bats) and make an industry standard ball cor and outer layer.

I know the ball is the single biggest change in technology. I was hitting an old taylormade 7.5* tiny steel head, and to be honest I los 10 yards off of my comp.

But pull out a balata and a callaway Black hit them both with the comp, 35 yards.

I know that golf is an industry and buisness looking to make money(the manufactors) but is also a game and a sport, they aren't making the hoops in basketball bigger or the pucks in hockey more areodynamic.

LIMITS NEED TO BE SET!

[vigit]

It is about time. People are hitting the ball way too far. The game has become a driver and wedge game. 300 yds is far enough to be hitting the ball.

[MGB]

Though I don't have strong feelings on this matter yet, I'm actually surprised to see how many want to see limits set on this (essentially an equipment) forum. Interesting...

[ChocolateBoy]

i believe the usga should keep the amateur equipment rules the same but put in a standard ball for the pga tour. basketball players, football players, baseball players, all use the same ball and in my opnino so should the pga tour players

[jlauber]

Hopefully they will roll back equipment. I'm already getting excited..soon I'll be hitting the ball 40 yds less, and more crooked. And since I'm not a shot-maker, I should really enjoy watching my handicap rise to the 30's.

Hopefully they will bring back those old blades, with a sweetspot the size of a millimeter, and a head size half as big as the current blades. That way, I'll know when I really hit a good shot. Right now my equipment is just too forgiving...absolutely no fun.

And I also can't wait to hit a solid drive, then a solid 3-wd, and maybe flush an 8 iron to a 450 yd par 4.

You can be sure that I will buy all the "new" low distance balls, and guaranteed shorter distance drivers as fast as they make them!!!