Top professional golfers may be forced to use equipment that makes the game more difficult to play, while recreational amateurs would use clubs and balls developed to make good shots easier to hit.
As golf’s governing bodies grapple with the ever-increasing distances achieved by top professionals like Bryson DeChambeau, separating the elite game from that played by lowly hackers seems to be the preferred option.
In an updated list of “areas of concern” published today, the rulemakers suggest that the “sweet spot” in drivers used by top pros could be lowered in the future to ensure longer drives are only achieved on swings. more accurate.
“This is opening up the next stage of dialogue so we can look at a solution together,” Professor Steve Otto, R&A’s chief technology officer, told the BBC. “This is a complex problem that requires a complex solution.”
A “Distance Information Report” published by the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 2020 concluded that increasing long-term driving distances is detrimental.
DeChambeau, the injured defending champion of that year’s US Open, shoots his drives an average of more than 320 yards and is by no means the only one hitting his ball long distances.
Officials are also considering cushioning the spring effect of metal club faces that help propel the ball off the tee. They have already shortened the maximum shaft length for all clubs except putters from 48 inches to 46 inches.
There is now a chance that leading players will have to use drivers with reduced clubhead size.
“They would potentially move to smaller heads,” Otto said. “But it’s how they perform, it’s about making the sweet spot tighter, reducing forgiveness.
“So if you hit the center of the driver, you get the same distance, but if you move to the side, you’re penalized more.”
“Modern clubs are quite tolerant and that is something that elite football has been able to exploit.”
But the average tipster is unlikely to be affected. Using “Model Local Rules” allows changes to be limited to elite players only.
In fact, there is a desire to allow manufacturers to produce equipment that makes the game even easier for those competing for simple monthly medals or a five-dollar friendly.
“We are interested in what innovation space in both clubs and balls might be available to recreational golfers in the future,” Otto said.
“This opens up the possibility that we could see an innovation that helps them keep their distance, have more forgiving clubs and that could be good for them.”
“In the Distance Outlook Report we had a lot of golfers who thought distance was an issue, but not for them. They would like more distance.”
There are fears that historic golf layouts, such as the Old Course at St Andrews, which is hosting the 150th Open this year, may prove too easy for the modern generation of top players.
The additional resources required to keep the fields constantly expanding and the subsequent environmental impact are also cited as reasons to clamp down on heavy hitters.
Governing bodies are working with manufacturers and major professional tours to try to reach agreement on the need for restrictions at the top end of the game.
They now plan to measure the impact of turning speeds of at least 125 mph, instead of 120 mph. DeChambeau is averaging 132 mph and has managed 139 mph.
“It’s a reflection of people trying harder, who have evolved over the decades,” Otto added.
Interested parties have until September to submit comments, and there is a long period to go before the distance issue is resolved.
“We will work with the industry to understand when they might be ready, if this is the solution path we’re on, to take it forward,” Otto said.
“This is a long-term thing. I think we’re talking about several years instead of a single year.”
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