13 replies to this topic

[Tyler Knott Gregson]

What do you all think of the USGA's Groove rule that has been changed and supposed to be in effect by next year? I know a lot of pros, including Ian Poulter who just recently used Twitter to speak out about it, aren't happy. How much do you think this will affect manufacturers? How much will it cost, and most importantly, WHY are they doing it now? Seems to me things have been fine up until this point, why rock the boat and start making these changes now?

[NiftyNiblick]

I thinks that it's a terrible rule because although we'll still be allowed to use the old grooves for a while, we'll have to use old equipment to do it.
Since grooves wear out, it's just as if the rules were imposed on us as well.

If I were a manufacturer, I would now blatantly offer the option of wedges that don't even conform to the current, soon to be old, rules--real cover shredders. The timing is right and the market is there.

Golf is about recreational players. Skilled competitors are the anomaly. But the USGA thinks only about them when making rules like this. A competing sanctioning body isn't a bad idea.

[GolfTee]

I couldn't agree more actually...it's ridiculous that the rules set for the top 2% of golfers apply to, and affect the rest of the 98% that are recreational players. It's insane that we're going to be essentially punished for rules set up for the top tier of golf. I agree that there might need to be a new sanctioning body, one for the pro's and one for the rest of us.

[Maamold]

Tyler Knott Gregson, on Jun 14 2009, 09:24 AM, said:

What do you all think of the USGA's Groove rule that has been changed and supposed to be in effect by next year? I know a lot of pros, including Ian Poulter who just recently used Twitter to speak out about it, aren't happy. How much do you think this will affect manufacturers? How much will it cost, and most importantly, WHY are they doing it now? Seems to me things have been fine up until this point, why rock the boat and start making these changes now?

The pro's don't want it because they are a bunch of babies.

[TourSpecGolfer]

Maamold, on Jun 28 2009, 05:35 AM, said:

The pro's don't want it because they are a bunch of babies.

I dont see it that way, its a major inconvience to them to learn their wedge distances among other things again. I have heard that they provide very little spin and as normal golfers we never get to play greens as slick as they do so it must be insanely frustrating.

[SpyGolfer]

I think that pro's do over do it a bit. I know they play fast greens, but they also get brand new wedges with awesomely milled grooves, as often as they want. They can still get plenty of spin to master almost any shot needed. So if it's fair and everyone has to conform, let's not wine about how hard it is to make millions playing golf. lol

[Tyler Knott Gregson]

Looks like it's official, the groove change rule is in effect, although it won't trickle down to us amateurs and casual golfers until 2024. That's plenty of time to not worry about it. By 2024, I will probably be so bad at golf I won't notice. :)

[Goodsie]

Finally, the Groove rule is settled so all the teeth gnashing and "under the breath" mumbling can cease. What will Twitter ever do without this topic to kick around?

There will be a lot of "drops" made from under the TV Towers this next year on all the US Pro Tours that Finchem's budget will be stretched a bit hiring a whole bunch more Rules guys just to keep up.

[TourSpecGolfer]

SpyGolfer, on Jun 29 2009, 04:12 PM, said:

I think that pro's do over do it a bit. I know they play fast greens, but they also get brand new wedges with awesomely milled grooves, as often as they want. They can still get plenty of spin to master almost any shot needed. So if it's fair and everyone has to conform, let's not wine about how hard it is to make millions playing golf. lol

Not many pro's use brand new wedges. If you take notice they are are usually worn in and faded.

[Tyler Knott Gregson]

Good point...I think the only thing we'll be missing, or that will change, is that we'll see a bit less of those huge dramatic shots that hit the green and then spin wildly backwards at 60 miles per hour. We might even get to see golfers being a lot more careful with their shots and shaping them better to avoid problem areas.

[Blader-X]

Please clear up my confusion, does this new rule apply to only wedges or all clubs?

I really don't think it'll matter that much over time. Everyone will adapt. It'll definitely bring more thought back to the game which is a good thing. Keeps it fresh and challenging.

[TourSpecGolfer]

Blader-X, on Jul 6 2009, 07:03 PM, said:

Please clear up my confusion, does this new rule apply to only wedges or all clubs?

I really don't think it'll matter that much over time. Everyone will adapt. It'll definitely bring more thought back to the game which is a good thing. Keeps it fresh and challenging.

Anything with more loft than 25* not to worry I think your 901's have V-Grooves already.