{"id":1248508,"date":"2023-12-06T14:00:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/ra-boss-says-rule-change-to-reduce-golf-ball-distance-is-proportionate\/"},"modified":"2023-12-07T18:28:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T18:28:18","slug":"ra-boss-says-rule-change-to-reduce-golf-ball-distance-is-proportionate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/ra-boss-says-rule-change-to-reduce-golf-ball-distance-is-proportionate\/","title":{"rendered":"R&A boss says rule change to reduce golf ball distance is \u2018proportionate\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Golf\u2019s governing bodies insist a new rule change to reduce the distance balls travel is \u201cproportionate\u201d and will have \u201cminimal\u201d impact on recreational players.<\/p>\n

The R&A and USGA had previously proposed a Model Local Rule (MLR) to give elite tournaments the option to require the use of balls which would travel around 15 yards less.<\/p>\n

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R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers and USGA counterpart Mike Whan confirmed that the MLR would apply in their own events, most notably the Open Championship and US Open, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods supported the proposal but it was opposed by the PGA Tour and PGA of America and strongly criticised by top equipment manufacturing company Acushnet and the likes of Justin Thomas, who plays their market-leading Titleist balls.<\/p>\n

In response to what Slumbers termed \u201cpretty much no support\u201d for the MLR, the R&A and USGA are now revising the speed at which balls are tested, which will effectively make current versions non-conforming.<\/p>\n

The change will apply at the elite level from 2028, but also for recreational players from 2030.<\/p>\n

Keegan Bradley said during last week\u2019s Hero World Challenge that he had already tested a potential version of the new ball and claimed it was 40 to 50 yards shorter with his driver, labelling it \u201cmonstrous\u201d that amateur players would be impacted by the new rule.<\/p>\n

However, Slumbers told the PA news agency that such \u201cemotional numbers\u201d were completely inaccurate as he outlined the rationale behind the change.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving had pretty much no support for an MLR, we thought how can we best achieve our objectives, which is bringing back a little bit more skill in the game, slowing down hitting distance and our environmental sustainability concerns, without a tremendous impact on the recreational game,\u201d Slumbers said.<\/p>\n

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\"Tiger
Tiger Woods holding one of his golf balls during the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am Tournament at Adare Manor (Julien Behal\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cWe can do nothing, we can bifurcate the game \u2013 which was the MLR \u2013 or change the game for everybody. We always said that doing nothing was not an option.\u201d<\/p>\n

The clubhead speed at which balls are tested will rise from 120mph, which was implemented in 2004, to 125mph, while the distance limit remains at 317 yards, plus three yards of tolerance.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last six months we\u2019ve had quite a lot of golf balls sent to us that could have conformed with the MLR so we\u2019ve been able to test and understand how a ball at the fastest clubhead speeds would perform with the different rule,\u201d Slumbers added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact on the game is as follows: For the fastest swing speeds it will be 13-15 yards, for the average Tour speed nine to 11 yards and for the average recreational player less than five yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also know that as the clubs get shorter, the impact will tend towards zero because the clubhead speed drops.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do think it is proportionate and it is targeted and the impact to the recreational game is minimal and certainly not the emotional numbers that have been discussed in recent days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reaction to the change is certain to be mixed, but Slumbers gave short shrift to any suggestion of further \u201cnotice and comment\u201d periods.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a rule change, a change to the rules of golf equipment standards,\u201d added Slumbers, who conceded that the PGA Tour and PGA of America would have preferred the status quo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a process that we agreed with all the industry and we followed that diligently.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s taken five years to get to this point and we have listened, but we feel we\u2019ve got to the end of that process and the reality is that the rule change doesn\u2019t come into effect into January 2028.<\/p>\n

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\"Keegan
Keegan Bradley believes it is \u201cmonstrous\u201d for recreational players to have to use a shorter ball (David Davies\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cThis is a significant period of time and we have given more, as we were previously talking about 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernance is not easy, but our responsibility is to look to the future and make sure the game is appropriately structured for the long term and we believe this rule change is part of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s an important moment for the game and it\u2019s a positive moment for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, the governing bodies will monitor how drivers can become non-confirming through regular use and research how the clubs perform with off-centre hits.<\/p>\n

The PGA Tour and PGA of America both gave a qualified welcome to the news while also expressing opposition to the increase in test clubhead speed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout the process we have provided feedback to the USGA and The R&A and are pleased to see a number of our recommendations reflected in this most recent announcement,\u201d the PGA Tour said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we believe the proposed increase in test clubhead speed to 125mph is disproportional to the rate of increase we see when analysing PGA Tour radar data.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn conjunction with guidance from the Player Advisory Council, Player Directors and Policy Board, we will continue to share our feedback with the USGA and The R&A.\u201d<\/p>\n