The collective announcement that the USGA and R&A would be working on new ideas in collaboration with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to find solutions to slow the rate of distance increases at the elite level of the game reopened the question of where the rollback stands. While the ruling bodies are committed to implementing a change to the distance golf ***** fly beginning in 2030, Wednesday’s announcement suggests we are a long way from clarity. Here are some questions and answers.
Is the rollback dead?The ruling bodies have been talking about the distance issue since the Joint Statement of Principles was released more than two decades ago. Since that announcement 24 years ago, driving distance on the PGA Tour has increased nearly 25 yards. In short, for various reasons, they’ve delayed and deferred and studied without coming to a significant decision about a rollback until late 2023 when they announced the rollback to the Overall Distance Standard test. The USGA and R&A were initially firm in implementing the rollback in two stages, for elite players in 2028 and then all of golf in 2030. Now, they plan on implementing the ball change universally in 2030. But in the same breadth, Wednesday’s announcement suggests they are collaborating with the pro tours on alternatives to stop distance increases and studying concerns that “the updated ODS testing approach may not achieve the desired results.” So, the rulemakers are firm that something is going to happen by 2030, but also saying there’s urgency to re-open the study of the problem. The more nothing is decided collectively, the more nothing is done. Maybe a rollback happens, but it seems like it's going to take a lot more late-stage negotiating on a topic that 24 hours ago seemed to be settled.
Is 2030 a reasonable date? It seems like manufacturers have to start all over again.Difficult to tell. If there is a significant shift in the Overall Distance Standard, it’s tight. Manufacturers have been working on rolled-back designs for a decade or more. However, more recently their focus has been on designs that meet the new standard. Anything significantly altering that will take time.
It sounds like the USGA and R&A are no longer driving the bus when it comes to these kinds of rule changes. It’s reasonable to believe two things here: One, the PGA Tour wants to be involved more. Two, the PGA Tour doesn’t want the headache of policing equipment rules. While the professional tours and the PGA of America have long been part of the discussions when rules are being proposed, they are not making the rules, they are abiding by them. Based on many of Wednesday’s comments, the feelings about the status of distance at the elite level seem to be shared across the tours and the rulemakers. What’s not shared is what needs to be done or can be done, and indeed, what’s good for the business of the game. It seems the PGA Tour holds all the cards in this issue and its players will be more involved in how the r
Is the rollback dead?The ruling bodies have been talking about the distance issue since the Joint Statement of Principles was released more than two decades ago. Since that announcement 24 years ago, driving distance on the PGA Tour has increased nearly 25 yards. In short, for various reasons, they’ve delayed and deferred and studied without coming to a significant decision about a rollback until late 2023 when they announced the rollback to the Overall Distance Standard test. The USGA and R&A were initially firm in implementing the rollback in two stages, for elite players in 2028 and then all of golf in 2030. Now, they plan on implementing the ball change universally in 2030. But in the same breadth, Wednesday’s announcement suggests they are collaborating with the pro tours on alternatives to stop distance increases and studying concerns that “the updated ODS testing approach may not achieve the desired results.” So, the rulemakers are firm that something is going to happen by 2030, but also saying there’s urgency to re-open the study of the problem. The more nothing is decided collectively, the more nothing is done. Maybe a rollback happens, but it seems like it's going to take a lot more late-stage negotiating on a topic that 24 hours ago seemed to be settled.
Is 2030 a reasonable date? It seems like manufacturers have to start all over again.Difficult to tell. If there is a significant shift in the Overall Distance Standard, it’s tight. Manufacturers have been working on rolled-back designs for a decade or more. However, more recently their focus has been on designs that meet the new standard. Anything significantly altering that will take time.
It sounds like the USGA and R&A are no longer driving the bus when it comes to these kinds of rule changes. It’s reasonable to believe two things here: One, the PGA Tour wants to be involved more. Two, the PGA Tour doesn’t want the headache of policing equipment rules. While the professional tours and the PGA of America have long been part of the discussions when rules are being proposed, they are not making the rules, they are abiding by them. Based on many of Wednesday’s comments, the feelings about the status of distance at the elite level seem to be shared across the tours and the rulemakers. What’s not shared is what needs to be done or can be done, and indeed, what’s good for the business of the game. It seems the PGA Tour holds all the cards in this issue and its players will be more involved in how the r
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