New balls: Why weekend golfers will be losing distance off the tee
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Amateur Australian golfers will be impacted by rule changes that will render most golf balls used professionally and recreationally illegal.
Plans for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the US Golf Association (USGA) to rein in the distance a ball can be hit by changing the performance of the ball had originally been intended to only impact pros and top amateurs.
The R&A and USGA – who effectively control playing regulations – are now set to implement the rules across all levels of golf following opposition from the PGA Tour and criticism from some of the sport’s biggest names.
Golf Australia on Monday declined to comment on the prospective changes. But sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said it stands to reason that the local game will inevitably follow the R&A’s plans.
The use of new balls is expected to be required by 2028 at a professional level and two years later for amateurs.
Balls will be tested at a new swing speed of 201 km/hr (125 mph) instead of the previous 193 km/hr (120 mph) measure, and must not travel further than 289 metres (317 yards).
Tiger Woods – playing the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas – is a proponent of the rule changes.Credit: Getty
A reduction in shot distance of 10-20 metres with a driver is tipped for elite hitters, but the impact would be felt significantly less by weekend hackers, with the billion-dollar ball manufacturing industry to be hit hardest by a need to change ball composition.
Former world No.1 Rory McIlroy, 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have all supported the move.
Proponents of “shorter balls” argue that modern pros regularly driving balls beyond 300 metres create the need for longer courses which require extra maintenance. The result is a greater environmental impact.
McIlroy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that opposition to bifurcation – where professionals would use a different ball to amateurs – meant there is little room for gripes around the new changes in his eyes.
“I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball rollback,” McIlroy said.
“It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past two decades.”
“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want ‘bifurcation’.
“The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines when in reality, the game is already bifurcated.
“You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.”
Golf authorities have made several moves to curb technology in the sport in recent decades, including limiting club length, technology and size of drivers and grooves on irons.
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