“So do I think they made a wise move?’’
Alex Miceli says Jack Nicklaus is sounding more giddy than ever about the USGA's backdoor ball rollback.
“But I think they’re really on the right track,” Nicklaus said. “I certainly hope so, because what’s going to happen is that the golf ball – the pros are going to be the ones that drive what goes on.
“And the pros are going to hit the ball in the rough. They’re not going to be able to stop this golf ball out of the rough with the V-grooves. They’re going to want a softer ball so they can hit a softer shot. When you have a softer ball, it’s going to curve more and not go as far.
Then they’re going to have to change the driver to fit it. They’re going to have to change the ball to fit it without getting into a lawsuit, which is what the whole objective has been.”
It may be circular logic, but if you follow it to its likely conclusion, it makes sense: making the classic course relevant again in a technological age.
“So do I think they made a wise move?’’ Nicklaus said. “Yes. I just hope they go far enough that they bring it back to where many of these wonderful golf courses we’ve got in the world, frankly, are really tests for people. further away.”
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 07:47 PM
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Reader Comments (18)
Having watched the R and A testing grooves at the Dunhill and being surprised how many clubs passed I fear they might not have gone far enough.
Time will tell.
My point would be that I would like to see the game returned to a level where our best courses are still a challenge.Not to make the game more difficult-no need to go back to hickory!
WR, you are making a valid point about Mr. Woods, but isn't that they way it should be? The best, most skilled players should win, not simply those who can bash the ball great distances. That disconnect between power and skill has existed in the game since time immemorial, but the modern golf ball has skewed the disconnect in favor of the powerful, to the detriment of our classic golf courses.
Jack is correct that the method of attacking this disconnect is circular, by changing the grooves. Notwithstanding Wally's objections to the diminution in the value of his patents, the ball would and should be a much easier target for change. . .
OWGR-I used to be a tour pro but I wasnt very good which is why I am now a club pro and part time referee! Yes I do find it odd that now as an overweight 54 yr old that doesnt practise that I reach holes with a drive and a 7 iron that used to take me a drive and a 3 or 4 iron when I was a fit 25 yr old in the Euro tour top 100 and practised 4hrs+ a day!And this isnt because I've got any better.
I think the game at elite level has got out of control and I would like to see changes but i would leave the rest alone(ie I'm a tournament ball fan)
I have no problem with Wooods winning even more-he's the best by miles-so why not?
jb
However as its been argued here and other places ad nauseum its just not all the ball and most realize that. I'm quite sure you realize that. Back when you were younger you were probably hitting a 43 inch laminated/persimmon non forgiving driver with a 130+ gram steel shaft while playing a golf ball (balata covered) that was not optimized for distance unless you were playing a two piece solid core ball.
Today you are probably playing a 45-46 inch titanium headed driver that has a lightweight graphite shaft (sub 70 grams) and a golf ball that is optimized for dstance and that also spins closer to that of a balata ball.
Are you using a modern set of irons? If so the lofts are anywhere from 3-6 degress stronger per iron (which equates to anywhere between 9-24 yards longer) and the shaft is longer as well. So you have loft creep on your irons while the shaft in your irons are more than likely longer than your equivalent irons from years ago. So your old 5 iron of yester year is your 7 iron of today when stronger lofts and shaft length (and todays ball) are taken into account.
My first set of real irons were Wilson Staff tour blades that had a 50 degree pitching wedge and was 35 inches in length. My irons today (Taylor Made) have a 47 degree pw and is 35.75 in length. Guess what one I'm hitting further regardless of what type of ball I'm using. As you know sets of irons today have pw as low as 43 degrees. Compare that to my old Wilson Staffs and thats nearly the same as the Staffs 8 iron loft.
Back to the point about the ball. There is an even easier way to make the ball fly shorter. Have the USGA/R&A decrease the weight spec of the golf ball slightly. In theory it would make the ball spin more and there by shorten the distance it travels as well. Titleist did this a few years back when they had the DT Solo as part of its ball line. The ball was made for slow swing speed players and to get the ball to lauch higher for those players they slightly reduced the overall weight of the ball.
I know my equipment is better all round than when I was playing seriously but 'game improver' clubs were supposed to help the recreational player and perversely have helped the pro even more.To me the ball is the most simple way of redressing the balance slightly.
I agree with jb-the game is boring to watch.All power-no variety-few craftsmen(other than Tiger) and to me thats too bad.
What happened to simply building a course that everyday folks can play? They are hard to find anymore. The overblown ego of many course developers and some course architects are squarely to blame for that.
"I cannot understand why a 6:3 guard today cannot become a good free throw shooter."
Bill Walton
It is in the nature of everyone to think and speak highly of our past.
Without question the single greatest sentence ever written on Geoff's site...
But I happen to agree with Jack that the USGA has come up with a pretty ingenious way of attacking technology. Rather than simply rolling the ball back, they have tried to take away the biggest advantage of the modern equipment- distance, control, and very good spin characteristics for both long and short shots. The USGA is trying to reduce the degree to which pros can control the ball, and there is a good chance that if it works well enough, they will dial back on distance on their own.