"Just what sort of transition awaits tour players remains a matter of opinion."

Last week Michael Phelps went retro in advance of a technology rollback, and as Steve Elling explains, Stephen Ames did the same at the Children's Miracle Network event at Disney. Only Ames won:

[Davis] Love said he doubted the switch would be noticeable and then Stephen Ames basically proved him right. The Canadian star birdied five of the last seven holes at Disney World on Sunday and won, and all of his Nike irons conform to 2010 rules. Ames said he had some flier lies, as expected with the grooves change, but he handled matters well. "We got a couple, and the way the ball was reacting on the greens and everything, it was perfect," he said. Steve Ames is a conformist? There's a sentence I never thought I would read, much less write.

Comments

[Joshua]

A conformist, for using conforming driver...
Is that a bad pun or a senior moment by Elling?

[Lynn S.]

Two things
If this is true, then will the groove change ultimately affect hackers more than quality players who can put more spin on their shots?

Secondly, if true what does this do to Jim Vernon's two years at the helm of the USGA? A legacy of doing nothing of value about changing the balls and implements?

[chico]

Callaway reckon that the groove change reduces spin by about 400rpm and their new ball has 350 more rpm than the old one-pretty much status quo there.
Grassy lies with a bunker in the way ought to be more difficult but it doesnt look like the rule change will have much effect.Hope I'm wrong.
Depressing.

[thusgone]

any rule that truly "puts the skill back in the game" necessarily affects hackers more than quality players, doesn't it?

[Vwgolfer]

As I thought this rule will do little but make hacks like me feel the need to go out and buy new wedges. Once again the little guy is punished .

[Vwgolfer]

Golf---apply lift clean and place sometimes. Then worry about 400 rpm of spin. Do the people in charge play the game?