(2/27/07) - The United States Golf Association (USGA) has introduced two new proposals to Rules of Golf pertaining to golf equipment. One of the proposals would introduce new regulations to groove specifications and the other would relax standards concerning the adjustability of woods and irons.

New Groove Regulations

The skill of driving accuracy has become a much less important factor in achieving success while playing golf than it used to be. USGA analysis of statistical data measured by the PGA Tour since 1980 shows that historically, driving accuracy was similarly correlated to winning as putting. Beginning in the early 1990’s, however, driving accuracy became much less important. Today, the correlation between driving accuracy rank and winning rank has reached a very low level.

In March 2005, the USGA informed club manufacturers of its interest in the area of spin generation, and that the USGA would conduct research on this topic. Since that time, the USGA and its rulemaking partner, the R&A, have been jointly conducting significant research into how groove designs affect spin and other performance characteristics. In August 2006, the USGA and the R&A sent a technical report summarizing the progress of the research to club manufacturers. The USGA and the R&A sent an additional research report in January 2007. The research findings are available on the USGA website at:  http://www.usga.org/equipment/notices/notices_and_announcements.html

The research clearly demonstrates that for shots from the rough with urethane covered balls (the type of ball most used by highly skilled players), modern, square or U-groove clubs result in higher ball spin rates and steeper ball landing angles than V-groove designs that were predominantly used in the past. The combination of a higher spin rate and steeper landing angle results in better control when hitting to the green, creating less challenge for shots from the rough. As the challenge from the rough has decreased, driving accuracy has become less important.

Therefore, the USGA is proposing to change the rules governing grooves. The objective of this change is to limit the performance of grooves on shots from the rough to that of the traditional V-groove design. While currently conforming clubs with V-grooves would continue to conform under the proposed new rules, the changes do not mandate the use of a V-shape. Rather, they permit club designers to vary groove width, depth, spacing and shape to create clubs that conform to this proposed groove rule. Under this proposal, most of the current rules governing grooves would remain unchanged. There are two key additional groove specifications proposed for clubs other than driving clubs and putters:

• The total cross-sectional area of a groove divided by the groove pitch (width plus separation) would be limited to 0.0025 square inches per inch.

• Groove edge sharpness would be limited to an effective minimum radius of .010 inches.

It is proposed that these new groove rules become effective for all new clubs covered by this rule change that are manufactured after January 1, 2010. A Condition of Competition would be added to the USGA Rules of Golf to become effective January 1, 2009. This would allow a Committee to require the use of clubs that conform to the new groove rules for competition events conducted after January 1, 2009. Similar to other equipment-related Conditions of Competition, the USGA would recommend that the Condition apply only to competitions involving expert players.

Club Adjustability

On March 30, 2005, the USGA indicated an interest in considering allowing more types of adjustable features on woods and irons. As stated at the time:

“The Rulebook currently states that wood and irons must not be designed to be adjustable except for weight. The USGA is considering allowing more types of adjustable features to be used in woods and irons. It is possible that a proposal to allow more types of adjustable features on woods and irons could be made in the future. An important consideration of any such proposal would be to continue to disallow any adjustments being made during a stipulated round.”

The USGA is now proposing to amend the current rule to permit some additional forms of adjustability of woods and irons. The USGA believes that permitting this type of technology is a change that can serve to help many golfers obtain clubs that are well suited to their needs without causing any harm to the game.

The proposed change applies to the rule about the design of clubs: (Appendix II, 1.b. Adjustability). The proposed rule would allow for all clubs that may incorporate mechanisms for weight adjustment. Other forms of adjustability may also be permitted upon evaluation by the USGA.

The following requirements apply to all permissible methods of adjustment:

(i) the adjustment cannot be readily made;

(ii) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and

(iii) all configurations of adjustment conform with the Rules.

The disqualification penalty for purposely changing the playing characteristics of a club during a stipulated round (Rule 4-2a) applies to all clubs including a putter.

It is proposed that this rule change become effective for clubs submitted to the USGA for conformance evaluation after January 1, 2008. Any clubs with currently non-conforming adjustable features that are submitted to the USGA prior to January 1, 2008 would not receive a conformance decision until after January 1, 2008, and in any case would not be eligible for play where USGA Rules apply prior to January 1, 2008 , if this proposal is approved.

Written comments regarding the proposed change to the rules governing adjustability should be sent to the USGA, attention Dick Rugge, P.O. Box 708, Far Hills, NJ 07931, Fax 908-234-0138, e-mail: drugge@usga.org. Written comments received later than May 1, 2007 will not be considered.

by Jeff Summitt
Hireko Technical Director
jsummitt@hirekogolf.com
02/28/07