TLDR
The USGA is thinking of changing golf ball rules because they're concerned that new technology is making balls go too far. The proposed changes would limit how fast a ball can go off the tee in an attempt to keep the game fair and balanced. It's like putting a speed limit on golf balls to bring back the challenge and strategy of the game. So, they're trying to find a balance between tradition and new tech to make sure golf stays fun for everyone.
What is the rollback all about?
The United States Golf Association (USGA, the governing body for all Golf in the US, including the PGA) is thinking of shaking things up with the golf ball rules. They have proposed reducing the distance a Golf ball flies off your driver.
Now, why would they do such a thing? Well, it turns out that over the years, golf balls have been getting a bit too speedy, thanks to fancy new materials and clever designs. Currently, all competition Golf balls are tested on a machine where a robot swings a club at 120 MPH. For a ball to be deemed compliant, and given USGA approval for tournament play, the ball cannot travel further than 317 yards in this test. With golfers getting more athletic and swinging faster in recent years (think Bryson DeChambeau), there is a fear that Golf courses need to increase in length to compensate for this. What the USGA is proposing is, rather than make Golf courses longer, just increase the speed the robot swings the Golf club to 125 MPH, and keep the USGA compliant ball flight distant as 317 yards. The end effect is an average of about 10m drop in driver distance for the Pro's (who generally hit the ball the furthest), and about a 5m drop in driver distance for your average golfer.
How Golf ball manufacturers decide to slow down their ball speed (if they need to slow their ball down at all) will vary from brand to brand, but the proposal isn't due to take effect until 2028 for Professional tournaments, and 2030 for everyone else, so they will have time to figure this out.
Imagine it like this: you have a favourite video game and suddenly your character gets an overpowered weapon. It's fun for a while, but then the game loses its challenge. That's kind of what's happening with golf balls – they've becoming overpowered, and the USGA wants to bring back the excitement of the game.
Now, this doesn't mean your favourite golf ball is turning into a sponge. It just means the USGA wants to find a sweet spot where the game remains challenging and exciting for everyone. Imagine it as a friendly reminder that golf is about more than just power – it's about skill, precision, and the joy of the game.
In a nutshell, the USGA is like the referee making sure the game is played fairly. They're looking out for the balance between tradition and the cool new tech that's come into play. So, next time you hear about these golf ball law changes, just remember: at worst there may be a minor change to your golf ball, but it is a change to ensure the game stays fun for everyone.