The R&A and USGA have announced that the golf ball will be rolled back for professional, elite amateur and recreational players to “reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability”.
Pros will use the new balls in 2028, while recreational players won’t have to start using them until 2030.
The new balls are expected to see a reduction in distance of 13-15 yards for the longest hitters, 9-11 yards for the average touring pro and 5-7 yards for an average female pro.
Recreational golfers are set to lose “5 yards or less” according to the governing bodies, who say that impact on regular golfers will be “kept to an absolute minimum.” The 5 yards or less figure is based on a swing speed of 93mph for males and 72mph for females, so presumably those with faster swings will see a bigger loss in distance and slower swingers will see less distance lost.
The golf ball will be rolled back by changing the testing procedures.
Currently golf balls in testing cannot travel more than 317 yards (plus a 3 yard tolerance) with a testing swing speed of 120mph, a spin rate of 2520rpm and a launch angle of 10 degrees. The overall distance will remain the same for testing from 2028 onwards but the swing speed will be upped to 125mph with a lower spin rate of 2220rpm and a higher launch angle of 11 degrees.
While the testing procedures will be changed in 2028, golf balls released in 2027 and earlier will still be allowed in play until January 2030 to allow golfers, manufacturers and retailers time to adjust, the governing bodies say.
Here are a few further thoughts on the Universal Golf Ball Rollback :
* “I haven’t heard an amateur ever say ‘oh this course is really short'”
* “I think this is really a PGA Tour issue more than anything”
* “There are other things you can do to make these courses more difficult”
* “We shouldn’t forget, bombing off the tee is a skill”
What are your thoughts on the new rule, let me know?
