GOUGE: Golf equipment industry insiders expect the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews to announce within days a proposal to change the rules governing iron and wedge grooves. Given both the tone and tenor of the recently released research of spin generation by golf's ruling bodies, it's pretty clear that the sharper-edged U-groove will be a thing of the past.
U-grooves have been the standard for the last quarter-century and have been continually refined, particularly with the highly milled faces of the newest wedges. A new rule proposal most likely would roll back those design specs. It would mark the first time in recent history the USGA has taken a current equipment design and stipulated it become less efficient to remain conforming. The USGA has not commented specifically on when or if an announcement on a rules proposal might come.
Still, several industry sources contacted by Golf World believe the ruling is coming sooner rather than later. The R&A's David Rickman commented recently that a rule proposal was in the offing. "We are in the throes of various meetings and wouldn't want to pre-empt their outcome,” Rickman told The Scotsman newspaper. “But all the signs are that we're very close to going out with 'notice and comment.’ ” When asked about Rickman’s statement, USGA senior technical director Dick Rugge did not dispute that a proposal could happen in the near future, although he declined to offer a specific timetable.
The groove change proposal most likely will not be a straight shift back to the pre-1980s V-grooves. Instead, the report suggests that a number of V-like grooves produced by the USGA for the testing produced results consistent with traditional V-grooves. The upshot could be that rather than be given specific instructions for what a groove must look like, the rules will prescribe a set of design windows or choices for all aspects of a groove design including, depth, spacing, edge radii, and sidewall draft angles. Most likely, the new grooves will have less cross-sectional volume than current configurations. The belief is that a groove with less volume won't be able to channel away as much moisture from lies in the light rough and one with duller edges won't be able to grip the cover of urethane-covered balls as easily.
BOMB: Buddy, take a freaking breath, will ya? Here I am basking in the glow of picking Henrik Stenson in our office pool this week, and now I’m getting calls from folks asking me if I’ve heard that the USGA might announce a proposal as soon as this week. Yes, I’ve heard it. Do I believe it? Yes. From all the drums that have been beating I’d be shocked if we don’t hear something this week. You only need to look at Rickman’s comments to know it’s on the way. But it doesn’t matter if it happens this week, next or the week after that. The USGA didn’t put two years into this to simply say. “All is well.”
Still, is this really the best solution? Or more to the point, is it needed? Everyone hears about the Bomb & Gouge style of play, and certainly looking at the boys have at it this week in Arizona during the Match Play, it’s worth looking at. But remember that what we see on TV is the best guys playing at their best. It’s not a gimme that just because you whack away and have square grooves that you’re gonna eat it up. Case in point: According to ShotLink stats from last year, Bubba Watson, Camilo Villegas and J.B. Holmes averaged about 2.5 strokes OVER par for every 14 holes (I’m using 14 since many courses have a quartet of par 3s) where they hit their approach shot from between 50 and 125 yards from the green in the rough. That’s gonna get you a lot of trunk-slamming on a Friday on the PGA Tour. Still, that’s not quite the half-stroke penalty most people claim the rough should be.
Also, for those everyday players in a tizzy that they’ll need new clubs, bet on some sort of grandfather clause for the masses. But if you listened to Johnny Miller on this week’s telecast talking about the groove issue, the pros will be changing out their wedges like polo shirts if a new rule is implemented. Miller said expect players to change wedges every few weeks to make sure they get the most spin. Still, if you’re starting with less than you had before you can change all you want and not get back to where you were. And maybe that’s just what the fellas in Far Hills have had in mind all along.
GOUGE: Having read all 180 pages and stayed awake, I can tell you this: Change your grooves out every round if you want. If the new proposal takes shape based on the findings in the report, they’ll be starting with grooves that offer about a third less spin than current grooves. Now, I’m not putting it past the smart guys at the golf equipment companies to find ways to maximize spin. I’m looking forward to the upcoming battle royale as designers try to find new ways to generate spin—just like what Tom Wishon did with his new approach to grooves on the CX Micro wedge.
The good news for average golfers? You won’t have to buy all new conforming stuff by next year. I’m guessing old stuff will be grandfathered for a pretty significant period of time (minimum five years is my guess). The other good news? It’s either going to make everybody a better golfer (increased pace of play) or half the golfing population quit (plenty of tee times for the rest of us). You start flying greens or having short chip shots run 30 feet by, and you either learn to hit fairways and greens or you throw your clubs in the woods. Whatever you do, though, buy a urethane-covered ball, which is the real hidden gem in the USGA's 180-page report on grooves research.
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