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Welcome to another edition of Fully equipped mail bagsponsored by Cleveland/Srixon Golf, is an interactive series from GOLF.com in which we answer challenging equipment questions.
If the new ball rule becomes a reality for tour players, what changes do you think we’ll see in how golf clubs are designed? – James
With all the recent golf news, it’s easy to forget that the proposed bifurcation of rules regarding golf balls was the biggest story in golf this year, at least before all the PGA Tour/LIV golf shenanigans happened.
As a reminder, the proposal notes that professionals will use a ball that flies less, while recreational players and competitive amateurs will still be able to play with the balls they currently enjoy. However, these changes are not set in stone yet and are just ideas at this point. If this is implemented, equipment manufacturers will likely need to adapt and create different clubs to suit professionals who can no longer rely on being able to bomb and bluff with relative ease.
While we can’t predict the future, we can make some of our best educated guesses about what professional equipment might look like if the new bound ball becomes a reality. Let’s take a look at a few:
Driver makers will face pressure to innovate.
Equipment manufacturers are already feeling the pressure to release new drivers every year, but with a shorter fly ball, touring players will demand the most distance. This may lead players to prefer drivers that are designed for all-around distances over those that allow for shot formation. Regardless, we expect a new wave of driver innovations to help players take longer strokes.
We may see new cover materials and key designs.
Although not discussed much, we expect the new balls to have very soft compression and soft caps. If you are old enough, this might remind you of the hatchet roller that was widely used in the past. Because of this, we may see new types of more durable urethane covers, as well as new multi-layer golf ball designs that make it easier to control tee spin without giving up playability around the green.
Players will start playing at the highest level.
Have you ever noticed how high your opponents drive the ball? They sometimes use very long T-spots, and this technique allows them to hit the ball upwards, promoting a higher launch with less loft, resulting in a higher trajectory and a more equivalent arc through flight. Tour professionals may adopt a similar strategy, necessitating swing adjustments to accommodate the new ball.
We can see more hollows appearing and the sudden demise of traditional forged blades.
A tie ball can signal the end of a traditional round blade because players will want to hit their irons more, and switching to a stronger top-bore back provides an easy solution for less spin and more yardage. Indeed, like iron in modern times Srixon’s ZX7 MK II irons It proves that you can have a soft-touch rear cavity that provides a little extra distance without losing shooting potential.
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Columns may also play an important role.
If professional golfers are faced with new ball regulations, we expect a plethora of new shafts with different technologies designed to help better players regain lost distance. It’s no one’s guess about the specifics of these innovations, but it’s a safe bet that pole manufacturers will introduce something new.
Racket inserts may become outdated.
As the golf ball gets softer, the need to insert a putter is likely to diminish. If anything, players may choose strikers with stronger inserts to enhance their feel for the ball at impact.
Or so we think! These are all our best guesses, and the truth is, we have no idea how things would shake if a bifurcation of the sphere occurred. One thing we do know for sure, in the event of a rule change, we highly doubt we’ll be as close to seeing a pair of 62s at the US Open as we saw yesterday.
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