“Fixing the distance issue” through tech

[zarro84]

Not sure this is in the right sub forum, so

move if needed.

 

First off, I don’t think golf (even the pro level) but with so much talk about it, I got to thinking.

 

So much of the equipment is regulated, grooves, ball and ct/COR, shaft length, why not regulate maximum shaft frequencies for the driver (the rule would clearly be written better).  It would only penalize fast swingers and could be applied equally across all players.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

[nuttergolf]

Why would you want to penalise fast swingers or someone who has put in hours of work to get better and faster? 

[zarro84]

Personally, I don’t but the USGA wants to limit peak distances.  The ball rollback doesn’t fix the problem (all players see a decrease, thus not seeing any meaningful change), so the only way to specifically penalize long hitters is to regulate the club in a way which discourages disproportionately fast swings.

 

Just random thoughts going through my head.

[radiman]

They aren't trying to level the playing field by making the longest players shorter. They're trying to protect the courses from being over powered.

 

If they are going to rollback anything, it has to be across the board. You can't punish someone because they happen to be more athletic.

[Socrates]

zarro84 said:

Not sure this is in the right sub forum, so

move if needed.

 

First off, I don’t think golf (even the pro level) but with so much talk about it, I got to thinking.

 

So much of the equipment is regulated, grooves, ball and ct/COR, shaft length, why not regulate maximum shaft frequencies for the driver (the rule would clearly be written better).  It would only penalize fast swingers and could be applied equally across all players.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

This wouldn't work.  My nephew hits a reg flex shaft and can pump it out there over 300 (a legit 300+).   Lots of guys can hit a noodle for a shaft and pound it.  It's all about timing it swinging the club properly.

[Stuart_G]

zarro84 said:

Not sure this is in the right sub forum, so

move if needed.

 

First off, I don’t think golf (even the pro level) but with so much talk about it, I got to thinking.

 

So much of the equipment is regulated, grooves, ball and ct/COR, shaft length, why not regulate maximum shaft frequencies for the driver (the rule would clearly be written better).  It would only penalize fast swingers and could be applied equally across all players.

 

Butt frequency is a horrible (very inaccurate) way to characterize the shaft stiffness - so it would also be a horrible way to regulate stiffness (even if it were a good idea to do so - which it isn't).

On top of that, limiting stiffness wouldn't do anything to limit or penalize faster swing speeds.   Flex is one of the least important aspects of the shaft when it comes to fitting or capabilities.   Or maybe rather it's better to say that, when it's important to someone, it's due to a subjective preference for a certain feel and many other aspects of the swing other than just swing speed - so it really would not be a restriction that is 'applied equally' among all players.  So you could  have two equally  high swing speed players - one of which would not be able to get the feel they wanted but the other could.   Or another case would be the one with the more aggressive transition (but still same swing speed) would not be able to get as good a fit as the one with the smoother transition.

[GoGoErky]

zarro84 said:

Personally, I don’t but the USGA wants to limit peak distances.  The ball rollback doesn’t fix the problem (all players see a decrease, thus not seeing any meaningful change), so the only way to specifically penalize long hitters is to regulate the club in a way which discourages disproportionately fast swings.

 

Just random thoughts going through my head.

They don’t want to limit peak distances they want to fix optics (and to an extent the media’s complaints about) on tour of bomb and gouge. 

[kylelutes]

Not a good idea for all the above stated reasons. It wouldn't accomplish much of anything. 

[Matt J]

I think they should force the ball manufacturers to make the balls biodegradable. Eventually if they started making a long ball they could limit the properties, but for now say it has to "melt" into something benign in X days.