Ball Compression Limit - is it reasonable to regulate?

[Shilgy]

1 minute ago, jj9000 said:

 

Agreed here.  Which is why I asked the question of what they're really trying to solve.  Is distance really an issue,nor a perceived issue?  I'm watching a relatively short Colonial course have it's way with these guys (wind assisted).

That is another question and I have no answer.  IMHO it’s just the perception.  Some have this addled memory of olden days golf and think it was always like the famous Hogan picture and players always had a 1 iron into par 4’s.  And then see golf today and once they see a wedge shot they think every approach is a wedge.

  Others will mention courses “having too” add yardage their beloved course so it can still be relevant for todays elite events.  Of course by adding unnecessary golf course area they actually reduce their chance of holding a big event because then they no longer have room for the infrastructure needed to hold a modern event.

[karstens_ghost]

Relevant information. It's not a lot, but it's there. Jump ahead to 23:58 for numbers.

 

It's not a lot, but is 6 yards worth it? Maybe.

 

 

[karstens_ghost]

Better yet -- is it worth taking 6 yards off the bombers all while not hurting short-knockers one bit?

[smashdn]

On 5/28/2022 at 9:59 AM, jj9000 said:

Or they could just leave it alone.

 

What specific problem are we trying to solve, and why?

 

You dial the ball back and you're going to hurt the short hitters more than the long hitters.

 

They are adjusting the test to be more representative of the actual swing speed that players swing at.

[karstens_ghost]

So the point still stands.

 

I think it's fair that based on current trends of wanting to protect courses, this might be a good way to go. If golf balls are required to be a bit softer, it essentially makes only the longest hitters lose distance and/or increase dispersion. For the average player, there is no downside.

 

Similar to club CoR, this would seem to be a reasonable way to "dial it back" while being focused on the *actual* problem -- long hitters.

 

 

[jvincent]

Compression is not the answer.

 

Increasing drag is the best way to do it. And as an added bonus, to increase the drag on the golf ball all the USGA needs to do is change a handful of numbers in the existing ball test procedure.

 

The problem is that the current test procedures for the ball did not account for "average" guys on tour swinging the club at over 115 mph and getting ball speeds above 180. Change the launch conditions in the ball test to be more in line with what the big hitters are getting now and the ball problem goes away.

 

As an added benefit, drag is a function of velocity^2 so the low speed guys (i.e. us) are less affected and probably wouldn't notice a big difference.