Golfwrx Demographics on the ball rollback (*** POLL CLOSED - PLEASE KEEP COMMENTS ABOUT THE RESULTS ONLY ***)

[Z1ggy16]

POLL HAS BEEN CLOSED. HERE ARE SOME INITIAL RESULTS:

Age	Agree	Disagree	TOTAL
59+	23	41	64
	36%	64%
43-58	33	74	107
	31%	69%
27-42	48	100	148
	32%	68%
Under 27	5	6	11
	45%	55%
	109	221	330
	33%	67%

 

 

Overall, 330 people voted. Overall, WRX Respondents were against the ball rollback 2 to 1. This is actually less than other polls I've seen from OEM's where 3 to 1 and even 4 to 1 Disagree have been seen. Interestingly, the small amount of WRXers under age 27 (Gen Z) was the most "in favor" of it, nearly 1 to 1.

 

Okay so first question I wanted to answer is simply, did enough of you respond for these results to be valid?

The answer is: Probably

 

According to This sample size calculator, assuming 66MM people play golf worldwide (from Google), I needed a total sample size of 385 considering a confidence interval of 95% (very common) and a standard error of 5% (2% is common). We got 330. However, not all 66M golfers are likely to know about this "ball roll back" or even really pay any attention to media, so I feel that 330 is adequate. I do however think that only 11 respondents for age bracket "under 27" is not enough for that group. More on that next.

 

Next - Was there any statistical difference in the responses amongst the group. I.e. Did one group feel more strongly than another?

The answer is: No

 

To do this, I ran a Chi Squared test, which compared the significance of responses between groups of data. In this case, Agree or Disagree vs age bracket. Despite our differences, it seems that GolfWRX all feels the same: collectively, this forum disagrees with a roll back amongst all age groups

 

 

The caveat being that I'm not confident that the "under 27 age group" would, if we sampled 100+ people instead of 11. However, it would not likely change the total Agree vs Disagree metric on the whole.

 

Speaking of the total, Did WRX feel differently than other poll results presented, such as ones from OEMs (Taylormade, Titleist, etc)?

Yes, you did.

 

The WRX observed ratio of Disagree to Agree was roughly 2:1, whereas other polls, one I saw recently from TM and Titleist showed 3:1 and even 4:1

 

When I use a 3:1 "expected outcome" ratio for Chi Square comparison of 2 groups, it is statistically significant. This means this forum does indeed feel differently than other golfing communities. My theory is that TM attracts a younger audience in general, and perhaps this poll was conducted via a means that a more younger audience is more likely to be a part of (Instagram, Tik Tok, etc).

 

 

 

 

I want to end this by saying thanks to everyone who voted... This was useful to see. Also, I am NOT a professional stat person, so if you are in fact a working professional who deals with statistics and data for a living, please DM me if you think this methodology was wrong and help me correct it.

Edited April 7, 2023 by Z1ggy16
Poll closed

[Z1ggy16]

bump. I realized that people likely won't see this show up in "unread" unless new posts are being added. I'll bump this a few times a day for a few days to get as many people seeing this poll as possible.

 

No need to talk about your opinions here, there's other threads for that.

[bekgolf]

voted

[ChipStrokes]

voted. interested to see how this shakes out. 

[Greenie]

voted

[Z1ggy16]

Bump

[storm319]

voted

[naval2006]

R&A make sure you don't rollback on MY ball and MY tourneys LOL

[Z1ggy16]

Bump

[luckypolk]

Bump

[Doctor Slice]

voted and curious to see the results.  good poll!

[Pepperturbo]

Voted

[GolfTurkey]

What's immediately obvious is how impressive the average CHS of 120 mph+ is on GolfWRX when considering how many people are over 43.

[SEP1006]

Not on the poll so I'll post it.

 

I could care less either way!!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by SEP1006

[Augie53]

I could vote either way on this because my choice is no bifurcation of rules.  Either roll them back for all or let it go.

 

[Shilgy]

I didn’t vote either nad to me it just depends on how exactly it accomplishes their goal and what it means to all players.

 

The poll really should be be four different polls.  The percentages are wonky as it looks like  disagrees 43-58 is winning the whole thing.

[bekgolf]

21 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

The poll really should be be four different polls.  The percentages are wonky as it looks like  disagrees 43-58 is winning the whole thing.

 

That could be the biggest demographic on WRX.  It wouldn't surprise me.  BTW 57 here.

[goin'low]

6 hours ago, Shilgy said:

 

 

The percentages are wonky as it looks like  disagrees 43-58 is winning the whole thing.

of course we disagree! 44 in here, we are the next gen to start to lose distance due to age.....

[doublepar93]

Voted! 

[Z1ggy16]

7 hours ago, Shilgy said:

I didn’t vote either nad to me it just depends on how exactly it accomplishes their goal and what it means to all players.

 

The poll really should be be four different polls.  The percentages are wonky as it looks like  disagrees 43-58 is winning the whole thing.

Why would it need to be 4 different polls? I wanted to see by generation (boom, x, mil,z) how golfers felt.

[wantacigar]

Voted.

56 here.  I don't think I've ever had a 120 mph clubhead speed!  I started playing when I was 18.  The tour can mitigate the distances by making accuracy all that more important.  Severely penalize a player who sprays those 320 yd. drives with OB causing strokes lost, impossible rough, placement of trees and bushes.  Don't penalize a player because they work out 7 days a week and developed their power.  The USGA and R&A are going to penalize 99.8% of players because a few athletes can hit it 320 yds.  The tour average is just under 300 yards and the vast majority of the courses out there have been designed and re-designed to address those distances.  Only approximately 4% of ALL golfers can hit the 300 yd. mark or more.  The average male golfer driving distance is approximately 220 yds.  That's the average all age groups.  This roll back will be disproportionately affecting the people that actually buy the golf balls.  Most pro golfers don't even pay for their balls and if they do it only accounts for about 300-400 pro golfers worldwide of the millions of golfers who actually buy these balls.  Many of whom buy them because it's the ball their favorite pro golfer plays.

[kasting333]

9 hours ago, Augie53 said:

I could vote either way on this because my choice is no bifurcation of rules.  Either roll them back for all or let it go.

 

Same. Just change it for everyone or leave it alone. 
 

I would love to see manufacturers make equipment that’s non-conforming and as good as possible but I don’t believe that market exists as much as some want to believe.
 

Most golfers want to play golf by the rules and see how they stack up, thus the handicap system. That’s not just with the pros either, regular players want to see how they measure against the best player at their club and bifurcation would undoubtedly impact that. 

[Z1ggy16]

Bump

[vandyfan]

voted

[Z1ggy16]

Bump 

[grochol17]

11 hours ago, kasting333 said:

I would love to see manufacturers make equipment that’s non-conforming and as good as possible but I don’t believe that market exists as much as some want to believe.

 

Anyone that thinks a market for non-conforming clubs/balls exists hasn't paid attention to history.  For example, Callaway made the ERC II that was non-conforming to USGA rules for spring-like effect, but no one bought it.  Similarly, the groove rule was announced in 2010, and manufacturers almost immediately stopped making wedges with the old grooves even though the rule doesn't go full into effect for everyone until 2024. 

 

As for the ball, first we'll have to see if this proposed rule becomes a model local rule and then we'll have to see what manufacturers do with the number of balls they feel like producing.  Frankly, if everyone decides to adopt this rule and only make the "shorter" ball I won't care, I'll just move up a set of tees (if it even affects me and my meager 105 mph swing speed).

[The bearded shanker]

As someone who never played balata, I think its an interesting idea to dial it back but guys back then bombed it didnt they? It just means courses dont have to be so long.

[st1800e]

18 hours ago, wantacigar said:

The USGA and R&A are going to penalize 99.8% of players because a few athletes can hit it 320 yds.

Nope, it’s a model local rule they’re proposing that the Committee can put in place ant their discretion.  Intended for professional events and elite Amateur events.  It would be astonishing  if your club or any club put that in effect for regular play. 

Edited March 17, 2023 by st1800e

[st1800e]

17 hours ago, kasting333 said:

Most golfers want to play golf by the rules and see how they stack up, thus the handicap system. 

As reported by golf magazine , only 12% of golfers carry a handicap. 
 

https://golf.com/instruction/golfers-dont-carry-handicaps-why-they-should/?amp=1

[elwhippy]

Voted. Bring back the Uniroyal Plus Six.