Ball roll back, simpler solution: driver off the deck

[wombat_vortex]

Could this be a simpler solution that would require no adjustment to the ball or driver? Basically no more tee'ing the ball up.  If you want to hit driver off the tee box it's got to be off the ground.  This would bring the driver back to being one of the harder clubs to hit instead of the easiest.  Or you could keep the tees, but make a limit of 1inch height.  

[TheBiles]

Amateurs would break so many drivers. 

[Maine Golfer]

no

[b.mattay]

As a guy who hits a DOD on 2-3 tee boxes per round, I approve this message 😂. Wait until the new complaint start being that guys are hitting too many fairways....

[MonteScheinblum]

Here are my suggestions for other sports, using the R&A and USGA as an example.

1.  MLB-Deaden the ball, because there are too many home runs.
2.  NBA-Raise the rim and move the 3 point line out farther, because there are too many dunks and too many 3’s being made.
3.  NFL-Narrow the field and force the QB’s to wear bigger shoulder pads because passing yardage numbers are too high.
4.  NHL and MLS-Make the goal smaller, as scoring is too easy.
5.  Tennis-Make the ball less lively because faster serves are ruining the game.

How would these changes affect the popularity of those sports.

[Maine Golfer]

Nascar with less HP hasn't been that great

[Nels55]

Golf is already hard taking away the ability to put the ball on a peg 18 times would simply make it harder.  Pros along with the OEMs would figure out a way to hit it just as far anyway.

[Fuscinator]

42 minutes ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Here are my suggestions for other sports, using the R&A and USGA as an example.

1.  MLB-Deaden the ball, because there are too many home runs.
2.  NBA-Raise the rim and move the 3 point line out farther, because there are too many dunks and too many 3’s being made.
3.  NFL-Narrow the field and force the QB’s to wear bigger shoulder pads because passing yardage numbers are too high.
4.  NHL and MLS-Make the goal smaller, as scoring is too easy.
5.  Tennis-Make the ball less lively because faster serves are ruining the game.

How would these changes affect the popularity of those sports.

6. Exotic dancers - make certain..."accessories", shall we say, smaller.

[Nels55]

5 minutes ago, Fuscinator said:

6. Exotic dancers - make certain..."accessories", shall we say, smaller.

Back to the 20's!

[MelloYello]

Consider how comically absurd a modern driver would look to a golfer in the 1940s. He'd probably think it was a child's play thing. He may not even recognize it as a real golf club. 

 

Are players today really working harder or are they optimizing around more powerful equipment, teaching, technology, etc. and are the results really all that impressive or just a commentary on how far we've allowed things to slide? 

 

When you realize how ridiculous it is how far these player-friendly things have evolved to be (like the size of drivers) and what howling results when a minor adjustment is made to the ball you begin to wonder about people. 

 

I'm not saying the whole human race is bad necessarily but perhaps they are. 

 

All this talk of how far the Pro's hit their drivers and how critical it is to the popularity of the game...is that true? I haven't watched a men's pro tournament in a long time and I don't honestly recall the last lengthy conversation I had with anyone about men's pro golf outside of the LIV thing. 

 

Truth be told, most people I know aren't even paying attention to Pro Golf anymore. It's sort of dead with people actually playing golf and there being so much content on YT. Maybe a hot take but it's been my experience. 

[Nels55]

15 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

Consider how comically absurd a modern driver would look to a golfer in the 1940s. He'd probably think it was a child's play thing. He may not even recognize it as a real golf club. 

 

Are players today really working harder or are they optimizing around more powerful equipment, teaching, technology, etc. and are the results really all that impressive or just a commentary on how far we've allowed things to slide? 

 

When you realize how ridiculous it is how far these player-friendly things have evolved to be (like the size of drivers) and what howling results when a minor adjustment is made to the ball you begin to wonder about people. 

 

I'm not saying the whole human race is bad necessarily but perhaps they are. 

 

All this talk of how far the Pro's hit their drivers and how critical it is to the popularity of the game...is that true? I haven't watched a men's pro tournament in a long time and I don't honestly recall the last lengthy conversation I had with anyone about men's pro golf outside of the LIV thing. 

 

Truth be told, most people I know aren't even paying attention to Pro Golf anymore. It's sort of dead with people actually playing golf and there being so much content on YT. Maybe a hot take but it's been my experience. 

Pro golf is dead?  Interesting take!

[getitdaily]

36 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

Consider how comically absurd a modern driver would look to a golfer in the 1940s. He'd probably think it was a child's play thing. He may not even recognize it as a real golf club. 

 

Are players today really working harder or are they optimizing around more powerful equipment, teaching, technology, etc. and are the results really all that impressive or just a commentary on how far we've allowed things to slide? 

 

When you realize how ridiculous it is how far these player-friendly things have evolved to be (like the size of drivers) and what howling results when a minor adjustment is made to the ball you begin to wonder about people. 

 

I'm not saying the whole human race is bad necessarily but perhaps they are. 

 

All this talk of how far the Pro's hit their drivers and how critical it is to the popularity of the game...is that true? I haven't watched a men's pro tournament in a long time and I don't honestly recall the last lengthy conversation I had with anyone about men's pro golf outside of the LIV thing. 

 

Truth be told, most people I know aren't even paying attention to Pro Golf anymore. It's sort of dead with people actually playing golf and there being so much content on YT. Maybe a hot take but it's been my experience. 

Shoot, just go back to the late 90s. I remember the biggest big bertha...first 460cc head, I think. That thing looked like a balloon on a stick compared to the og warbird I was playing 

[MPStrat]

52 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

Consider how comically absurd a modern driver would look to a golfer in the 1940s. He'd probably think it was a child's play thing. He may not even recognize it as a real golf club. 

 

Are players today really working harder or are they optimizing around more powerful equipment, teaching, technology, etc. and are the results really all that impressive or just a commentary on how far we've allowed things to slide? 

 

When you realize how ridiculous it is how far these player-friendly things have evolved to be (like the size of drivers) and what howling results when a minor adjustment is made to the ball you begin to wonder about people. 

 

I'm not saying the whole human race is bad necessarily but perhaps they are. 

 

All this talk of how far the Pro's hit their drivers and how critical it is to the popularity of the game...is that true? I haven't watched a men's pro tournament in a long time and I don't honestly recall the last lengthy conversation I had with anyone about men's pro golf outside of the LIV thing. 

 

Truth be told, most people I know aren't even paying attention to Pro Golf anymore. It's sort of dead with people actually playing golf and there being so much content on YT. Maybe a hot take but it's been my experience. 

 

Any change in the rules that makes the game more difficult for amateurs no matter how small is just pure foolishness.

[MBAndrews21]

Does anyone think that they should’ve just stopped the balls and drivers where they were? If max distance is 315 (making that number up) with the machine, then keep it that way. Don’t let the balls/drivers get any faster, but don’t roll them back either.

 

Seemed like the best solution to me.

[iacas]

16 minutes ago, MBAndrews21 said:

Does anyone think that they should’ve just stopped the balls and drivers where they were? If max distance is 315 (making that number up) with the machine, then keep it that way. Don’t let the balls/drivers get any faster, but don’t roll them back either.

 

Seemed like the best solution to me.

 

How do you propose they stop people from swinging faster?

 

They did "stop the balls where they were." That's what the ODS is. This is a change to the ODS to slightly reduce/lower the upper limits of what they'll test.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

Why not just email the committee. I'm sure they'll take your thoughts into account......... 😄

[Nels55]

The world as we know it is not ending due to the rollback:
https://golf.com/gear/golf-balls/golf-ball-rollback-official-what-it-means/

Edited December 6, 2023 by Nels55

[Barfolomew]

Make the Driver loft minimum really high like a 3w.  Wont go as far as current drivers and way more people will find the fairway with the extra spin so a win/win........ but the rest of the bag will play normal distance since we'll be further back...

[GoGoErky]

2 hours ago, MelloYello said:

Consider how comically absurd a modern driver would look to a golfer in the 1940s. He'd probably think it was a child's play thing. He may not even recognize it as a real golf club. 

 

Are players today really working harder or are they optimizing around more powerful equipment, teaching, technology, etc. and are the results really all that impressive or just a commentary on how far we've allowed things to slide? 

 

When you realize how ridiculous it is how far these player-friendly things have evolved to be (like the size of drivers) and what howling results when a minor adjustment is made to the ball you begin to wonder about people. 

 

I'm not saying the whole human race is bad necessarily but perhaps they are. 

 

All this talk of how far the Pro's hit their drivers and how critical it is to the popularity of the game...is that true? I haven't watched a men's pro tournament in a long time and I don't honestly recall the last lengthy conversation I had with anyone about men's pro golf outside of the LIV thing. 

 

Truth be told, most people I know aren't even paying attention to Pro Golf anymore. It's sort of dead with people actually playing golf and there being so much content on YT. Maybe a hot take but it's been my experience. 

Tell that to the guys behind the huge rv deal and all the advertisers. Seems like pro golf is still doing pretty well

[GoGoErky]

1 hour ago, MBAndrews21 said:

Does anyone think that they should’ve just stopped the balls and drivers where they were? If max distance is 315 (making that number up) with the machine, then keep it that way. Don’t let the balls/drivers get any faster, but don’t roll them back either.

 

Seemed like the best solution to me.

They could have but the RBs were dead set on reducing distance on the pro circuit. They wanted a rollback for everyone and the industry told them no so they went with the MLR trying to force the pro tours into bifurcation. They said not happening. RBs said cool then because you won’t cooperate we will punish everyone 

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, Nels55 said:

Pro golf is dead?  Interesting take!

I wouldn't say it's dead, least in my social circles. 

 

Plenty of friends still spend money on memberships and don't care about the cost of golf.  Yet, three guys who I've known since college football, each has been playing golf since their college golf days, hardly play anymore and seldom, if ever, watch TV golf.   From the conversations I've been a part of, the crap surround LIV and the PGA Tour has put a bad taste in the mouths of plenty of lifelong golfers.  I'll leave that subject there.  

 

Most people I know that play golf no longer aspire to emulate their favorite tour players.  I hear too often, the game is too difficult, and tour players are different.  It's sad how people give in to challenges.  And these people were amazingly successful.  I will aspire until I can't.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[PuffyC]

7 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

I hear too often, the game is too difficult...

 

Wait till they hear what's happening to the ball.

 

The USGA, working to make the game harder for all (tm).

[Nels55]

12 minutes ago, GoGoErky said:

They could have but the RBs were dead set on reducing distance on the pro circuit. They wanted a rollback for everyone and the industry told them no so they went with the MLR trying to force the pro tours into bifurcation. They said not happening. RBs said cool then because you won’t cooperate we will punish everyone 

I am pretty sure that the ruling bodies have a buy in from the ball manufactures and the various tours.  OEMs will make money off of it for sure.  LOL more then 30% of balls manufactured today are conforming to the new rules anyway.  It's a tempest in teapot.

[MonteScheinblum]

2 hours ago, Fuscinator said:

6. Exotic dancers - make certain..."accessories", shall we say, smaller.

Word

[Ty_Webb]

3 hours ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Here are my suggestions for other sports, using the R&A and USGA as an example.

1.  MLB-Deaden the ball, because there are too many home runs.
2.  NBA-Raise the rim and move the 3 point line out farther, because there are too many dunks and too many 3’s being made.
3.  NFL-Narrow the field and force the QB’s to wear bigger shoulder pads because passing yardage numbers are too high.
4.  NHL and MLS-Make the goal smaller, as scoring is too easy.
5.  Tennis-Make the ball less lively because faster serves are ruining the game.

How would these changes affect the popularity of those sports.

 

Funnily enough when Sampras and Ivanisevic were kicking butt at Wimbledon, there was a lot of talk about how serve volley is boring and they needed to slow the serve down. I think they did actually change the balls too, which is why it's more rallies now and less serve-volley.

[GoGoErky]

48 minutes ago, Nels55 said:

I am pretty sure that the ruling bodies have a buy in from the ball manufactures and the various tours.  OEMs will make money off of it for sure.  LOL more then 30% of balls manufactured today are conforming to the new rules anyway.  It's a tempest in teapot.

So they claim, yet they can’t even really tell the truth. Theres zero trust for the RBs

 

In testing with the NP-500 ... participants reported a perceived distance reduction of about 4.9 percent (210 yards compared to a 221-yard self-reported average). This is consistent with expectations based on laboratory testing.” In other words, not quite one to five yards. Still, Thomas Pagel, the USGA's chief governance officer, told Golf Digest everyday golfers should rest easy.

"It's five yards at most and likely limited to your driver," Pagel said.

 

USGA/R&A make it official, announce golf ball rollback for all golfers (and drivers might be next) | Golf News and Tour Information | GolfDigest.com

[chinaski]

Distance is relative. It's not a big deal. I'd rather have classic golf courses and iron play stay relevant. 

[MPStrat]

9 minutes ago, GoGoErky said:

So they claim, yet they can’t even really tell the truth. Theres zero trust for the RBs

 

 

In testing with the NP-500 ... participants reported a perceived distance reduction of about 4.9 percent (210 yards compared to a 221-yard self-reported average). This is consistent with expectations based on laboratory testing.” In other words, not quite one to five yards. Still, Thomas Pagel, the USGA's chief governance officer, told Golf Digest everyday golfers should rest easy.

"It's five yards at most and likely limited to your driver," Pagel said.

 

USGA/R&A make it official, announce golf ball rollback for all golfers (and drivers might be next) | Golf News and Tour Information | GolfDigest.com

 

That is a huge loss in distance for someone who goes from 220 to 209. And how about mishits? will the ball perform the same on mishits or will there be a bigger loss? In other words is the ball more or less forgiving?

[MPStrat]

Just now, chinaski said:

Distance is relative. It's not a big deal. I'd rather have classic golf courses and iron play stay relevant. 

 

I'd much rather have the extra distance and potentially slightly faster pace of play

[chinaski]

2 minutes ago, MPStrat said:

 

I'd much rather have the extra distance and potentially slightly faster pace of play

 

Not any faster. The further the ball travels the bigger the miss.