New Grooves

[joeshmo]

Do you really care.

I wonder how many of us started golf before the square, box or U grooves came about.
I'm 61 and been playing for 28 years. Regular old V groves when I started. I remember being able to spin a balata ball without a lot of trouble.

I know we have till 2024 but I'm curious if the change will really matter to the older player.

[78blades]

I'm the same age as you. Learned how to golf back in the early and mid 60's. Then took a 38 year hiatus and now I'm back and really enjoying the game. To answer your question, No I don't think it will matter one bit to we AM's. Besides that, if one relies that much on spin around the green then its time to broaden one's game.

[ijuswanagolf]

[quote name='joeshmo' date='12 February 2010 - 05:47 AM' timestamp='1265971632' post='2245864']
Regular old V groves when I started. I remember being able to spin a balata ball without a lot of trouble.

[/quote]

The problem with this comment is most likely you are not playing the Balata ball today. The Groove issue has a hidden agenda to reduce distance by forcing people to go back to a balata (type) ball. A ball that had the spin but not the distance of todays golf ball.

[fats]

I'm shocked to hear of so many "SENIORS" that would welcome back the old days when a 250 yard drive was considered a big hit...LOL

[amerza18]

I'm not going to worry about the grooves until 2024. I'm sure the USGA will do something between now and when I need to purchase new sticks.

[Guia]

I only care if my talent suddenly increases beyond what it has ever been and I qualify for the U.S. Open. I'm a 9 handicap and 70 years old, so chances are slim and none.

[fats]

[quote name='amerza18' date='12 February 2010 - 01:33 PM' timestamp='1265999638' post='2246618']
I'm not going to worry about the grooves until 2024. I'm sure the USGA will do something between now and when I need to purchase new sticks.
[/quote]

Right on amerza18..The USGA has had a very difficult time with this...they've made small revisions several times now, driving the companies nutzo...Phil and his Callaway wedges being just one case in point where the grooves conformed but were rejected anyway.

I have them and see the grooves as very shallow. Where a thin miss with my old U groves would still check a bit and stop around the hole the new wedges just run and run on such mishits. Out of fluffy lies they are murder compared to how easy it was with U groves. You won't see very much with the Western events on tour because they've had so much rain...but in Florida...you will quickly see the reaction out of fluff lies to hard fast greens.

I like the V's in my irons as the ball goes about a club further and higher...but around the greens out of a fluffy or poor lie...LOL pretty dog gone difficult. I use the TaylorMade PENTA ball...and that helps...great ball BTW.

[fats]

BTW...Are you noticing the rather poor chipping at the Arizona tournament? This shows how difficult the new grooves actually are. It is interesting.

[maverick]

[quote name='fats' date='12 February 2010 - 01:29 PM' timestamp='1265999372' post='2246612']
I'm shocked to hear of so many "SENIORS" that would welcome back the old days when a 250 yard drive was considered a big hit...LOL
[/quote]

In 1999, not really that long ago, John Daily was the longest driver on the tour at 288 Yds. In 2000 it went up to just over 300. But the average PGA player was in the 200s.

As far as the wedges my Cleveland 588 TPs work well. I have tried the zip grooves and they are OK. Players did not change in the 'old' day like now. Gary Player used his wedge until all the grooves were worn off.

I have been playing now for 50 years. I first played at the age of 13 and caddied at Olympia Fields in Chicago.=) maverick

[idrive]

I don't really care as far as my game is concerned. I'm not going to play in any Tourny's that will require conforming grooves. I have enough wedges to last for quite sometime. If I needed to buy some I wouldn't buy the conforming grooves.

I wonder if all these guys that care about using conforming wedges realize how much they're handicaping themselves when none of the other people they're playing with or against are using them.

[hardten]

[quote name='joeshmo' date='12 February 2010 - 05:47 AM' timestamp='1265971632' post='2245864']
I wonder how many of us started golf before the square, box or U grooves came about.
I'm 61 and been playing for 28 years. Regular old V groves when I started. I remember being able to spin a balata ball without a lot of trouble.

I know we have till 2024 but I'm curious if the change will really matter to the older player.
[/quote]
I will be 63 in march and been playing since 1975. Still have my first set bought used from a clien MacGregor CF4000 black faced 3-pw blades and pers. MT Mac driver ,3 & 5 wds in rafters,. Been thru 25 sets of irons since been keep those Macs for old time sake. Anyway I consider myself a tradionalist to some extent and golf purist who plays by the rules but I am also not an anal tool. If it's legal untill 2024 than I will play it unless I get hit by lightning and end up in a top tier USGA event. Heck I just want to be playing and around in 2024.