Have you heard about the famous Ball Rollback?
Apparently, the gentlemen at the R&A and the USGA who decide golf’s big things get together from time to time and make decisions.
Nice job, that, isn’t it?
Anyway, on December 5, 2023, they decided something about the golf ball that is still causing a stir.
The balls are going too far, the courses are not getting any bigger, and apparently the game now has a distance problem. In other words, golfers are losing the ball a bit too much. Literally. Hahahaha.
The argument is that modern balls fly so far that courses have to move tees back, rebuild bunkers, stretch layouts, and so on.
Jokes aside, what they proposed was changing the test used to decide whether a ball is conforming for play:
The maximum distance allowed under the Overall Distance Standard would still be 317 yards, with a tolerance of 3 yards, but... the ball would now be tested under tougher conditions, more like the ones produced by modern bombers:
- 125 mph clubhead speed
- 11° launch angle
- 2200 rpm of spin instead of the old conditions of 120 mph, 10°, and 2520 rpm. If a ball goes too far under that new test, it will no longer conform.
On top of that, they wanted to introduce the change in two phases: one in 2028 for pros, and another in 2030 for the rest of us mere mortals. So yes, the controversy buffet is fully open. What could possibly go wrong?
The long hitters complain that they will not hit it as far, and that this hurts them. The shorter hitters complain that they will hit it even shorter. The people not complaining about that are complaining that the original two-phase plan would split pros and amateurs under different standards. And the ball manufacturers complain that there is no clear proof the change is even necessary.
For the pros, the distance loss could be around 10 to 15 yards. For amateurs, roughly 5.
Imagine me complaining too. My ball also goes too far. Straight into the water. Hahahaha.
Have a great golfing weekend!
P.S. 1: Very much current news: on March 17, 2026, they published a Notice and Comment formally proposing a new idea — one single implementation date for the entire game, from January 1, 2030. P.S. 2: I’ve got an article/guide on how to choose a golf ball. Enjoy.