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The PGA Tour and PGA of America released statements on Wednesday oppoing the USGA and The R&A’s decision to universally roll back the golf ball. The rollback is expected to reduce driving distances on the PGA Tour by 9-15 yards beginning in 2028. The recreational game will adopt the new golf ball two years later in 2030 with a 5-yard impact per drive, according to data provided by the USGA.
“Throughout the process, we have provided feedback to the USGA and The R&A and are pleased to see a number of our recommendations reflected in this most recent announcement,” the PGA Tour statement read. “However, we believe the proposed increase in test clubhead speed to 125 mph is disproportional to the rate of increase we see when analyzing PGA Tour radar data. In conjunction with guidance from the Player Advisory Council, Player Directors and Policy Board, we will continue to share our feedback with the USGA and The R&A.”
This decision follows a feedback period after the USGA and The R&A proposed a Modern Local Rule (MLR) in March, which was intended for elite competitions only. It would require the use of golf balls tested under modified launch conditions, reflective of the longest hitters in the professional game. Both the PGA Tour and PGA of America released statements against the proposed MLR, leading to the possibility of players having to use one type of golf ball in The Open and U.S. Open, and another in the PGA Championship and PGA Tour competition.
The current standard of 120-MPH swing speed, which produces ball speed of 176 MPH will be adjusted in 2028 to 125 MPH for those at the top of the game. The 5 miles per hour increase in swing speed represents roughly a 7-yard increase in ball speed to 183 mph. The revised…
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Source : cbssports
