U grooves?

Benicetomonty

The USGA's decision to implement a ban on U or 'Square' grooves from next year has garnered predictably mixed responses from touring pros and manufacturing companies alike. Tests have indicated significant reductions in the rate of spin players will now be able to exert on golf balls like the Pro V1 with the new grooves, particularly out of the rough, and a predicted consequence of this will see pros revert to softer balls.
This will have the dual effect of maintaining control but sacrificing distance, thereby restoring the integrity of such classic course as Merion, which has become increasingly considered too short a venue to viably host major tournaments of professional or amateur status.
As I mentioned, there has been a very mixed response to the decision; Ian Poulter is among the top pros who have criticised the move, whereas companies like Ping and Acushnet(Titleist/Cobra) have alluded to the damage it will do to sales and returns/trade-ins on their clubs. Contrastingly, Tiger Woods, now considered one of the primary unofficial consultants with regard to such decisions, has endorsed it. Furthermore, many broadcasters and journalists have drawn comparisons with the ban on high C.O.R drivers from both tours some years ago, which seems to have been incorporated with relatively little fuss

Although I'm sure there's lots to argue about either way, my main issue is this: why is the ban on U grooves exempting amateurs? Whilst I agree that the vast majority of club golfers do not strike the ball consistently well enough to gain a massive advantage from the use of u grooves, if a change in the rules is implemented for the pros and not the hackers, it ceases to become the same game. Thoughts?

stockdam

The reason that the pros etc. may like a ban is that it makes the game a bit harder for them. many of the older courses are too short for them now.....it's not always easy to add 50 yards to every par 4.

For us amateurs the game has got a bit easier but the scoring hasn't so we still struggle like we always did. Plus I for one was fairly pissed off when I had to ditch my old driver just to buy a new one that does a similar job. I can't just go out and buy a new set of clubs every time there's a rule change that doesn't really affect me.

fullstop

A lot of it is to do with money I think, but in the opposite way to the usual! If the rule came in for amateurs next year as well as the pros, everyone who has just bought a new set of clubs would have to change them again, and wouldn't be able to sell them on, costing a lot of money.
I think it's good that there is a changeover period for amateurs, but IMO it's way too long, it should be something like 3 years I think before amateurs have to change to V grooves. As the OP says, it won't seem like we're playing the same game as the pros if they're playing balata's and V grooves and the rest of us are playing Pro V1's and U grooves.
Part of the appeal of watching golf for me is to compare how pros do things differently in the way the control the ball around the greens and work the ball in the air and how far they hit it. But come next year, we won't be on an even playing field anymore.

jingx3

Oh the irony,
Demanding equality
On boards dot ie.

trackerman

I'm about to buy some new irons, should I be concerned about this decision?

Should I be looking for compliant clubs?

fullstop

jingx3 wrote: »

Oh the irony,
Demanding equality
On boards dot ie.

WTF are you on about

copperhead

i read somewhere recently that a scratch golfer
who hits 50 balls wouldnt be able to tell the if
new grooves were any different

castle

trackerman wrote: »

I'm about to buy some new irons, should I be concerned about this decision?

Should I be looking for compliant clubs?

I heard the pros must change next year and the rest of by the year 2024,so no need to worry about it yet

fullstop

copperhead wrote: »

i read somewhere recently that a scratch golfer
who hits 50 balls wouldnt be able to tell the if
new grooves were any different

Well you wouldn't be able to tell the difference if you just hit balls on the range, they'd probably go a bit further with less spin, but of course you'd be able to tell the difference hitting balls onto a green, with wedges anyway....not so much longer irons.

golfbgud

I heard that the European Tour Players must implement from Jan 1st 2010.

Also heard a figure of 5yrs for Amateurs (TBC).