Right or Wrong ?

L.O.F.T

Have any of the low amateurs who post here or aspiring golfers playing to low single figures changed their equipment in line with the new groove regulations brought into effect this Jan? Is it fair to say that if you haven’t changed, or are not required to, you are indeed benefiting from technology that your peers, on tour or mini tours, do not have an advantage of using. Have any of you who may have changed considered using the Ping Eye 2 wedges? Is it fair to say that you want to be the best player that you are capable of being but your best rounds this year will always be under the cloud of non conforming clubs? For the most part it’s a non issue for the vast majority here but I know there is talent here with aspirations to be even better. So has the new ruling on grooves been an issue for you or a subject you haven’t even considered thinking of because it doesn’t relate to you. Or are there low amateurs out there playing with conforming clubs?

Tom Ghostwood

Your grooves would only last a season or two depending on how much golf or bunker shots you play so the 2024 deadline doesnt really matter imo.

whatawaster

Why would it be an issue, it’s perfectly legal?

As an aside, have wedge makers completely stopped manufacturing clubs with the old grooves, even for amateurs?

kagni

whatawaster wrote: »

As an aside, have wedge makers completely stopped manufacturing clubs with the old grooves, even for amateurs?

They had to stop manufacturing them by the end of last year but are allowed to continue to assemble and sell them for the remainder of this year as far as I know.

IITYWYBMAD

whatawaster wrote: »

Why would it be an issue, it’s perfectly legal?

I suppose it's a "moral" question, as opposed to a legality one. Have a read of this article, which presents a very good argument on the topic.

These rules are phased in for amateurs for a very valid reason, and as has been mentioned above, you should really change your wedges every 18-24mnths, or get them re-grooved. I am interested in what The Goose is doing at the moment, though. He's using wedges with replaceable faces. I suppose the idea is that you are comfortable with the weight and bounce of a wedge, but just want to keep the faces as sharp as possible.

GreeBo

I have a Spin Milled SW and a old CuBe Ping Eye2 LW which are both now illegal to manufacture...funny old game.

I changed my driver from 0.83 to 0.8 COR to keep it legal, mad sod all difference to me.
I guess if you are making a ruling you have to draw the line somewhere and anything thats a small bit away from the line will seem silly to be illegal.

If its legal then it really should be legal for everyone but the R&A cant suddenly make them illegal as their would be war from manufacturers.
Its really their own fault for loosing control of the game for so long.

On a related note there is a booing business in the US for all sorts of illegal balls and clubs, designed to really only be used for practicing but Im sure lots of them find their way into amateur comps.

gorfield

Were ok to use these grooves until 2024, i use the old shape vokey spin milled lw with the bounce ground off completely.
When i heard the ruling on the grooves i bought 10 lob wedges all the same and ground the bounce off as i like it, i use one for practice and i keep the others for tournament play so the grooves are always fresh, i see no reason to change until made do so by the rules.
However my new irons are the new grooves and the difference is huge, flyers.com at the moment!

GreeBo

Do u notice much difference with irons other than the wedges?

gorfield

Yeah its signifigant, the ball flying a full club further and with the prov1x im getting some freaky flyers even from fairway so ill prob go to a softer ball this year,

L.O.F.T

gorfield wrote: »

Yeah its signifigant, the ball flying a full club further and with the prov1x im getting some freaky flyers even from fairway so ill prob go to a softer ball this year,

Thanks for the insight. Any ideas as to what ball you may be looking at? or are you in the process of road testing several types

gorfield

L.O.F.T wrote: »

Thanks for the insight. Any ideas as to what ball you may be looking at? or are you in the process of road testing several types

I am actually, im hopping between the black prov1, the new taylormade penta (5 piece ball), and i got some of the new srixon tour ball(unreleased) from a "friend" over xmas so one of these id say will go in the bag!

L.O.F.T

gorfield wrote: »

I am actually, im hopping between the black prov1, the new taylormade penta (5 piece ball), and i got some of the new srixon tour ball(unreleased) from a "friend" over xmas so one of these id say will go in the bag!

nice xmas present from the ''friend''

gorfield

More a case of oh they look good, ill have some thanks!! lol

ShriekingSheet

gorfield wrote: »

Yeah its signifigant, the ball flying a full club further and with the prov1x im getting some freaky flyers even from fairway so ill prob go to a softer ball this year,

gorfield wrote: »

I am actually, im hopping between the black prov1, the new taylormade penta (5 piece ball), and i got some of the new srixon tour ball(unreleased) from a "friend" over xmas so one of these id say will go in the bag!

I'm also having a pretty annoying problem of flyers with the ProV1x, and in the winter have tried the AD333 which can fly ridiculous distances... when it feels like it.

Of course it doesn't help that I'm using big chunky Tour Burners.

What's the Penta TP like?

gorfield

The penta seem very good tbh, i played 9 this morning and its certainly longer than both prov1 balls, around the greens it almost feels like the old titleist professional.......soft and very checky, feels soft off the putter also. Im sold on it anyway, especially into the wind it def flew better, both off an iron and a driver. The feel is kinda weird, the harder i hit it the harder it felt, yet pitching and chipping it felt like a tomato........I LIKE....

f22

Do they cut up easily? I find the new Pro V's a disaster for scuffing, well worse that the old model.

ShriekingSheet

f22 wrote: »

Do they cut up easily? I find the new Pro V's a disaster for scuffing, well worse that the old model.

Yeah +1 to that - the old x cut up just as much, but the old black one was much more durable. Strange, given the old x was the harder one, but anyway, they new ones are certainly less durable.

I picked up a dozen AD333s for the winter, they're a fair bit harder than the prov's so I assumed they'd suit the winter and be more durable (I mean, who gives a sh*t about winter rules golf?) but turns out they cut up just as much