Video - Dean Snell on "The Great Distance Debate"

[nevets88]

Haven't watched it yet, 15 minute interview.

Haven

[dennyjones]

I completely agree with Dean here.   Great interview.   

 

thanks for sharing

[Vinsk]

Pretty compelling arguments. I can’t imagine anyone thinking rolling back the ball is a good idea after that discussion.

[boogielicious]

I like his POV on this. 

[Shermanator]

TL;DW: 
There's already a speed limit on balls (255 ft/sec). It's the spin rate that balls are better at. Pros used to have to hit 8-9 degree drivers with a closed face because the ball spun so much. Now golf balls are down around 2k RPM. Drivers are bigger today with a larger sweet spot and they're longer than before and they can hit up on the ball. Also, pros are working out, not going to the bar to drink after a round. Agronomy also plays a factor, golf courses are more firm on the fairways so players are getting tons of roll out adding more distance to their drives.Fairways used to be around 3/4" in the 80s, now they're 1/4" long. 

[Bonvivant]

On 2/29/2020 at 12:04 PM, Shermanator said:

TL;DW: 
There's already a speed limit on balls (255 ft/sec). It's the spin rate that balls are better at. Pros used to have to hit 8-9 degree drivers with a closed face because the ball spun so much. Now golf balls are down around 2k RPM. Drivers are bigger today with a larger sweet spot and they're longer than before and they can hit up on the ball. Also, pros are working out, not going to the bar to drink after a round. Agronomy also plays a factor, golf courses are more firm on the fairways so players are getting tons of roll out adding more distance to their drives.Fairways used to be around 3/4" in the 80s, now they're 1/4" long. 

This is a good summary for those that don't have the 15 minutes to watch. I would just add that Dean's solution starts with a year of the PGA setting up the courses with longer fairway grass (Maybe 1/2 inch by growing it out a week before the event), and tucking pins to make accuracy more valuable and to eliminate some of the ridiculous roll out seen on tour.

[Darkfrog]

I'm on the do nothing side of the distance debate, and I agree with Dean Snell, but there's got to be some bias given his business interest, so hard to see this as purely objective analysis.

[iacas]

17 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

I'm on the do nothing side of the distance debate, and I agree with Dean Snell, but there's got to be some bias given his business interest, so hard to see this as purely objective analysis.

He’d still get to sell golf balls.

[Vinsk]

27 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

I'm on the do nothing side of the distance debate, and I agree with Dean Snell, but there's got to be some bias given his business interest, so hard to see this as purely objective analysis.

Why is it hard? He used stats and stated his points clearly. And like Erik said...he’ll still golf balls. 

[ChetlovesMer]

On 2/29/2020 at 12:04 PM, Shermanator said:

TL;DW: 
There's already a speed limit on balls (255 ft/sec). It's the spin rate that balls are better at. Pros used to have to hit 8-9 degree drivers with a closed face because the ball spun so much. Now golf balls are down around 2k RPM. Drivers are bigger today with a larger sweet spot and they're longer than before and they can hit up on the ball. Also, pros are working out, not going to the bar to drink after a round. Agronomy also plays a factor, golf courses are more firm on the fairways so players are getting tons of roll out adding more distance to their drives.Fairways used to be around 3/4" in the 80s, now they're 1/4" long. 

I have to say, I agree with a lot of what you say. I remember seeing a video recently of them setting up for the tournament in Dubai. They mentioned that during the preparations for the tournament they were going to "Roll the fairways" at least 4 times.... WHAT? Those fairways are firmer and more evenly cut than my living room carpet. 

My opinion which is worth twice what you'll pay for it. Is that I'd hate to see them roll back the ball. Leave the current limits in place and if you want to slow down the fairways a bit and slow down the rough a lot, I'm cool with that. 

But again, opinions are like backsides, everyone has one, and most people think mine stinks. 

[Missouri Swede]

3 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

if you want to slow down the fairways a bit

Velcro.

[rehmwa]

minimalist golfer - driver, 3 wedges, putter, and an orange whip

great points

Edited March 2, 2020 by rehmwa

[Darkfrog]

2 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Why is it hard?

Because he's the the founder of a company that designs, manufactures, and sells golf balls, and if ultimately the powers that be decide to roll back the ball, that impacts the ball manufacturers directly. I don't believe any take on this subject from an equipment company is going to be objective.

I agree that equipment shouldn't be rolled back (maybe cap where we are now) but to me this comes across as calculated PR.

[Vinsk]

I think it’s just people who love golf expressing their opinions. Although he’s a ball guy I thought his points made sense regardless of being in the golf ball business.

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Darkfrog said:

Because he's the the founder of a company that designs, manufactures, and sells golf balls, and if ultimately the powers that be decide to roll back the ball, that impacts the ball manufacturers directly. I don't believe any take on this subject from an equipment company is going to be objective.

I agree that equipment shouldn't be rolled back (maybe cap where we are now) but to me this comes across as calculated PR.

One could make an argument that any disruption to the ball market could benefit the smaller ball manufacturers like Snell. Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade… Bridgestone. That's probably 90% of the urethane ball market, maybe more. Any disruption to that has the potential to "reset" thing.

In other words, the company with the most to lose, by far, is Titleist.

[Slowcelica]

I think the whole rollback the distance is killing the game is rediculous, because they are talking about changing the rules of the game because of maybe what 5% of the people who play it. To me it's like saying well NBA players are ruining the game because they are so tall they can easily dunk the ball and they shoot the ball so well, the rim needs to be raised another foot and made smaller. 

Edit: The game is already hard enough as it is for us amateurs, why make it harder for us.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Slowcelica

[lastings]

Interesting that no one in this thread happened to mention that Dean Snell said he thinks there is a distance problem on tour. 

[Vinsk]

1 hour ago, lastings said:

Interesting that no one in this thread happened to mention that Dean Snell said he thinks there is a distance problem on tour. 

That’s just him throwing a little bone to keep the bozos content. There isn’t. Last two tournaments showed golf still wins. Cameron Champ hasn’t done anything special. It’s nonsense. Let ‘em play.