Has any one hit the 'new' sanctioned grooved irons?

[rjal4296]

Curious... For the amateur... Any difference in spin rate from:

1) Fairway cut

2) Rough

Why would I buy any new set?

[uttexas]

I know what you are getting at and this could be a great thread.

They haven't even published a list of nonconforming grooved clubs yet. We are four months away from the new year, and they haven't published a list yet. Something is going on here.

[Chief Broom]

My new irons are non-conforming (Ping i10's). Ping's new "15" series do conform. I believe one would have to be a very good player (low single digit handicap) to be able to discern any difference between conforming and non-conforming grooves.

[pshizz]

the only difference is from the rough. My 695cb's conform, so i couldn't really tell you much. As long as you play with a high spinning ball, the difference wont be too bad, though.

[thebignasty]

i was reading somewhere that stewart cink or someone fairly popular on tour was testing the new sanctioned irons and wedges. And he said they loose 10% of spin from the fairway and over 65% of spin from the rough. So basically the players who can me most accurate and long will thrive..

[iacas]

I've hit them with my AP2s. The flier lie has returned.

I haven't hit them in the wedges yet but then again I'm using pretty old wedges now (last year's), so I don't expect much change when I do get a few of the new ones.

[WUTiger]

Here's a press release from Cybergolf on the USGA rules changes on grooves:
http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/u...f_club_grooves

USGA will apply the new rules as of Jan. 1, 2010 for pro events, and Jan. 1, 2014 for amateur events. It press release summarizes the legalities involved, and mentioned that some Ping clubs won't conform.

Also, here's a commentary from The Oregonian newspaper on new grooves and the "return of the flyer."
http://http://blog.oregonlive.com/go...e_it_hard.html

This will help put the brakes on PGA pros who push a drive 20 yards into the right rough, and still spin a 9-iron into tight pin position. Next we'll see if the USGA comes up with a "pro ball" for professional tour and NCAA college players to lessen likelihood of 320 yd. drives.

Making new golf courses 7800 yards long eats up more land, making courses more expensive to build and maintain.

[uttexas]

Yes, the way I read the rule is that after January 1st 2010 club manufacturers are to only produce clubs that conform to the groove volume rule. If you play with regularity, wedge grooves wear out in a year or so. Even though amateurs can play with the nonconforming grooves in casual rounds up until 2024 and competitive rounds until 2014, the USGA is effectively limiting their benefit much sooner.

There are numerous nonconforming drivers on the market for purchase. So how will the USGA enforce conforming grooved clubs, while nonconforming drivers continue to be produced?

[Fourputt]

Curious... For the amateur... Any difference in spin rate from:

I've been playing Titleist AP-2's most of the summer, and they conform to the new rule. For most shots I don't see any difference from my old Cobra's. The old ones were admittedly pretty worn, but I'll take the AP-2 over anything else I've used lately hands down, no matter what the grooves.

I'm living proof that the average golfer is NOT going to even notice the difference. Most won't even know that there has been a change, and those that do will find that it makes no difference in their games.

Yes, the way I read the rule is that after January 1st 2010 club manufacturers are to only produce clubs that conform to the groove volume rule. If you play with regularity, wedge grooves wear out in a year or so. Even though amateurs can play with the nonconforming grooves in casual rounds up until 2024 and competitive rounds until 2014, the USGA is effectively limiting their benefit much sooner.

The USGA can only make the rules, they can't control the manufacturers. It's up to the club or competition committee to police their members. There will always be nonconforming clubs on the market. It's up to the player to do the right thing and follow the rules.

I see it as no different from using a foot wedge when nobody is looking... cheaters will still cheat, and golfers will still play by the rules.

[Fourputt]

i was reading somewhere that stewart cink or someone fairly popular on tour was testing the new sanctioned irons and wedges. And he said they loose 10% of spin from the fairway and over 65% of spin from the rough.

Which is

exactly why the grooves are being changed. It is an initial attempt to return to the days when there was a premium on driving accuracy.

[Jay-Bird]

Yes.

The MP-57 irons conform to all USGA groove rulings, as well as the "Condition of Competition" Ruling taking effect on January 1, 2010.

[microcrayfish]

There are numerous nonconforming drivers on the market for purchase. So how will the USGA enforce conforming grooved clubs, while nonconforming drivers continue to be produced?

I think drivers are okay. As far as I know the new rules don't apply to drivers and putters and also clubs with less than 25 degrees of loft, which applies to pretty much all drivers and fairway woods.

[Fourputt]

I think drivers are okay. As far as I know the new rules don't apply to drivers and putters and also clubs with less than 25 degrees of loft, which applies to pretty much all drivers and fairway woods.

He isn't talking about grooves on drivers. He's talking about drivers which are illegal because of a spring effect off the face, or because on a generally nonconforming shape. There are still several around which do not meet USGA specifications. Grooves are irrelevant on a driver because you are almost never going to be hitting one from the rough, and that is mostly what the grooves are there for.

The same is true of putters... that old one that had 3 real balls built into the body behind the face for alignment was and is illegal.

[DavidFehertysBike]

My ive been using my AP2's, which conform, for a year. No wedges as of yet, and i dont plan on purchasing conforming wedges until i have to. But as far as my irons, i dont notice a whole lot of difference between my previous set (titliest 695cbs) to my current set. Obviously i dont drop and stop shots from the rough as much as i did before, but from the fairway, ive noticed not much difference at all.

I will say though i caught a true flier for the first time in my life a few months ago where i ended up hitting a 7 iron over 200 yards. It freaked me out for the rest of the round and i wasnt very aggressive out of the rough. But that was the only time it has happened to me.

[GolfDogg22]

I have hit the new grooves and there is a big difference in spin, especially around the greens. Does anyone know if the i10 irons or the i15 have the new "v-grooves" or the "U shaped" or "Box grooves"? and if so which ones?

[rjal4296]

Finally played my new G15's...

No difference from the fairway... However, the #9 and #PW tend to 'fly' from the bermuda rough.