New Groove Rule

[iacas]

[Leftygolfer]

Fourputt,

I don't think that is accurate. It will not effect any "normal" tourney until 2014. By normal I am talking about state and local, non-us am type.

We are fine for anything we can get into till 2014. I don't think many players here can really compete in elite events.

[Fourputt]

That would be up to the individual association and competition committee. No way to make a blanket statement.

Fourputt,

If you are referring to my quote above, then this is my response to you:

The rule will be mandatory in 2014 for certain USGA sanctioned amateur events. It will be mandatory in 2024 for all amateur competitions played by the Rules of Golf. But that doesn't mean that it can't be optioned for specific competitions earlier than that. It will still be up to the individual competition committee if they want to institute the new rule. I wouldn't expect it to happen, but you never know. I'd read the entry forms carefully for any city or state wide tournaments.

[RocketSauce]

thats an interesting video. for those that dont have the time to watch it, it basically said that from the fairway, both the non-conforming grooves and the new conforming grooves perform similarly (ball checked-up and spun back 6-8 feet).

from the rough there is a quite a difference. the non-conforming wedges still check-up and spin back, but the new conforming wedges will not check-up and will roll forward when hit from the rough.

[James_Black]

I thought there'd be more of a difference between them.

It'll be another reason for the pro'd to keep they're shots on the fairway I guess!

[Fourputt]

I thought there'd be more of a difference between them.

Keep in mind that that was a 56° wedge. The difference will certainly be more pronounced with a 7 or 8 Iron. One thing I noticed from the video that wasn't mentioned. If the shots were taken from the same distance, the shots from the rough with the new grooves seemed to get a bit of a flyer effect... they seemed to carry farther onto the green than the ones made with the current grooves, then released 6-8 feet more. Another confirmation that the USGA is getting the effect it wants with the change.

[aca247]

will high school golfers need the v grooves

[Fourputt]

will high school golfers need the v grooves

Eventually yes... just as eventually all players will need to to be within the rules. But I shouldn't imagine that they will be required before 2014 at the earliest, and probably not even then.

[RocketSauce]

Keep in mind that that was a 56° wedge. The difference will certainly be more pronounced with a 7 or 8 Iron. One thing I noticed from the video that wasn't mentioned. If the shots were taken from the same distance, the shots from the rough with

yep, i noticed that too.

[raycharles]

I don't care. They will have to pry my irons from my cold, dead hands.

[Fourputt]

Here is a video from Cleveland Golf on the groove change. It's about the best explanation I've seen yet. It's clearly presented with no manufacturer bias. Click on the article titled "USGA Groove Rule Summary".

Here's the link: http://www.clevelandgolf.com/index.p...id=53207904001

[ronaldkuntoro]

For clubmakers,

are they supposed to sell 2010 USGA conformed iron & wedge heads?

Does this rule have significance for golfers who just like to participate in Club tournaments (non USGA) ?

[James_Black]

For clubmakers,

Clubmakers can't sell non conforming wedges after 2009.

Shops can still sell whatever stock they have left. And club tournaments won't be affected until 2024

[iacas]

Clubmakers can't sell non conforming wedges after 2009.

Yeah they can. They can't CREATE non-conforming clubheads. Titleist, TaylorMade, etc. can still assemble and sell clubheads that exist prior to December 31, 2K9.

[Kiss My Grits]

Yeah they can. They can't CREATE non-conforming clubheads. Titleist, TaylorMade, etc. can still assemble and sell clubheads that exist prior to December 31, 2K9.

They better hurry up and mass produce

[HoosierGolfer]

I don't care. They will have to pry my irons from my cold, dead hands.

I'm with you. 2024 is a long way down the road and I will worry about it then. There will be new non-conforming clubs for sale for many years to come for those of us that need them in the secondary market.

[ewc19972]

what is the exact deal with the new grooves, i know that they create more spin, but what is the best strategy, and where can i find them cheap.

[nike_golf]

Ummmm, the new grooves create LESS SPIN, not more. The new grooves are V in shape, instead of U in shape. The new grooves don't "catch" the ball as much as the old grooves, thus less spin on it.

The USGA designed this rule to basically make the game of golf a bit harder. Yippee. They figured you should be punished a bit more for hitting it into the rough, and the new grooves make it very hard to spin the ball out of the rough.