USGA conforming driver list takes up 1218 pages

[WUTiger]

I'm playing in an area Amateur tournament series this summer, and the rules warn that drivers must have USGA conforming heads.

So, I went online just to check that my particular Callaway RazrFit driver is legal. It is...

And, I was both impressed and burdened with the thoroughness of the USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads.

• The interactive PDF gets updated weekly.
• The list ran 1218 pages.
• Driver heads manufactured before 1999 are exempt from the Conditions.
• The list contains links to embedded pictures of the legal driver heads.
• Callaway alone had 78 pages of legal driver listings.

For those interested, enjoy! http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfClub/conforming_golf_club.asp

[danL]

I also use the Razr Fit so this is good news for me.

[dkolo]

I'm playing in an area Amateur tournament series this summer, and the rules warn that drivers must have USGA conforming heads.

So, I went online just to check that my particular Callaway RazrFit driver is legal. It is...

And, I was both impressed and burdened with the thoroughness of the USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads.

The interactive PDF gets updated weekly.

The list ran 1218 pages.

Driver heads manufactured before 1999 are exempt from the Conditions.

The list contains links to embedded pictures of the legal driver heads.

Callaway alone had 78 pages of legal driver listings.

For those interested, enjoy!  http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfClub/conforming_golf_club.asp

Interesting that the Callaway box set I bought from Costco isn't on the list (X-24 driver, woods, hybrid, irons). I know it's 460cc and have no reason to think it's illegal. I don't play in tournaments or anything, but if I were to want to make my unofficial handicap official through USGA eventually, does that mean I can't use my clubs? Or just my driver? Or does that condition only matter if tournaments stipulate?

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WUTiger

I'm playing in an area Amateur tournament series this summer, and the rules warn that drivers must have USGA conforming heads.

So, I went online just to check that my particular Callaway RazrFit driver is legal. It is...

And, I was both impressed and burdened with the thoroughness of the USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads.

The interactive PDF gets updated weekly.

The list ran 1218 pages.

Driver heads manufactured before 1999 are exempt from the Conditions.

The list contains links to embedded pictures of the legal driver heads.

Callaway alone had 78 pages of legal driver listings.

For those interested, enjoy!  http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfClub/conforming_golf_club.asp

Interesting that the Callaway box set I bought from Costco isn't on the list (X-24 driver, woods, hybrid, irons). I know it's 460cc and have no reason to think it's illegal. I don't play in tournaments or anything, but if I were to want to make my unofficial handicap official through USGA eventually, does that mean I can't use my clubs? Or just my driver? Or does that condition only matter if tournaments stipulate?

It likely means that it's has never been submitted for testing, so it may or may not conform - no way to know.  You are correct that if you choose to play in a competition under the Rules of Golf, you would have to use a conforming driver.  The only way you can be certain is if your driver is on the list.

[dkolo]

It likely means that it's has never been submitted for testing, so it may or may not conform - no way to know.  You are correct that if you choose to play in a competition under the Rules of Golf, you would have to use a conforming driver.  The only way you can be certain is if your driver is on the list.

But for every day play (non-tournament, but keeping unofficial handicap) if I'm trying to follow the Rules and keep an honest handicap for myself, is this something I'd need to worry about? I'll probably wind up sending Callaway an email to double check with them, but I never had any indication that there was anything non-conforming about the set when I bought it so it never even occurred to me to ask until right now.

[newtogolf]

But for every day play (non-tournament, but keeping unofficial handicap) if I'm trying to follow the Rules and keep an honest handicap for myself, is this something I'd need to worry about? I'll probably wind up sending Callaway an email to double check with them, but I never had any indication that there was anything non-conforming about the set when I bought it so it never even occurred to me to ask until right now.

I wouldn't worry about it for handicap play.  The X-24 irons were conforming and they probably rebranded one of their other woods offering at the time as X-24 so all the clubs were marked as X-24.  If you ever entered a tournament where they actually check club conformance (I've never participated in one) then it might be an issue.

[dkolo]

I wouldn't worry about it for handicap play.  The X-24 irons were conforming and they probably rebranded one of their other woods offering at the time as X-24 so all the clubs were marked as X-24.  If you ever entered a tournament where they actually check club conformance (I've never participated in one) then it might be an issue.

OK, thanks, that's what I figured. I'm going to drop Callaway a line anyway when I get a chance, and see if they have anything to say.

Speaking of which, I'm a little put off by where Callaway is going with their Costco rebranded sets. It was fine when they gave them unique names like they did in past years (X-24 instead of X-24 Hot, RAZR Edge instead of Diablo Edge, Xtreme instead of whatever the hell they were branding off of). But their 2015 model is being branded through the set as X-Hot. Callaway made X-Hot wood, hybrids, and irons. The paint and designs are different, but the logo is the same. I can see someone thinking they just packaged the individual "real" X-Hot clubs into a box set and maybe thinking they have a club on the official list when they don't.

[newtogolf]

OK, thanks, that's what I figured. I'm going to drop Callaway a line anyway when I get a chance, and see if they have anything to say.

Speaking of which, I'm a little put off by where Callaway is going with their Costco rebranded sets. It was fine when they gave them unique names like they did in past years (X-24 instead of X-24 Hot, RAZR Edge instead of Diablo Edge, Xtreme instead of whatever the hell they were branding off of). But their 2015 model is being branded through the set as X-Hot. Callaway made X-Hot wood, hybrids, and irons. The paint and designs are different, but the logo is the same. I can see someone thinking they just packaged the individual "real" X-Hot clubs into a box set and maybe thinking they have a club on the official list when they don't.

I wouldn't be shocked if they were the same clubs (or maybe previous generations) and were just rebadged for Costco.  It would seem cost prohibitive to create unique molds, sourcing and production runs for clubs that are only sold at Costco.  They likely change the logo to protect their core product line and vendors.

I'll be interested to see the response from Callaway, please share it.  Thanks.

[dkolo]

I wouldn't be shocked if they were the same clubs (or maybe previous generations) and were just rebadged for Costco.  It would seem cost prohibitive to create unique molds, sourcing and production runs for clubs that are only sold at Costco.  They likely change the logo to protect their core product line and vendors.

I'll be interested to see the response from Callaway, please share it.  Thanks.

For a while I thought they were the same clubs rebranded, but they're not. A lot of the detail work isn't there. I found an X-24 Hot iron to hold and, aside from that being gunmetal grey and cranked lofts vs. chrome and standard lofts, the offset seems higher, the rear cavity isn't as cleanly finished (sharp edges as opposed to beveled ones), different ferrule, and I'm pretty sure the weight / low CG isn't there (which makes sense if you're not cranking the lofts). The woods have looked identical all 3 years (though I think this year's are different, but still not the stock X-Hots).

Here's a link to them online for reference:

http://www.costco.com/Callaway%C2%AE-X-HOT-11-Piece-Golf-Set-Right-Hand.product.100136868.html

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkolo

OK, thanks, that's what I figured. I'm going to drop Callaway a line anyway when I get a chance, and see if they have anything to say.

Speaking of which, I'm a little put off by where Callaway is going with their Costco rebranded sets. It was fine when they gave them unique names like they did in past years (X-24 instead of X-24 Hot, RAZR Edge instead of Diablo Edge, Xtreme instead of whatever the hell they were branding off of). But their 2015 model is being branded through the set as X-Hot. Callaway made X-Hot wood, hybrids, and irons. The paint and designs are different, but the logo is the same. I can see someone thinking they just packaged the individual "real" X-Hot clubs into a box set and maybe thinking they have a club on the official list when they don't.

I wouldn't be shocked if they were the same clubs (or maybe previous generations) and were just rebadged for Costco.  It would seem cost prohibitive to create unique molds, sourcing and production runs for clubs that are only sold at Costco.  They likely change the logo to protect their core product line and vendors.

I'll be interested to see the response from Callaway, please share it.  Thanks.

There is no way that they would sell the same clubs discounted at Costco that they sell through golf retailers.  From the description by dkolo, they cut a lot of corners with the Costco sets.  Even if the driver and FW's look the same, there is going to be similar corner cutting on them too.  I would imagine that the weighting isn't as consistent, and it's very likely that they put a much cheaper shaft in them.  All speculation on my part, but I can't see them just rebranding then discounting the same club.  That isn't something that could be kept a secret for long, and nobody would buy the more expensive clubs if they thought they could get the same thing cheaper through a big box store.

[Dave2512]

I use it when considering component heads. Though most legit companies will say if it's conforming or not in the specs.

[Missouri Swede]

I'm playing in an area Amateur tournament series this summer, and the rules warn that drivers must have USGA conforming heads.

So, I went online just to check that my particular Callaway RazrFit driver is legal. It is...

And, I was both impressed and burdened with the thoroughness of the USGA List of Conforming Driver Heads.

The interactive PDF gets updated weekly.

The list ran 1218 pages.

Driver heads manufactured before 1999 are exempt from the Conditions.

The list contains links to embedded pictures of the legal driver heads.

Callaway alone had 78 pages of legal driver listings.

For those interested, enjoy!  http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfClub/conforming_golf_club.asp

Great that you thought to check (and knew where to look it up).  Was there something that made you think the RazrFit wasn't conforming, or maybe yours in particular? Or were you just being careful?

Not a big deal--I'm just curious.

[WUTiger]

Great that you thought to check (and knew where to look it up).  Was there something that made you think the RazrFit wasn't conforming, or maybe yours in particular? Or were you just being careful?

Not a big deal--I'm just curious.

I knew the RazrFit was conforming. I just wanted to check out the "administrative system" for tracking drivers. I was expecting it to be maybe a hundred

pages, not 1000 +!

The list also has a secondary use for me - it shows the year a particular club model was released. This helps when I'm looking up archival info on different club models.