Rolling Back the golf ball is mistake, why not cap as 2023 ball for distance

[higherplane]

Want to get thoughts and perhaps start a positive discussion.  My thought is that truly rolling back the golf ball distance is a mistake, as will in the end add to the cost of golf balls (unique manufacturer design paid for by us amateurs in cost of other balls).   However what if they just cap the distance at the end of 2023 based on real, MGS and better testing.   Courses that are tour sites could then be modified based on the new standard.  Virtually every other sport caps the ball distance.   In this scenario over time the cost of golf balls would drop for us as the designs would mature.  Over time swing and equipment changes for the top players will still add to distance but at least one variable is limited.                                    

[cnosil]

10 minutes ago, higherplane said:

Want to get thoughts and perhaps start a positive discussion.  My thought is that truly rolling back the golf ball distance is a mistake, as will in the end add to the cost of golf balls (unique manufacturer design paid for by us amateurs in cost of other balls).   However what if they just cap the distance at the end of 2023 based on real, MGS and better testing.   Courses that are tour sites could then be modified based on the new standard.  Virtually every other sport caps the ball distance.   In this scenario over time the cost of golf balls would drop for us as the designs would mature.  Over time swing and equipment changes for the top players will still add to distance but at least one variable is limited.                                    

I’ll direct you to the thread where this discussion has been going on for a while.   Also, the golf ball distance is and has already been capped and is tested on robotic devices   

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

3 hours ago, higherplane said:

Want to get thoughts and perhaps start a positive discussion.  My thought is that truly rolling back the golf ball distance is a mistake, as will in the end add to the cost of golf balls (unique manufacturer design paid for by us amateurs in cost of other balls).   However what if they just cap the distance at the end of 2023 based on real, MGS and better testing.   Courses that are tour sites could then be modified based on the new standard.  Virtually every other sport caps the ball distance.   In this scenario over time the cost of golf balls would drop for us as the designs would mature.  Over time swing and equipment changes for the top players will still add to distance but at least one variable is limited.                                    

There’s a cap already that what the current ball is approved against. Also a cap on equipment.

Courses aren’t running out of room. The mlr is a way for 3 organizations to control score on a handful of courses.

[storm319]

@higherplane

Other sports do not cap distance explicitly, but do have equipment regulations that place limitations on physical or reactive attributes that contribute to distance. Golf is no different given that the USGA has limited every factor that universally contributes to distance (last new ball related limit was the ODS in 1976).

The USGAs current proposal is based on their long standing perception that multilayer solid core balls are the primary factor in the increased distances at the elite level since the mid-90s even though the reality is that there have been many factors at play. Ultimately their perceived problem seems to be founded around the protection of par and optics and the ball is simply the temporary scape goat.

[stephenagatha54]

The decision to roll back the golf ball or to cap it at a certain distance is a controversial topic that has been debated within the golf community for years. While some argue that a rollback or distance cap is necessary to preserve the integrity and skill of the game, others believe on trendy zak bags that it would stifle innovation and limit the potential for players to achieve even greater feats on the course. One argument against a rollback or distance cap is that it would penalize golf ball manufacturers who have invested significant resources into research and development to produce high-performing golf balls. Additionally, it could limit the potential for golfers to achieve new records and milestones, which are an important part of the game's history and tradition.

Edited May 10, 2023 by stephenagatha54

[RickyBobby_PR]

27 minutes ago, stephenagatha54 said:

The decision to roll back the golf ball or to cap it at a certain distance is a controversial topic that has been debated within the golf community for years. While some argue that a rollback or distance cap is necessary to preserve the integrity and skill of the game, others believe that it would stifle innovation and limit the potential for players to achieve even greater feats on the course. One argument against a rollback or distance cap is that it would penalize golf ball manufacturers who have invested significant resources into research and development to produce high-performing golf balls. Additionally, it could limit the potential for golfers to achieve new records and milestones, which are an important part of the game's history and tradition.

It penalizes the golfers who have put in the time and work to gain speed and distance all for the sake of the ruling bodies to control score at a handful of courses.

The issue isn’t that it would penalize golf ball manufacturers because there is no requirement to make the ball, it’s why they pushed for it to be a mlr and not aan actual rule change.

now the ruling bodies will have to convince the pga tour to adopt it which they won’t, the players to accept It encourage if the pga tour doenst they won’t want it for 4 tournaments out of the year and have to adjust their bag setup specifically for the ball at those 4 events.

If the golf ball companies make It, there’s no penalty to them because they will pass the costs on to the consumer by raising prices of equipment since initially it will only be a ball for those who don’t pay for balls. If it does become a ball sold at retail then eventually all the current balls will be tweaked to match the mlr ball