What are the new rules on square or U grooves on golf clubs–do they apply to amateurs and recreational golfers?
WSJ has an excellent article this week on the new USGA rule banning the square grooves so popular today. This rule applies immediately to the PGA Tour and professional golfers, but does not yet apply to amateur events. The new grooves will be not as big, which means you can’t put as much backspin on a ball out of the rough (when grass gets between the ball and the club). Here are some basic facts:
1. The new rule applies to the PGA Tour and professional golfers. It is the first time that the USGA has gone backwards in terms of technology.
2. The change was implemented after 2 studies by the USGA that showed that the square grooves had greatly diminished the driving accuracy as a determiner of scoring on the tour, compared to the past (before 1990) when V grooves were in place.
3. Ping wedges and irons made before April 1, 1990 are “grandfathered” in and still permissible on tour because of the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Ping years ago.
4. The U.S. Amateur won’t switch to the new rule until 2014.
5. All the rest of us don’t have to switch until at least 2024. (Just think about it, by then, you won’t be playing the same clubs anyway.) But golf manufacturers will stop after this year making the old square grooves.
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