Over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about a possible golf ball rollback and what that would look like. Now, the golf ball rollback is official and we have a clearer vision of what that means for the future of golf.
What is the Golf Ball Rollback?
The golf ball rollback means a change in the Overall Distance Standard for golf balls. When the roll back comes into effect, golf balls will only be officially approved for conformance if they do not go further than 317 yards when struck at a swing speed of 125 MPH.
Simply put, as per the USGA and R&A, the new roll back rules will likely result in a reduction of distance by about nine to 11 yards in the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, five to seven yards in the LPGA/LET, and five yards or fewer for casual amateur golfers.
Implementing an official golf ball rollback is intended to protect golf’s long-term sustainability. The consistent increase in golf-ball distance gains over the years has resulted in more and more golf courses having to extend their courses in order to keep up with the distance of golf shots. Since golf courses can only be extended so far (especially without ruining the integrity of the design), the USGA and R&A determined that the solution was to regulate golf balls themselves.
The change will come into effect on January 1st, 2028 for elite competitions and for all golfers in January 2030.
How Will the Golf Ball Rollback Affect Me?
The USGA and R&A estimates that, with the new rollback-conforming golf balls, casual golfers can expect to see a reduction of about five yards or less in the distance of their golf shots. This is, of course, a general number that will be different for everyone depending on their skill level, swing speed, and what golf balls they are used to playing with.
Once the rollback comes into effect, golf-ball manufacturers will no longer be producing long-distance golf balls that do not conform to the new requirements. So, if you are in love with a particular golf ball that will no longer be available after the rollback, now is the time to stock up!
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