You've probably seen all those ads for "hot" golf balls, which supposedly go a lot farther than normal ones. You may have even tried them yourself but probably will not admit it. The news is that generally these "hot" balls do not go further than regular golf balls. They usually violate the weight or size specifications in the rules of golf, but rarely do they violate the "initial velocity" test. These balls are nonconforming -- using them is against the rules of golf. Of course, it's up to you if you want to play by the rules. You are free to improve your lie in the rough, take as many mulligans as you like, and give yourself everything inside 20 feet, if you really want to -- just expect to play alone. No one's going to send you to prison. You can violate the rules when playing by yourself, or even with someone who agrees to do the same, but it's a different game -- like a chess match where both sides agree to move the rook diagonally across the board. You can play on a golf course with a bow and arrow instead of a club and ball, if that is truly what you want to do. Most golfers, however, like to play by the rules. Rules ensure that everyone is playing on the same, level playing field. And probably most importantly, you have some degree of order, and a standard against which you can judge your own performance. Rules maintain some of the best traditions of golf. They protect the challenge the game offers. At their best, rules are not petty or fascist or dull. Rules can be cool. But back to those hot golf balls. What are the rules that make them nonconforming? When I was hired as Technical Director of the USGA in 1974, one of my first duties was to come up with such rules, which I did the following year in developing something called the Overall Distance Standard. We used a mechanical golfer, the famous Iron Byron, whose swing was modeled on that of Byron Nelson. We had Iron Byron beat thousands of balls on the range, and carefully calibrated the machine -- using a specific ball, we measured carry and total distance (where the ball landed then rolled to its final resting place). The wind conditions, barometric pressure and temperature were also recorded. By measuring all these factors, we developed ideal launch conditions and a swing speed for Iron Byron that were similar to those of a long-hitting tour pro. Once we'd settled on these conditions and could replicate them easily, we could test every ball on the market. The longest ball at the time went 279 yards under the launch conditions we had adopted, so it was decided to set the Overall Distance Standard at 280 yards plus an additional 17 yards (16.8 yards actually, or six percent), included to accommodate both innovations which were in development at the time and also an essential test tolerance. This brought the Overall Distance Standard to 296.8 yards, where it remains today. And once that had been established, we could test every new ball that came along. Iron Byron would hit the ball under the appropriate launch conditions we had established. If the average distance of 24 balls tested exceeded 296.8 yards, then that brand would be considered nonconforming. As a side note, no ball which conforms to the weight, size and initial velocity specs has ever failed the Overall Distance Standard. This Overall Distance Standard was adopted in March 1976, and has worked very well for quarter of a century. But now, in this hi-tech age, the USGA is getting more sophisticated, and this spring announced that it intends to adopt a new indoor test method in 2002. It's a wonderful and very sophisticated system which will optimize the launch angle and spin for each ball tested. This has taken about five years to develop. The change is good news for the game's governing bodies, for ball manufacturers and for golfers of all abilities. The only thing it's not good news for is poor old Iron Byron, who will now presumably spend the rest of his days behind glass in a museum. I'll explain how the new testing system will work in next week's column. 6/1/01
You've probably seen all those ads for "hot" golf balls, which supposedly go a lot farther than normal ones. You may have even tried them yourself but probably will not admit it.
The news is that generally these "hot" balls do not go further than regular golf balls. They usually violate the weight or size specifications in the rules of golf, but rarely do they violate the "initial velocity" test.
These balls are nonconforming -- using them is against the rules of golf.
Of course, it's up to you if you want to play by the rules. You are free to improve your lie in the rough, take as many mulligans as you like, and give yourself everything inside 20 feet, if you really want to -- just expect to play alone.
No one's going to send you to prison. You can violate the rules when playing by yourself, or even with someone who agrees to do the same, but it's a different game -- like a chess match where both sides agree to move the rook diagonally across the board. You can play on a golf course with a bow and arrow instead of a club and ball, if that is truly what you want to do.
Most golfers, however, like to play by the rules. Rules ensure that everyone is playing on the same, level playing field. And probably most importantly, you have some degree of order, and a standard against which you can judge your own performance.
Rules maintain some of the best traditions of golf. They protect the challenge the game offers. At their best, rules are not petty or fascist or dull. Rules can be cool.
But back to those hot golf balls.
What are the rules that make them nonconforming? When I was hired as Technical Director of the USGA in 1974, one of my first duties was to come up with such rules, which I did the following year in developing something called the Overall Distance Standard.
We used a mechanical golfer, the famous Iron Byron, whose swing was modeled on that of Byron Nelson. We had Iron Byron beat thousands of balls on the range, and carefully calibrated the machine -- using a specific ball, we measured carry and total distance (where the ball landed then rolled to its final resting place). The wind conditions, barometric pressure and temperature were also recorded. By measuring all these factors, we developed ideal launch conditions and a swing speed for Iron Byron that were similar to those of a long-hitting tour pro. Once we'd settled on these conditions and could replicate them easily, we could test every ball on the market.
The longest ball at the time went 279 yards under the launch conditions we had adopted, so it was decided to set the Overall Distance Standard at 280 yards plus an additional 17 yards (16.8 yards actually, or six percent), included to accommodate both innovations which were in development at the time and also an essential test tolerance. This brought the Overall Distance Standard to 296.8 yards, where it remains today. And once that had been established, we could test every new ball that came along. Iron Byron would hit the ball under the appropriate launch conditions we had established. If the average distance of 24 balls tested exceeded 296.8 yards, then that brand would be considered nonconforming. As a side note, no ball which conforms to the weight, size and initial velocity specs has ever failed the Overall Distance Standard.
This Overall Distance Standard was adopted in March 1976, and has worked very well for quarter of a century. But now, in this hi-tech age, the USGA is getting more sophisticated, and this spring announced that it intends to adopt a new indoor test method in 2002. It's a wonderful and very sophisticated system which will optimize the launch angle and spin for each ball tested. This has taken about five years to develop. The change is good news for the game's governing bodies, for ball manufacturers and for golfers of all abilities. The only thing it's not good news for is poor old Iron Byron, who will now presumably spend the rest of his days behind glass in a museum.