If the true test of a man’s intelligence is how much he agrees with you Michael Johnson, equipment writer for Golf Digest, is a genius.
In his June 20 online column he lays out the case against the USGA’s illogical and unfortunate reasoning when it came up with the ban of U-shaped or square grooves. The argument is similar to that made by this writer for over two years.
The Association concluded by mandating grooves with smaller cross section on irons of more than 25 degrees loft touring professionals and top amateurs would have to throttle back their tee shots to avoid hitting the ball in the rough. Smaller groves are less efficient imparting spin to a ball when the grass is of medium length as in the rough. The 1,000 or so elite golfers this change was aimed at therefore would have a harder time stopping their approach shots on the green.
Their logic continued that since there would be a “penalty” for hitting the ball in the rough the elites would then be forced to use a club less than a driver from the tee in order to keep the ball in the fairway. From the fairway they would be able to put the correct spin on the ball with the new grooves so distance could be controlled and it would stop close to the pin. MORE…
About Ed Travis
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