Absent Tiger Woods puts grooves center stage

At last week’s PGA Merchandise Show two topics dominated many conversations with the first being the Tiger Woods debacle. His fall from grace and his return to the PGA Tour was discussed endlessly with a significant minority raising the question of “if he will return” rather than “when.” However, since speculation is at best only grist for tabloids, the second and less sensational topic was the controversy over the groove change imposed on short irons.

Briefly, since the USGA failed to stop the equipment makers from producing vastly improved drivers and balls resulting in what the rules makers consider unacceptable driving distance increases by PGA Tour professionals the Association decided to make it more difficult to generate spin on approach shots. The logic being that, especially from the rough, the ball would be harder to stop on the green. The method chosen was to decrease the allowable size of grooves on medium and short irons with an attendant dulling of the groove edges. Using the new grooves less spin is imparted to the ball so though it may hit the green there is a greater chance of it being unable to stop and running over. A neat solution but it doesn’t take into account amateur golfers just the 1,000 or so touring professionals around the world. MORE...