HOT TOPIC 3: Golf ball distance on Tour

Andy Roberts's picture
Tue, 6 Mar 2018

TOPIC 3: IS GOLF BALL DISTANCE REALLY AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON TOUR?

AR: The golf ball is a problem for the Tour professionals, but definitely not for the rest of us. Just look at this stat that the USGA launched today. Single-handicap players certainly benefit from multi-layer, urethane-covered balls, but only if they’re fit correctly. The average hack can’t access those layers anyway and likely plays the wrong ball for him or her. The R&A and USGA yesterday released their annual survey on driving distances and with up to a seven-yard average gain recorded, concluded that the increase across the seven most prominent pro tours "in a single season is unusual and concerning." By all accounts, it sounds very much like the golf ball's "capacity to travel" will be reduced by up to 20% in the coming year. Don't get me wrong, I love to see these guys send it out there and reach par-4s in one blow. It adds to the spectacle and creates a buzz around the sport... "Did you see that guy DJ nearly ace the 420-yard par-4 the other day?" But the ball needs serious attention in my view. It's going crazy distances year after year. They'll all be reaching par-5s soon. The added distance is causing greater financial hits for golf courses on Tour to lengthen as a result, so it makes sense to roll it back slightly. 

Joe Miller's 3 Best Tips To CRUSH Longer Drives - Best Golf Driving Tips.mp4