Groovy, Groovy

Here we go again. Our friends at the USGA and the Royal & Ancient have issued their proposed ruling on square grooves. It’s been more than a decade since the USGA tried to ban the controversial U-shaped or square grooves only to be sued by Ping founder Karsten Solheim who forced the blue blazer crowd to back down.

Now the USGA is making another run at the technology advancements. Published reports suggest that golf’s governing bodies want to reduce groove volume by 50 percent; reduce the sharpness of the edge of the groove; impose new guidelines for clubs manufactured after 2010; and grandfather clubs used by regular golfers for at least 10 years. The USGA plans to accept comments until Aug. 1 and then issue a ruling within three to six months.

Why does this matter? The best explanation I’ve seen equates the grooves on a golf club to the tread on an automobile tire. On the tire, the wider and deeper the tread, the more water it can channel away thus improving the tire’s grip on the road. On a golf club, the shape, depth and sharpness of the groove increases the club’s “grip” on the ball, thereby increasing spin and making it easier for a player to control the flight of the shot and impart backspin. Give that technology to tour pros and they can hit shots out of long rough – the equivalent of water for a tire -- that don’t fly, but spin and stop.

Here’s the question the club manufacturers are asking: how do you cut back on the technological advancements to golf clubs? Is it fair to require golfers to purchase new clubs that meet updated USGA specifications? Tour pros get their clubs free, but everyday golfers would be forced to make a decision whether or not to buy new irons that comply with the new standards – unless the USGA grants an exemption. It will be interesting to see what the USGA comes up with and how the golf companies respond.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Homero Blancas.