USGA Puts Manufacturers On Notice

No April Fools joke here. Mike Stachura of Golf Digest has the scoop on the USGA sending out a memo notifying manufacturers that the men in blue are going to be undertaking research that may lead to new equipment rules. Key word, may.

"The USGA," writes Stachura, "is apparently concerned that manufacturers may be able to design a ball that on one hand passes the USGA overall distance standard under the stipulated launch conditions, but under different launch conditions actually exceeds the standard."

This phenomenon had been addressed in the test formerly known and scrapped by Rugge called optimization.

"If players are able to achieve those launch conditions (of which ball spin is a key component), then they are able to launch tee shots that fly farther than the 320-yard limit as specified in the USGA overall distance standard."

However, the USGA's Dick Rugge told Stachura that he "would advise those who are trying to predict the future to base that prediction on our past history," he said.  In other words, we've rolled over and cowered in the past, we can certainly do it again.