The United States Golf Association plans to implement a rollback on golf balls, shortening the distance a ball can be hit since pros are ”getting too good.” The USGA rollback would ruin the game and business of golf. it’s unnecessary and the problems it is trying to fix can be easily worked on without a rollback. The rollback would also make the game more boring to watch. This rollback would only create problems and result in minimal positives.
Watching the game of golf can become dull at times, but with players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson Dechambeau launching drives and cutting corners, it begins to be exciting. The new generation of golf thrives on hitting the ball far and achieving feats never seen before. A USGA rollback could make much less possible and make the game boring to watch.
Another reason this rollback just doesn’t make sense is, how can it really be regulated? For all regulations in golf there are specific requirements such as a max driver size of 460cc or that grooves must be straight and parallel. This can’t be done for golf balls, since every player has a varying swing speed, changing measurements of the golf ball from player to player.
Also, every company competes to create superior golf balls with varying distance and spin. Implementing a rollback would restrict companies and limit the variety of golf balls available.
The main argument for the rollback is that courses are becoming too easy and older courses are becoming completely outdated for the new style of the game. While this is partially true, there are alternative solutions. Small adjustments to courses can be made that create problems for pulling out the driver. Small ponds or even just an extra bunker placed in the right spot can create doubt in a player’s mind and make it harder just to launch a driver 350 yards down the hole. In conclusion, a USGA rollback just won’t work and the problems it’s trying to solve can easily be worked upon in other ways.
The USGA Rollback Isn’t Needed
By Alex Shiner ‘25
The United States Golf Association plans to implement a rollback on golf balls, shortening the distance a ball can be hit since pros are ”getting too good.” The USGA rollback would ruin the game and business of golf. it’s unnecessary and the problems it is trying to fix can be easily worked on without a rollback. The rollback would also make the game more boring to watch. This rollback would only create problems and result in minimal positives.
Watching the game of golf can become dull at times, but with players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson Dechambeau launching drives and cutting corners, it begins to be exciting. The new generation of golf thrives on hitting the ball far and achieving feats never seen before. A USGA rollback could make much less possible and make the game boring to watch.
Another reason this rollback just doesn’t make sense is, how can it really be regulated? For all regulations in golf there are specific requirements such as a max driver size of 460cc or that grooves must be straight and parallel. This can’t be done for golf balls, since every player has a varying swing speed, changing measurements of the golf ball from player to player.
Also, every company competes to create superior golf balls with varying distance and spin. Implementing a rollback would restrict companies and limit the variety of golf balls available.
The main argument for the rollback is that courses are becoming too easy and older courses are becoming completely outdated for the new style of the game. While this is partially true, there are alternative solutions. Small adjustments to courses can be made that create problems for pulling out the driver. Small ponds or even just an extra bunker placed in the right spot can create doubt in a player’s mind and make it harder just to launch a driver 350 yards down the hole. In conclusion, a USGA rollback just won’t work and the problems it’s trying to solve can easily be worked upon in other ways.
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