Golf's Governing Bodies Announce Ball Rollback for All Players

The longest hitters in pro golf will see a reduction of as much as 13 to 15 yards in drive distance; the effect on most recreational players is said to be 'minimal' at five yards or less.

The United States Golf Association and R&A announced Tuesday a revision of golf ball testing conditions starting in January 2028, which will effectively require a new ball which doesn't fly as far.

"The decision aims to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf's long-term sustainability while minimizing the impact on the recreational game," the governing bodies said in a statement.

Revised ball testing conditions will be set at 125 mph clubhead speed with a spin rate of 2,200 rpm and a launch angle of 11 degrees; current testing conditions established 20 years ago are set at 120 mph, 2,520 rpm spin rate and 10-degree launch angle.

We have finalized the next step in our years-long effort to address consistent increases in hitting distance and golf’s sustainability.

These changes to the Overall Distance Standard will take effect in January 2028.

— USGA (@USGA) December 6, 2023

What that means is that the longest hitters in golf will see a reduction of 13 to 15 yards in distance with a driver. Average pros and elite male amateurs are expected to see a reduction of 9 to 11 yards, while female professionals will see a 5 to 7 yard reduction.

The change in testing speed, the USGA and R&A say, will have a minimal distance impact of 5 yards or less for most recreational players. Their research shows an average swing speed of 93 mph for male players and 72 mph for female players. Existing balls that are conforming through 2027 maybe used by recreational players until January 2030, two years later than when professionals will need to play with a rolled-back ball.

"Governance is hard. And while thousands will claim we did too much, there will be just as many who said we didn't do enough to protect the game long-term," USGA CEO Mike Whan said. "But from the very beginning, we've been driven to do what's right for the game, without bias. As we've said, doing nothing is not an option—and we would be failing in our responsibility to protect the game's future if we didn't take appropriate reaction now."

The governing bodies also said it will "continue to monitor drivers and explore possible additional options related to distance."

The PGA Tour released a memo to its players, saying "we do not support today's announcement regarding the (testing) increase to 125 mph, believing a more moderate adjustment is appropriate."

The PGA of America also released a statement saying "we remain opposed to any change that may potentially lessen the enjoyment of the game for recreational golfers or diminish the unprecedented momentum the game is enjoying. It appears recreational golfers will see a greater reduction in distance than we would advise."

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, hinted at the announcement last week in saying: "There are only three options: We can bifurcate; you change the whole game; or you do nothing. And doing nothing is not an option. We stand by that.”

Tiger Woods was among the players supporting the governing bodies' rolling back the ball.

“We just don't have enough property anymore,” Woods said at the Hero World Challenge. “So I think that understanding that yeah, we've been hammering the ball needs to slow down, but it has kept speeding up my entire time on career and here we are. ... I’ve always been for bifurcation.”

Woods has compared the issue to metal bats vs. wooden bats in baseball.

Earlier this year, the governing bodies proposed an optional rule that would have had only elite players using shorter-flight balls.

The “Model Local Rule” would give competition organizers an option to require golf balls tested under modified launch conditions, in other words balls that wouldn't fly as far.

That proposal was denounced by equipment companies and a number of professionals

“They want it to be, O.K., well, the pros play this way and the amateurs play this way, and that just doesn’t—I don’t understand how that’s better for the game of golf,” Justin Thomas said in March. “The amount of time, money that these manufacturers have spent trying to create the best product possible and now you’re going to tell them and us that we have to start over for potentially if the PGA Tour, PGA of America, don’t adopt this local rule. So for two of the four biggest events of the year we’re going to have to use a different ball? Like, try to explain to me how that’s better for the game of golf."

A comment period for that proposal ended in August, and in the end bifurcation was off the table as Tuesday's announcement means ball rollback across the entire spectrum of golfers.