USGA Announces Phase II of Its Proposal to Update Golf Ball Conformance Tests

FAR HILLS, N.J. - The United States Golf Association, which tests golf balls to determine whether or not they conform to the Rules of Golf, has issued the second phase of its proposal to update its golf ball test methods. The proposal reflects current swing speeds and equipment and improves the speed and accuracy of the testing process.

A notice outlining details of this Phase II proposal has been sent to manufacturers for comment. The proposal is subject to change after completion of a notice-and-comment period. The opportunity to comment is available to all the game's constituents.

The R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland has made a similar proposal in its jurisdiction outside of the United States and Mexico. All golf balls that currently appear on the USGA's List of Conforming Golf Balls will continue to comply with the Rules under the Phase II proposal.

"The new test is really a common sense approach that can test balls under swing speed, equipment, and launch conditions used by today's longer-hitting PGA Tour players," USGA Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge said. "It reflects modern equipment technology and player ability. We have also been able to improve test repeatability due to more precise measurement technology. It's designed to enhance our test procedures, not take balls off the Conforming Ball List."

Phase II follows the first phase of updates that moved all golf ball tests to the USGA's Indoor Test Range at its Research & Test Center located in Far Hills. This move permits year-round testing of balls.

"This latest proposal reflects years of work and dialogue with the manufacturers regarding needed updates to our test procedures," Rugge added. "Through this new test, we'll be able to establish a precise and relevant performance limit regarding golf ball distance. Thus, any additional distance gains will not be due to design or construction changes in the ball itself. We think this new test provides the right framework for us to utilize state-of-the-art technology to test golf balls in a manner that is relevant to today's game and not the one of a generation ago."

New Test Characteristics
Phase II proposes to update the USGA's ball test procedures and the resulting Overall Distance Standard (ODS). The current ball test procedure and ODS standard were adopted in 1976 and have remained largely unchanged since that time. The changes to the test under Phase II are as follows:

1. Swing speed will be increased to 120 miles per hour from 109 miles per hour;

2. A non-branded titanium club head with a Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of 0.820 will replace the laminated wooden head now in use;

3. A modern, non-branded set-up ball will replace the current set-up ball that has been in use.

The new ball test will maintain the current ball launch angle of 10 degrees, the current back spin at 42 revolutions per second, and a steel shaft in the test club.

Increasing the swing speed under Phase II by 11 miles per hour adds about 22 yards to golf ball distance. The shift to a titanium club head with a 0.820 COR spring-like effect boosts distance by approximately another 8 yards. But instead of increasing the current ODS limit of 296.8 yards by a full 30 (22 + 8) yards, the USGA has proposed to set the limit using the new ball test procedure at 320 yards, or seven fewer overall yards.

"It's not accurate to compare the new limit to the old one and assume we've allowed more yards," Rugge stressed. "The same balls simply go farther when hit at higher speeds with modern equipment. By updating the test and modernizing procedures, it's inevitable that the ODS limit would need to rise to reflect the changes in test methods. For example, if you modernized the test procedures but left the limit where it now stands, nearly every ball that now conforms would fail under the new procedure. Thus, we've proposed to set the limit at a place that provides meaningful restrictions on distance, tightens the ODS standard by seven yards, maintains the continuity of the current conforming list, and provides a framework through which we can monitor our test procedures and modify them as player swing speeds and other conditions change. We feel that Phase II accomplishes all these important goals.

Statement of Principles
"The joint Statement of Principles governing equipment rules that we formulated with the R&A in 2002 makes clear that we are concerned about increases in distance from any source and we'll continue to remain vigilant and monitor trends," Rugge continued. "If distance continues to increase from any source - balls, clubs, agronomy, or enhanced physical fitness - then we'll need to consider how to uphold the Statement of Principles."

Notice and Comment
The USGA welcomes comments regarding Phase II of its proposal. All comments must be in writing. They should be directed to: Dick Rugge; Senior Technical Director; USGA; P.O. Box 708; Far Hills; N.J 07931; Fax: (908) 234-9687; or e-mail at drugge@usga.org.

The comment period will run until December 20th of this year. After all comments are received, the USGA will carefully consider them. A final decision will be announced next spring. Under the proposal, the prospective implementation date for Phase II would be June, 2004.