What Impact Will New Grooves Will Have on the LPGA Tour?

There has been a lot of talk in the past couple of weeks about Titleist appealing to the PGA Tour for a delay in implementation of the USGA's new grooves regulations.  Those new rules are slated to start being enforced for the 2010 season.  Right now, though, that implementation date appears in doubt for the PGA Tour.  As Alex Miceli is reporting, a PGA Tour Policy Board vote on Tuesday may well delay implementation of the rule.

As Adam Barr notes, the primary complaint from the manufacturers is that the process of fitting players to a new suite of equipment - including V groove irons - is taking way longer than anticipated.  The secondary complaint is from players saying that they are not prepared to make the transition to the new clubs.

Both players and manufacturers appear concerned that the grooves change may apply to more than just irons.  In other words, the grooves change will require players to switch balls that spin more and fly less, to drivers that don't fly the ball as far, and may even require swing changes.

So what?

PGA Tour player Joe Ogilvie has been one of the lead whiners on the subject.  He is quoted multiple times in Mike Johnson & Mike Stachura's piece that is detailing the situation.

"They [the USGA] botched it and because they botched it, it won't be implemented in 2010," said Ogilvie.

Laughable, Joe.  Simply laughable.  As Stachura and Johnson point out, manufacturers, players, and the public have been aware of this pending change since 2006.  Even more than that, players are already using conforming irons.

[A]pproximately one-third of PGA Tour players currently are using irons that would conform to the new rules and most major manufacturers have told Golf World that they planned to have irons and wedges that conform to the new rule in time for 2010.

So, why the complaining?  Perhaps it has to do with Ogilvie's mediocrity in statistical categories still yielding a seven figure salary and a fear that may not continue with a greater emphasis on scrambling, ball striking, and the like.

The intriguing part is there is not much vocal complaining about the impact of grooves from the ladies of the LPGA Tour or the older players on the Champions Tour.  That probably has a lot to do with swing speed and the fact that neither Tour really puts any emphasis on driving distance.  The Champions Tour has long been regarded as a short game contest.  The LPGA Tour has very few power players and they don't dominate that often.  Neither Tour has players that much benefit from the "bomb and gouge" style of play that plagues the PGA Tour. 

Even the European Tour does not have much room to complain about grooves.  They do play lengthy courses that encourage aggressive play off of the tee, but their setups are generally much less severe than those on the PGA Tour.  That works to negate some of the potential impact of V grooves through shorter rough and softer greens.

The lasting impact of the new grooves rules may well be a complete reversal in how the PGA Tour approaches setting up their golf courses.  Courses could become shorter, along with the rough that guards fairways.  Flier lies could be reintroduced to the game.  The art of working the ball may return to the sport at its highest level.  All of those things are good for golf because they will require the PGA Tour players to display an even broader set of skills to win a golf tournament.

That, of course, brings me back to Joe Ogilvie and this final quote from the Stachura & Johnson piece.

"I don't know of one rule the USGA has made in the last 20 years that has actually improved the enjoyment of golf for the average guy," Ogilvie told Golf World in May.

Not one?  Hybrids.  Newer putter shapes.  Interchangeable shfats and weights.  There's three.  And the USGA still haven't done the right in simply regulating the golf ball.  Make it four.

Look, I can understand that manufacturers may be struggling to fit players with this new technology.  I feel they have had ample time to research this & even develop patent applications for alternative equipment that will beat the regulations. 

It just comes across as sour grapes, though, when PGA Tour players whine about the impact of grooves.  Yes, the impact appears fairly dramatic.  Perhaps that should have been considered by the players almost three years ago when momentum toward the new rule began.