Equipment

TaylorMade survey on ball rollback finds everyday golfers massively against introduction of Model Local Rule

Published

2 months ago

Mar 30, 2023

In response to the USGA and R&A’s recent announcement that they plan on rolling back the golf ball for the professional game, TaylorMade Golf issued a survey asking everyday golfers to voice their opinion regarding the topic of golf ball bifurcation. Today, they are sharing the results.

Almost 45,000 golfers across more than 100 countries spanning a variety of ages, abilities and participation levels took the time to complete the survey and have their voice heard, with some of the major findings shown below:

To the best of your knowledge, do you agree with the proposed golf ball rule?
- 81% No
- 19% Yes

Do you think average hitting distances in professional golf need to be reduced?
- 77% No
- 23% Yes

Are you for or against bifurcation in the game of golf (i.e., different rule(s) for professional golfers versus amateurs)?
- 81% Against
- 19% For

How important is it for you to play with the same equipment professional golfers use?
- 48% Extremely important
- 35% Moderately important
- 17% Not important

If the proposed golf ball rule were to go into effect, would it have an impact on your interest in professional golf?
- 45% Less interested
- 49% No impact
- 6% More Interested

The results also show that 57 percent of golfers aged 18-34 years old would be less interested in the pro game should the rule come into effect, while five percent said they would be more interested.

“The goal of our survey was to give golfers the opportunity to voice their opinion on this proposed ruling as we absorb the MLR and its potential effects on the everyday golfer. We are grateful that nearly 45,000 golfers across the world felt the need for their voice to be heard. The overwhelming amount of responses show the passion, knowledge and care for the game our audience possesses. Each response and data point is being reviewed as we will utilize this feedback in our preparation to provide a response to the USGA and R&A.” – David Abeles, TaylorMade Golf President & CEO

You can check out the survey results in full here.

Your Reaction?

LIKE34
LEGIT5
WOW3
LOL2
IDHT0
FLOP5
OB1
SHANK20

Related Topics:

Up Next

7 takeaways from an AWESOME equipment talk with Padraig Harrington

Don't Miss

Spotted: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three “anti-right” prototype putter

Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

5 Comments

PJ

Apr 1, 2023 at 9:57 am

The golf ball mfrs should tell the USGA that they shall not comply. The issue will be over.

Reply Report comment
Don Derova

Mar 31, 2023 at 9:35 am

It could be that the USGA and R&A will look at surveys like this and essentially ignore them. They feel they are acting for “the good of the game” as they see it, regardless of the majority of golfers in this survey that sees differently.

Reply Report comment
jake

Mar 30, 2023 at 7:45 pm

Shocking- a ball manufacturer’s poll shows what they want to be true.

I doubt more than 5% of those polled have a clue how any rollback would truly affect their game, and even if so, shorting courses comes with the territory. plenty of options to move up a tee if needed.

Reply Report comment
Chuck

Mar 30, 2023 at 4:49 pm

Shame on the USGA for the way this has been rolled out.

The rollback proposal is okay; although I am against the bifurcation aspect. But it should have been introduced with an absolute armada of golf stars, architects and historians who back up the rollback idea.

It’s just not possible to underestimate average golfers’ general lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of golf course architecture, golfing history, and equipment technology.

Reply Report comment
Joey5Picks

Mar 30, 2023 at 4:26 pm

I took the survey. Some of the questions were leading. At it was odd that someone who answered they’re not familiar with the proposed “rollback” continued to answer questions about it. And I highly doubt those who said they’d be less interested in the professional game will watch less just because drives are 15 yards shorter than today. Do they not watch Torrey Pines, where drives are shorter in the marine air?

To those who says it’s important to play the same equipment as the pros, please remember to leave your rangefinder at home and walk, don’t take a cart.

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Whats in the Bag

Thomas Pieters WITB 2023 (June)

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 8, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Thomas Pieters what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees @9.25, C2 SureFit)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 75 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX

7-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX

Irons: Titleist 620 CB (3, 4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-10S), Vokey 2022 Prototype (58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: TaylorMade Spider GT
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GTR

Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

More photos of Thomas Pieters WITB in the forums.

More Thomas Pieters WITBs

Your Reaction?

LIKE1
LEGIT0
WOW0
LOL0
IDHT0
FLOP0
OB0
SHANK0

Whats in the Bag

Ludvig Aberg WITB 2023 (June)

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 8, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue M-AX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 75 TX

Irons: Titleist T-MB 718 (2 iron), Titleist T-100 (4-9 iron)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50, 54, 60 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey Works Versa #1

Ball: Titleist 2023 Pro V1x

Your Reaction?

LIKE2
LEGIT2
WOW0
LOL0
IDHT1
FLOP0
OB0
SHANK0

Equipment

Next “Ping Slam” putter announced: Ping PLD Limited Zing 2

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 8, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Following the Pal and Pal 2, Ping today announced the release of the third of four “Ping Slam” putters, which commemorate the 1988 season in which the brand won all four men’s major championships.

The precision-milled PLD Limited Zing 2 putter commemorates Curtis Strange’s 1988 U.S. Open win — the first of his two consecutive U.S. Open wins using the putter.

“We’re really enjoying celebrating the ‘Ping Slam’ and reliving some wonderful memories from 1988,” said John A. Solheim, Ping’s Executive Chairman. “Curtis’ thrilling win at the U.S. Open was soon followed by the U.S. Women’s Open champion using a Zing 2, giving us wins at both national championships that summer. The next year Curtis won the U.S. Open again with his Zing 2. That was a remarkable run for the Zing 2 and secured its place in Ping’s putter history.”

Arriving on tour in 1984, the original Zing 2 was inspired by the Zing was cast from stainless steel. Ping cites the heel-shafted design and heel-toe weighting as key elements of the putter’s popularity.

The putters are custom-built by Ping WRX master craftsmen at the company’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Each putter is serialized for authenticity and includes a custom headcover. Ping’s engineers and company historian scoured the archives to retain the integrity of the four classic designs during the milling process, spending time in the legendary Ping Gold Putter Vault to ensure the integrity of the designs.

Pricing, availability

Only 88 of the 100-percent milled, 303 stainless steel, natural finish putters are available via pingpld.com at 2 pm ET, Tuesday, June 13 at a price of $990.

Later this year (December 5), 35 complete sets of the PLD Limited ‘Ping Slam’ putters will go on sale for $4,990 (limit one per customer), which will include a custom-designed display unit.