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Nick Faldo: “Reduce the driver face and remove tees to decrease distance” – GolfWRXers react

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In our forums, our members have been discussing the comments made recently by Nick Faldo that golf authorities should consider reducing the driver face and removing tee pegs to help minimize driving distance on Tour. Speaking on Geoff Shackelford’s podcast, the Englishman said in regards to the issue of the current driver face:

“If we brought the size of the face down, so there were some serious mis-hits… so the sweet spot for the pro is a real sweet spot, not a sweet face; that’s what it is now. It’s the whole thing!”

On the logic behind removing tee pegs, Faldo stated

“The other simpler way is saying… if we ban tee pegs. If they went and played a tournament with no tee pegs, right? Well, the guys would have to alter their driver. You would be allowed to place it on the grass. Now, they won’t be using (drivers that are) 6-degrees. They’d say, ‘OK, I need 9 (degrees), I need 10, I need one that’s going to get it airborne a bit and get a bit of give in the face.’ That would seriously change it. Sure they could hit a 3-wood… that actually would be your optimum. I’ve just seen Rory’s numbers, still 285 yards through the air [with a 3-wood]… but it’d be a real tough hit to get a driver off the deck.”

Our members have been discussing the ideas put forward by Faldo in our forums.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • Body_Visions: “My favorite player ever, but he is off on this one. Should have just hammered his statement about reducing the face.”
  • dalehead: “Well, Nick is right. Banning tees would have the desired effect. Yes, tour pros can hit their 3 wood 275 off the deck. But that’s the idea. They won’t be hitting it 320 with their drivers. But he’s wrong in trying to accomplish this by changing the way the game has been played since its earliest days. Will recreational players still be allowed to tee it up? Talk about bifurcation.”
  • EmperorPenguin: “No need to ban the tee. Just make the courses more penal to discourage today’s bomb-and gouge game. From off the tee, the fairways get narrower and the rough deeper. At 300 yards, the fairways narrow to 28 yards with the primary rough at 4″; at 330-360 yards, they narrow to 20 yards and the primary rough at 8″ tall. By all means they are welcome to bomb it at the Emperor’s Course.”
  • OldTomMorris: “Not in favour of the “no tee peg” idea but it’s definitely an equipment issue with regards to the overall improvement in driving that Faldo talks about. If it were a choice between “no tee peg” or a rolled backed ball, then the former wouldn’t seem so bad. I wouldn’t want either, but the authorities are going to do something at some point in the near future.”
  • Golfingfanatic: “As much as I think that something needs to be done about this issue, removing tees is not the way to go and also not in the spirit of the game if you ask me.”

Entire Thread: Nick Faldo: “Reduce the driver face and remove tees to reduce distance” – GolfWRXers react

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at gianni@golfwrx.com

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. DJ

    Apr 29, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    it’s simple… 450 yd hole for example – stop fairway at 300 yards. Have 6 inch rough, native areas, lakes, burns, or combination of, from 300 yd to 400 yd. Then you have forced carry 2nd shots.

  2. Michaele

    Apr 29, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    Stupid, stupid, stupid.

    Do Faldo and those agreeing with him realize this is a non issue for all but about 1% (at best) of all golfers?

    Of that 1%, half of them think it is an issue for them when it isn’t even close.

    Faldo needs to zip his lips the way he was told to keep his zipper up a few years ago.

  3. exrog

    Apr 29, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    I think the problem is not so much about carry distance, as it is about role. I’ve watched some of these tee shots roll another 50 plus yards. If you want to stop the bombers then end the fairway at 300 yds with 4″ rough and resume it at 340 yds. If a player wants to challenge that 40 yds of deep rough, then so be it. Narrow fairways and deep rough have always been the tamer of long drivers. The game has evolved, i think sir nick faldo should also

  4. Ken

    Apr 29, 2020 at 10:04 am

    Gutta Percha balls would do the trick, however, they would likely explode on impact! It is a catch 22 situation. The golf manufacturing industry is based upon the pro’s. They hit it long, John Q Public sees pro hit long, and wants what the pro is using. Madison Ave. at its best! No tees, and smaller driver will ever sell golf equipment, and that is what it is all about folks. By the By, the new world handicap system is not going to grow golf. I lost 5 strokes of handicap with the new system. Now some folks would say “so did everyone else” It is a mind set, I know, but you took away from me, you did not change didley about the game, nothing! I do not compete against world golf players. I do not play Ryders Cup. I am just an old man who competes against other old men.

  5. Bob Jones

    Apr 29, 2020 at 9:52 am

    How to reduce driving distance. Require pros to:

    Use a driver that weighs at least 24 ounces.
    or
    Hit all driver shots with a plastic Wiffle-style ball.
    or
    Anchor their driver.

    It’s so simple.

  6. Geoffrey Holland

    Apr 29, 2020 at 9:34 am

    let’s just tell it like it is, getting rid of tees as one of the stupidest ideas in the history of golf. And I love Nick Faldo.

  7. James

    Apr 28, 2020 at 2:54 pm

    How about limit the length of tees to 1 inch?

  8. Speedy

    Apr 28, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    Does he bother looking in players bags? Most players on tour are using drivers with lofts of 9 to 10 degrees, with 44″ to 45″ length.

    Clue for Sir Nick. The distance culprit is white (or orange, or yellow) and round, with dimples.

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game. 

The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag. 

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod

An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability

The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:

“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly. 

My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
  • MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
  • dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”

Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo.  4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades.  5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft.   Standard Length, Lie and Lofts.  These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me.  Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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