Equipment
USGA and R&A announce areas of interest to mitigate distance increases
On Tuesday, the USGA and R&A announced their areas of interest for further exploration on the “Distance Debate.”
The governing bodies have unveiled three proposed changes to the equipment rules to ensure their effectiveness to distance limits—two to modernize equipment testing protocols and one to limit the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches.
Per the document, the three proposals are defined as:
- Proposal 1: Club length – reduction to 46 inches available as a Model Local Rule (MLR) (Original proposal delivered in 2016 and paused in 2017 due to the Distance Insights Project). Comment period ends on March 4, 2021.
- Proposal 2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021.
- Proposal 3: Change to testing tolerance – Characteristic Time. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021.
Speaking on their research and proposals, Mike Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the USGA stated
“The research conducted through Distance Insights clearly shows that hitting distances have consistently increased through time and, if left unchecked, could threaten the long-term future of our game at every level and every golf course on which it is played. This is the first forward step in a journey and a responsibility the USGA and The R&A share with the worldwide golf community, to ensure that golf continues to thrive for the next hundred years and beyond.”
Beyond the immediate, the governing bodies will continue to examine the following, per the report, in a review period ending November 2.
- Reduction in the limit within the overall distance standard
- Modification in the limitation of ball efficiency (update to IV)
- Other ball specifications (size, mass)
- Reduction in the performance of drivers: club length and clubhead dimensions (including volume)
- Changes in the clubhead specifications on spring-like effect and moment of inertia, also
considering the utilization of radius of gyration limitations - Production of spin from all clubs from all areas of the course
The USGA and The R&A also today released their updated 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report, which was initially paused in February 2020 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Per the organizations, the proposals detailed above “are the outcome of this regular review of equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness.”
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.
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”
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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Bob Jones
Feb 3, 2021 at 4:51 pm
The long hitters bomb it because is the ball ends up in the rough they can still get par and birdie isn’t out of the question. The solution is to line each side of the fairway from 310-350 yards not with thick rough, but with a 10-yard wide bed of pea gravel. If they figure out how to hit out of that, we can change it to 3/4 minus.
DS
Feb 3, 2021 at 8:57 am
I saw “areas of interest” and “further debate” and didn’t read a word of the actual column. Are these guys paid by the hour? A union shop? Jesus – get something done for chrissakes!
Jack Mamm
Feb 3, 2021 at 7:33 am
I’m not worried – nothing can stop the hammer POW
Daniel Whitehurst
Feb 3, 2021 at 3:51 am
The question isn’t in equipment, it’s in course settup. Slow down the fairways! Plus if you roll back the distance you just hurt the mid to shorter guys on tour. Laws of percentages. You roll back distance the shorter guys lose more distance than the long hitters. It’s a fact. The higher the speed the more yardage per mph. Some long drive guys are 20 yards between irons, old ladies hit half their clubs the same distance. They are trying to fix an unfixable non problem. The average drive on tour goes up 1 yard per year. I don’t see a problem. Everyone plays the same restricted equipment. Colin Morikawa is at the PGA average club head speed and won the PGA at Harding Park where there’s 3 drives you can hit straight and had dense rough. There you go. Get more creative with course settup and distance won’t matter.
Karsten's Ghost
Feb 3, 2021 at 3:08 am
If you look carefully at what is being suggested, it’s not world-ending stuff.
46″ max driver. OK? So what? Testing to make sure they are, indeed conforming with a tighter test? Yep. Same rule, better enforcement. Same with the ball; 317y @120mph. That’s the rule now, and all they’re changing is how it’s tested.
This doesn’t amount to much. Brooke Henderson will be angry if the LPGA uses it, but I doubt they will.
What needs to happen is that COMPRESSION of balls needs to be reduced to no more than 65-70ish.
Funkaholic
Feb 3, 2021 at 10:30 am
You are talking out of your backside
James
Feb 2, 2021 at 11:18 pm
It will be interesting to see the unintended consequences that ultimately hit consumers.
Jbone
Feb 2, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Ask yourself who benefits from these rule changes?
Golfer
Feb 2, 2021 at 2:57 pm
This is a terrible idea and will kill golf TV ratings
Chuck
Feb 2, 2021 at 5:27 pm
This is a point that I think Geoff Shackelford has rightly trounced.
Does anyone watching golf on television actually “see” how far a ball goes? Is a 287-yard drive visibly, demonstrably different for a tv viewer, than a 347-yard drive? No, Shackelford points out, and he is right.
The shots that we will remember forever from our tv viewing are approach shots; short game shots; putts. I can think of 25 iconic televised Tiger Woods shots, and not one of them is a long drive. If any of them are drives at all, they would be things like one of his 2-iron tee shots at Hoylake, or a stinger 3-wood on a narrow hole.
Tgm
Feb 2, 2021 at 6:49 pm
Chuck is spot on.
jake
Feb 2, 2021 at 1:23 pm
Absolutely love this. The game is nothing close to its roots anymore. Ams would probably find the game easier playing a shorter ball and a shorter set of tees. They will hit the ball shorter offline when they banana slice it.
Jbone
Feb 2, 2021 at 3:26 pm
It will never be enough of a rollback to satisfy these elite club members and usga execs. They hate what Bryson did and it’s inevitable that players are going to hit it too far for these old courses.
jake
Feb 2, 2021 at 6:52 pm
I am a public golfer, and golf historian thank you. Protect the game. who cares about your tv ratings. A bunch of fat white men in suits
Funkaholic
Feb 3, 2021 at 10:32 am
You are an idiot, without interest, the game dies. You are no “historian’ you are just a dinosaur.
Plan Demic
Feb 2, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Take out the manufacturer influence and its an easy solution. Wound balls, steel shafts, lower the max CC and/or head material for woods (persimmon), 56* max loft for wedges. But you cant sell equipment on Monday if its not the “same” as what won on Sunday.
Ryan
Feb 2, 2021 at 12:23 pm
I don’t understand why they do not look at course conditions for the pros.
Jon
Feb 2, 2021 at 12:55 pm
You’re spot on, Ryan. There’s absolutely no excuse for the fairways to stimp out at an 8 or 9.
John
Feb 5, 2021 at 12:42 am
Exactly.
The USGA and PGA Tour have quietly made course conditions easier over the years all the while complaining about distance gains. The reality is, they secretly want guys blasting 350 yard drives and shooting -30 under par. Its sort of like how MLB ignored steroids for years because fans were in love with all the home runs.
Want to prevent guys from over powering courses? Make fairways 10 yards wide after 300 yards with thick five inch rough… and not that graduated nonsense the USGA has been using at the US Open. That alone would prevent guys from ripping 350 yard bombs all over the world.
They won’t do that though because casual viewers don’t want to see the long hitters forced to lay up off the tee…
JasonHolmes
Feb 2, 2021 at 11:51 am
I read Mike Davis and I immediately think – GTFO.
Except for about ten guys in the world, golf is still hard for the rest of us and we have no interest in hitting it shorter.
Please get Mike Davis out of golf completely.
jake
Feb 2, 2021 at 1:21 pm
Move up a set of tees if ya cant reach JasonHolmes
James
Feb 2, 2021 at 11:15 am
Fine, go ahead and do all this. But where does the line get drawn in, say, two generations when people are back to carrying it 300 again?
Paulo
Feb 2, 2021 at 10:03 am
Maybe be more visible in testing for PED’s too ?
BJ
Feb 2, 2021 at 9:52 am
Going after Bryson it seems
Smarterthanthisguy
Feb 2, 2021 at 1:42 pm
More like protecting integrity of the game and historical golf courses. Bryson will still be the longest with whatever rules are in place. The advantage is still his. How do people not get that?
Chuck
Feb 2, 2021 at 2:58 pm
When the Joint Statement of Principles was drafted by the USGA and the R&A in 2002, Bryson DeChambeau was 9 years old.
Jbone
Feb 2, 2021 at 3:29 pm
They are trying to but this isn’t the way lol. Making the ball shorter makes distance even more of a premium. They don’t know what they’re doing.
jake
Feb 2, 2021 at 6:51 pm
it isnt about bryson at all jbone. But you’re right, his advantage will be magnified as an unintended consequence which is completely fine