The USGA's New Groove Rules:
Myth vs. Fact

September 18, 2008

See our article, "The New Grooves Rules Explained," for details on how the rules were changed, why they were changed - and what those changes mean for you." Here, we examine some potential misconceptions about the new rules regarding grooves and provide some factual information about them.

MYTH: The new groove regulations will make success more difficult to achieve for the recreational golfer.

FACT: Most golfers will experience little, if any, change in their golf game because the new grooves only affect shots from the rough that hit the green, and these shots are made far more often by Tour players than by typical golfers. The rules change also has proven to have very little effect on the performance of the surlyn-covered balls that make up more than two-thirds of the golf balls sold in the

MYTH: Professional golf will be less exciting to watch because players will not have as much control on their shots into the green.

FACT: The new groove regulations will only serve to enhance the excitement of professional golf by re-focusing players on the skills of driving accuracy and efficient course management. The USGA brought the PGA Tour into the process at an early stage of its research and they strongly support this change. The PGA Tour believes that increasing the challenge for shots from the rough will provide additional benefits to play - and spectators - by allowing greater variety and challenge in course setup.

MYTH: Recreational and professional golfers will have to purchase all new clubs to conform to new regulations.

FACT: Recreational golfers will be permitted to use clubs made prior to the new Rule implementation date where the USGA Rules of Golf apply until at least 2024. Top-level professional competitors will play under the new regulations beginning in 2010.

MYTH: The groove regulations are a trial balloon for more drastic regulations planned for golf balls.

FACT: There are no current plans by the USGA and The R&A to revise the Rules of Golf governing the ball.  The USGA considers all factors contributing to ball distance on a regular basis. The USGA believes that current golf ball performance and its current equipment standards regarding golf balls continue to maintain the integrity of the game. The responsibility to continually and accurately test that belief is aggressively accepted by the USGA and accomplished by a constant focus on developing the most modern testing methods in the industry.