Welcome again to a different version of #AskMyGolfSpy the place readers such as you submit your prime inquiries to our specialists right here at MGS. You possibly can move alongside your inquiries to the group on Twitter, Fb, Instagram or proper right here within the feedback part under!
Right here’s what you requested us this week.
What one change (rule, etiquette, and many others.) would do probably the most to hurry up the tempo of regular, novice, hobbyist play? – Bobby Norwood
I’ve all the time felt the onus ought to be on the golf course to implement tempo of play and but so few do. Isn’t that what rangers are for? Perhaps the rule ought to be that any course that may’t preserve a smart tempo of play has to refund your cash.
I’m additionally a fan of shot clocks and punishing infractions with electroshocks but when we’re restricted to the rule e-book, wanting capping the rating at double-bogey, I believe disposing of white stakes (out of bounds) and enjoying OB as a red-staked penalty space would simplify issues fairly a bit and assist to hurry up play as effectively.
What firms provide the hardest time about testing their gear or simply received’t play alongside? [email protected]
I like these “inside baseball” kind questions.
At one time or one other, we’ve fought battles with almost each bigger producer (although PING and COBRA have been simple to work with by means of the years). Lately, we don’t have any points with anybody. Typically a bigger firm might not need one thing examined however that’s often the actually niche-y stuff that doesn’t match inside our testing protocols.
Alongside related traces, not everybody agrees with all our testing protocols however most perceive why we do issues the best way we do and the challenges that include testing the amount of merchandise we do.
All of that mentioned, typically a smaller firm declines to take part and we’ve to resolve whether or not they’ll be missed if we don’t embody them.
Are you stunned that TaylorMade remains to be the one producer to make use of a carbon driver face, that they’re nonetheless solely utilizing it for the motive force, and do you suppose different producers will observe swimsuit subsequent 12 months? [email protected]
Nope. TaylorMade says it took 20 years to make the expertise viable and I’m guessing most others weren’t even taking a look at it. We’ve seen good outcomes from the Stealth lineup but it surely’s definitely not a case the place TaylorMade drivers are inarguably higher for everybody. They’re not blowing away the competitors.
It’s additionally necessary to know that carbon fiber faces don’t scale effectively. That’s to say, dimension is what permits them to work. With that, it’s unlikely you’ll see them on fairway woods, hybrids and even mini drivers.
The underside line is that I believe most everyone seems to be comfy with what they’re utilizing proper now and when you may see adjustments right here and there, I nonetheless suppose it’s going to be some time earlier than anybody else make a carbon driver face.
Do you suppose premium ball costs are getting out of hand? – @ChuckyLav
At this level, I’d say it’s one thing to observe. So long as lower-priced options can be found (and there are many them), I don’t suppose it’s an excessive amount of of a problem.
2024 ought to present a clearer image of the place issues stand. Bridgestone, Callaway and Taylormade are all anticipated to launch new premium balls subsequent 12 months. Will these firms increase costs to match Titleist or are they content material the place they’re? I’d guess at the least two of the three bump their costs.
In the end, the buyer decides. So long as $55 golf balls promote, firms will proceed to promote $55 golf balls.
Why isn’t Noodle the #1 used golf ball on the PGA tour? [email protected]_golfer
I believe it’s been all downhill for the Noodle model since Gary McCord obtained kicked out of the Masters broadcast sales space. That mentioned, with a rollback within the works, maybe the Noodle is poised for a comeback.
Do the professionals play a special spec ball than what is on the market to the general public? -ChezDerek
This one pops up a couple of times a 12 months. The reply is typically sure, typically no.
Most, if not each, model would like its staffers use the retail ball but it surely doesn’t all the time work out that method.
Titleist, for instance, nonetheless gives Left Dot (a lower-flying, lower-spinning model of the Professional V1). Professional V1 Star (a higher-spinning Professional V1) and few prior-gen balls which might be not on cabinets to PGA TOUR workers.
TaylorMade had a number of totally different variants of TP5/TP5x and Callaway has some totally different variations of Chrome Smooth X in play as effectively.
The factor to remember is that these balls aren’t higher. They’re simply totally different.
The professionals need to see a golf ball fly by means of a selected and tight window so it’s not unusual for manufacturers to tweak a inventory design to ship the trajectory a given staffer is searching for.
What’s the advantage of changing a inventory PW with a Vokey/Cleveland and many others? – @klusterphluff
The brief reply is that specialty (non set-matched) wedges are usually extra versatile and in lots of instances have higher grooves. If you wish to dig deeper, we’ve obtained a complete submit devoted to the topic.
Extra Questions?
As all the time, if in case you have any questions for the MGS crew (they usually don’t must be in regards to the golf ball), drop them under for an opportunity to be featured in subsequent week’s #AskMyGolfSpy!
