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Golfing Highlights

Debate on rule changes for drivers

Ed Townsend
Posted 9/3/21

They say in the golf world that in theory a longer driver in your golf bag will allow golfers to create more clubhead speed which in turn can create more ball speed and distance.

But golfers are …

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Golfing Highlights

Debate on rule changes for drivers

Posted

They say in the golf world that in theory a longer driver in your golf bag will allow golfers to create more clubhead speed which in turn can create more ball speed and distance.

But golfers are not sold on that theory and these thoughts are not universally accepted.

Some news leaking forth into the golf world is saying that the longer shaft drivers can produce longer distance so there are suggested proposals and possible changes related to drivers.

The United States Golf Association has issued some thoughts to shorten the maximum length of drivers.

The maximum length right now is 48 inches, and the vast majority of drivers sold at retail are between 45 inches and 45.5  inches in length with most professional golfers using drivers in that range also.

Club Champion co-founder and master fitter, Nick Sherburne is saying, “we have never found a direct correlation between length and clubhead speed.”

Sherburne pointed out, “some golfers swing longer clubs faster and some people swing shorter clubs faster and overall it depends on the proper fit.”

“What I tell people is, now that the USGA has restricted clubmakers with regard  to size (COR - coefficient of restitution springiness of the face, to get more ball speed you’ve got to hit in the center of the club face.”

Here appears to be the real trade off when it comes to length. As clubs get longer, golfers struggle to hit the ball in the center of the face so even if they get more speed, the strike of the ball is less efficient.

The USGA in February announced they were going to start studying different changes and modifications to equipment rules that could reign in distance.

Several club designers and engineers over the past few years clearly have said that making drivers slightly shorter will not significantly reduce distance for PGA Tour players.

The USGA’s comment period regarding its areas of interest is scheduled to end on November 2.

One professional golfer, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson and some  of his followers were clearly not happy to hear the rumored report on the length of the driver shaft changes.

Should be interesting if the USGA rules for a shorter length of shafts on drivers.

Ed’s Outlook

This summer professional golf has produced some great playoffs but we are definitely thinking the six-hole battle last Sunday for the 2021 BMW Championship was indeed the best of them all.

Patrick Cantlay defeated Bryson DeChambeau in an exciting six-hole playoff after the duo finished at 27 under in regulations.

Cantlay buried his 18-foot putt on the sixth playoff hole for the win and Bryson missed…the only way it could end…what an afternoon of golf.

Cantlay  now sits No 1 in the FedEx Playoffs standings and displayed championship putting throughout the match.

Everything took part in this match including just before DeChambeau hit his approach shot on the 14th hole, he turned to Cantlay and asked him to stop walking, presumably because it was a disruption as he was about to play his shot. 

Golf Tip

By Robert Menges

One of the really great things about the game of golf is that we don’t play golf on exactly the same type golf course with exactly the same weather conditions or the same ground conditions week to week.

We have to change our approach very regularly.

And this question really relates to how can we  change our putting when we are putting on fast greens.

So fast greens might be… they’ve just been cut, it’s a nice bright hot summer day or even just a lot of times when we leave ourselves downhill putts.

What adjustments do we as golfers need to make to haul in the most of putts on these greens.

One of the major adjustments relates in the speed that we hit the putter…so we got a fast green…best to make a shorter stroke but remember to accelerate through.

Practice makes perfect… you can do this and after several putts made… you’re in the game.   

Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club on Mt. Hope Road in Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or via email at bobmenges22@gmail.com.

 

Golf calendar

Sept. 3: Inaugural Do Good Golf Outing, Tennanah Lake, Visit DoGoodSpirits.com.

Sept. 5: Sullivan West Football Tournament, Tennanah Lake, contact 607-498-5000.

Sept. 11: Monticello Rotary, contact Tarry Brae 845-434-2620.

Sept. 12: 1 p.m. Jeffersonville Lions Club, Swan Lake Golf Club, contact Doug Immoor 482-4061.

Sept. 18: A.O.H. Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day. 11 a.m start. contact Ed O’Malley, Swan Lake Golf Club 845-649-0911.

Sept. 19: Liberty Faculty Association 11 a.m. start, Swan Lake Golf Club, contact Liz Fuentes 631-560-6866.

Sept. 25: Monticello Basketball 11 a.m. start at Swan Lake Golf Club, contact Chris Russo 551-655-8281.

Oct. 2: Summitville FD, Tarry Brae, contact Tim Koestler 888-2007.

Oct. 9: County Cup, Tarry Brae, contact 845-434-2620.

 

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of golf and brings over 65 years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or score your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177 or email at bghtnews@aol.com.

 

SCORES

SWAN LAKE

Tuesday Night Birdie Division

1. Todd & Taylor VanKeuren 154.5

2. P. Clifford & A. Hauser 152.0

3. D. Luczynski & M. Garigliano 148.0

4. M. Welsh & S. Duquette 147.0

5. H. Keherley & J. Rhupert 145.5

6. K. Torrens & M. Lagatutta 142.0

7. C. Hicks & B. Garber 140.5

8. T. Ditmar & N. Rusin 139.5

8. M. Williams & D. Divita 139.5

9. J. Merklin & Z. Cody 136.5

10. N. Huggler & M. Murphy 128.0

11. N. Bell & M. Freaney 127.5

12. A. Atkins & R. Festa 121.0

13. T. Merklin & S. Austin 118.5

14. D. Byrne & T. Byrne 116.5

15. T. Osterhout & B. Meyer 84.5

Tuesday Night Par Division

1. K. Wheeler & S. Hamlin 156.0

2. J. Sazoff & S. Ottino 152.0

3. Walter & Quitin Herzog 144.0

4. T. Gallo & C. Roth 139.5

5. C. Roth & C. Roth 137.0

6. E. O’Malley & T. Ellison 135.5

7. J. Finn & J. Russell 133.5

8. J. Rusin & R. Ellison 132.0

9. J. J. VanKeuren & T. Nieman 128.0

10. P. Fanning & A. Marciano 127.0

11. J. Frankie & R. Frankie 126.5

12. C. Schadt & W. Mall 125.5

13. K. Clifford & B. Menges 116.0

14. J. Tanous & J. Wilhelm 115.0

15. P. Donovan & K. Scheibe 107.5

16. M. Diehl & A. Bradley 103.0

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