THE GROOVE ISSUE

• The Groove Issue
• The Debate
• Talking Points
• Players
• Manufacturers
• Authorities
• Retailers

"Hit it as far as you can from the tee and understand that a wedge from the rough is better than a 6 iron from the fairway"
Hank Haney, coach of Tiger Woods, explains the strategy of playing on the PGA Tour

THAT, in a nutshell, is why the R&A and USGA, golf's governing bodies, have moved to act.
Put simply, it was felt that the top players were not being punished enough for missing fairways. Too much spin was being generated by wedge shots from the rough. Modern, box-shaped grooves, said the authorities, were too efficient.
So, under the new regulations, the grooves will have to be less effective.
As of January, the new limits will apply on the main PGA and European Tours. By 2014, the same will also apply to those playing at any professional level, and elite amateur level.
The new rule is a roll back. In other words thousands of existing clubs will become illegal overnight for the pros.
As for the amateurs, current wedges will remain legal until 2024. This is important because it effectively means that most of us will be playing under different rules to the pros come January.
Our equipment will be different " only slightly, but different nevertheless. The term used to describe this is bifurcation and since one of golf's greatest appeals is that we all play to the same rules that is immensely controversial.
So what we are asking is this: Is the new groove rule the thin end of the wedge?