Can you believe that one of the best players in the world has paid no attention to the golf ball roll back debate?
Well, believe Justin Rose. The former US Open champion told the NCG Golf Podcast that he had ‘no idea’ about plans to reduce how far the ball travels, preferring to focus on things ‘he can control’.
It was announced in 2023 that the R&A and the USGA would enforce a roll back applying to all amateur and professional golfers to “reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability while minimising the impact on the recreational game.”
This means updating the testing conditions that are used for ball conformance. It is due to come into effect in 2028, but has been met with opposition by various golf equipment giants, players and the PGA Tour.
“This might shock you, but I’ve got no idea. I’ve actually paid no attention to it, I really haven’t,” Rose said on the NCG Golf Podcast.
“Given that I’m quite diligent about a lot of things, I concern myself with things that I can control in the short term. The way I understand it is, the metrics around it are that the ball cannot go past a certain distance at 126 mph clubhead speed.
“I don’t play with 126 mph clubhead speed, and I don’t know if they’re hurting the guy at 126 mph, or if they’re hurting more the guy at 115 mph.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out. It is imminent.”
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Justin Rose: I have probably won the same number of tournaments with or without a greens book
Rose, who was part of the recent European Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage, explained his ambivalence to golf’s roll back proposal with context about previous changes to the game’s laws.
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In 2008, the same governing bodies changed specifications for golf club grooves after research suggested that hitting the ball from the rough was less of a challenge for top players. This came into effect in 2010.
There were also recent alterations to the use of green books. At the start of 2021, a local rule gave committees at elite tournaments the power to limit players to “using only the yardage book that it has approved for use in the competition”.
Players and caddies have to use approved yardage books that provide general information about a green’s contours and can add more notes to the yardage book, but notes can only be taken from first-hand observations, and not with technology such as devices and levels.
All of these rule changes, both currently implemented and in the pipeline, represent an effort to emphasise a player’s skill, as opposed to strength or how well they can use technology to their advantage.
Rose turned professional in 1998 and has won 26 times, most recently at the FedEx St.Jude Championship in August. At 45 years old, he averages over 300 yards off the tee.
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He is a player who focuses on marginal gains. His RV has got a lot of coverage this year which, rather than being a luxurious motor home, has a sauna, ice bath, steam shower, and an oxygen machine to help him perform at the highest level.
But in terms of marginal tweaks with golf’s longest-established rules, the Englishman believes there hasn’t been one yet that has made a significant difference.
“The other reason that I haven’t paid attention to it is I’ve never seen a rule change that has made any difference,” Rose added. “There was the changing from square grooves to V grooves, and the whole ethos there was meant to be you can’t control the ball out of the rough with V grooves, you’re going to have to put the emphasis back on hitting the fairway.
“I think the game’s gone even more in the direction of bombing it. That hasn’t made a difference. I don’t think greens books have made the slightest bit of difference.
“I used to be a greens book user for sure. If I had the option to use it, I’d use it. If I look back at the tournaments I’ve won, whether that be in Asia or around the world, the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour, I’ve won way more times without the greens book.
“Statistically, I probably played 80% of my tournaments with a greens book and 20% without, and probably (had) an even amount of wins, so that’s interesting.”
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