Brian S

Cameron Young says he started playing the golf ball that will be compliant with new standards back at the Wyndham Championship last year, his first win. He says he originally tested the ball two years ago and made the decision to play it because it's the ball he thought he could get the most out of. "I don't think any of us are out really here playing the ball that goes the farthest. I think you'd struggle to find a single person that's doing that. We're all sacrificing a certain amount of things that we feel are worth it, control with irons, control with wedges. For me, that's the biggest thing is being able to control spin, and this is the ball that does the best for me."

Why a ROLL BACK? Imagine a hole. 450yd par 4. Straight. Bunkers on each side — 275 carry from the tee. Medium rough. EVERY SINGLE MODERN TOUR PLAYER Will send it over those bunkers with driver. EVERY TIME. LEAVING SAND WEDGE IN. Now for the roll back… (read on) Imagine a reduced-sized driver head. 200CC—similar to the size of a persimmon driver. Can/will players still be able to hit it 300 yards? Sure. And they should! The difference is this: THEY CAN’T ALL DO IT EVERY TIME. It’s a harder shot, mostly because the penalty for missing just slightly (with a head that size) is: A) fairway bunker from 175 out or B) rough from the same distance SOME PLAYERS WILL STILL GO FOR IT for the following reasons: 1) they are just really good ball strikers and trust that they consistently have that shot in the bag (Rory/Scottie). 2) they’re under the gun trying to make a cut or chase someone down on Sunday and want to apply pressure. BUT MANY PLAYERS WILL LAY BACK! Why? 1) They don’t want to hit a 175 yard bunker shot or 175 shot from the rough 2) They’re more comfortable hitting a mid iron from the fairway 3) They’re just not feeling it that day. Swing is a little off (wouldn’t matter with modern driver—they’d still send it…) ESSENTIALLY, Rolling the ball back takes a simple hole and introduces many different outcomes and complexities that are essentially gone from the game right now. If Rory ships one over that bunker with a tiny club head to keep the gas pedal down on Sunday, that’s a brave and admirable shot! (b/c we now know what could happen if he misses) If another player chooses to hit 3 wood to keep it in the fairway and flags a 5 iron and makes birdie, we know what a remarkable play that was (b/c it’s more difficult that hitting a lob wedge from 103 yds out of medium rough!) To close, golf a the professional level is better when there are more outcomes, not fewer. The better players will rise to the top—those who hit the ball better or (AND THIS IS KEY) those who make better decisions. The modern game has taken most of the strategy out of professional golf. It can easily be brought back! But you have to reduce club head size to do it.

Why a ROLL BACK? Imagine a hole. 450yd par 4. Straight. Bunkers on each side — 275 carry from the tee. Medium rough. EVERY SINGLE MODERN TOUR PLAYER Will send it over those bunkers with driver. EVERY TIME. LEAVING SAND WEDGE IN. Now for the roll back… (read on) Imagine a reduced-sized driver head. 200CC—similar to the size of a persimmon driver. Can/will players still be able to hit it 300 yards? Sure. And they should! The difference is this: THEY CAN’T ALL DO IT EVERY TIME. It’s a harder shot, mostly because the penalty for missing just slightly (with a head that size) is: A) fairway bunker from 175 out or B) rough from the same distance SOME PLAYERS WILL STILL GO FOR IT for the following reasons: 1) they are just really good ball strikers and trust that they consistently have that shot in the bag (Rory/Scottie). 2) they’re under the gun trying to make a cut or chase someone down on Sunday and want to apply pressure. BUT MANY PLAYERS WILL LAY BACK! Why? 1) They don’t want to hit a 175 yard bunker shot or 175 shot from the rough 2) They’re more comfortable hitting a mid iron from the fairway 3) They’re just not feeling it that day. Swing is a little off (wouldn’t matter with modern driver—they’d still send it…) ESSENTIALLY, Rolling the ball back takes a simple hole and introduces many different outcomes and complexities that are essentially gone from the game right now. If Rory ships one over that bunker with a tiny club head to keep the gas pedal down on Sunday, that’s a brave and admirable shot! (b/c we now know what could happen if he misses) If another player chooses to hit 3 wood to keep it in the fairway and flags a 5 iron and makes birdie, we know what a remarkable play that was (b/c it’s more difficult that hitting a lob wedge from 103 yds out of medium rough!) To close, golf a the professional level is better when there are more outcomes, not fewer. The better players will rise to the top—those who hit the ball better or (AND THIS IS KEY) those who make better decisions. The modern game has taken most of the strategy out of professional golf. It can easily be brought back! But you have to reduce club head size to do it.