The rule proposal heard ’round the golf world has received plenty of attention over the past day and a half. Golf ball manufacturers as well as a handful of professional players have made their opinion clear on what they think of “rolling back” the golf ball.
Brandel Chamblee of Golf Channel has also expressed a strong opinion on the controversial topic. Chamblee explained his position in a lengthy Twitter thread.
It seems to me that this proposal by the USGA and R&A derives from what a very small number of people, namely the executive committees of the USGA and R&A, think about how a very small number of players, namely the longest hitters on the men’s tour, play a very few number of
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
holes, namely a few at The Old Course and Augusta National and perhaps the 10th at Riviera and they are willing to disrupt the entire golf world for their interpretation of how the game is broken and how it should be fixed, with no convincing evidence for their position.
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
The proposed new testing parameters for the ball will likely lead to a reduction in distance, not of 14-15, but likely 20-25 yrds when one considers that no player on tour in ‘22 averaged 127mph clubhead speed and no player on tour averaged as little as 2200 rpm’s of spin and the
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
proposed launch angle of 11 degrees is higher than the 2022 tour average. As for the proposed bifurcation, it is essentially the USGA and R&A executive committees proclaiming that they don’t like how the professional game is being played. It is no small number of people who
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
would argue that it is the PGA Tour’s call, and not the governing bodies, as to how the professional game is played. I don’t imagine Roger Goodell would allow an outside agency to dictate how he runs his business. And by playing the same equipment are spectators not better able
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
to judge the athleticism of great players more accurately and be appropriately awed by the difference and isn’t that accurate depiction of the disparity between what they can do and the pros can do, part of the appeal of watching the best play? Furthermore, every player knows
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
that bifurcation of the ball means bifurcation of the equipment because these new balls will have unique characteristics that will require new golf clubs to accommodate and maximize the totally new launch conditions. And since professional golfers don’t pay for clubs and nor do
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
down into the elite and amateur ranks this bifurcation will go. Given that it will be for all WAGR point events, that means state Amateur events and qualifyings. Will the LPGA adopt the MLR or will the men’s and women’s game become bifurcated? How about women’s amateur events?
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
How about Champions tour events?
This announcement and proposed reduction in the ODS of the ball and bifurcation of the game implies the game is broken, when in fact it has never been healthier.
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) March 15, 2023
As usual, the analyst pulled no punches when stating his opinion. Do you agree with Brandel’s take, WRXers?
