Something from the Match PLay...

[Aske]

they're really considering changing ruling on wedge grooves?
 

[spacey]

It seems I read something about that a while back. Seems the USGA didn't learn their lesson from the Ping ordeal. You don't suppose Ping's going to be the only company to have a problem with it this time around do you?

[Aske]

make tour players  use grooveless clubs
 

[1puttpar]

The USGA just completed a study of U grooves vs V grooves.  They determined there is a significant advantage for TOUR PROS with the U grooves.  They also determined that there is almost an imperceptible difference for amateurs, especially  amateurs with handicaps above 8 or 9.  It sounds like they are going to make some kind of statement regarding this in the not too distant future.  Some current rumors are:

1.  The change will only be for professionals.
2.  The change will be for everyone but will not take effect until 2009 so as to give manufacturers time to retool and not make every club out there obsolete.

Personally, I don't believe the R&A would go along with #1, creating another nightmare.
Regarding #2,  the devastation to the industry would be horrific.  If this is instituted, who in their right mind would by a new set of irons now, knowing they would be illegal in 2 years time?

It's gonna get ugly.

[spacey]

I honestly have a hard time believing the USGA would make any kind of draconian ruling that would make 90% of the clubs currently in play obsolete/illegal. Then again, I could be wrong.

[1puttpar]

http://sports.espn.go.com...olf/news/story?id=2758899

This is Tom Wishon's comment:

The inside scoop I get on this says that sometime this year, the USGA will ban U grooves and establish a new groove shape that will have either a 65* or 75* side wall angle. The info I hear says that the new grooves will have to be played on the PGA Tour starting in 2009, but that regular golfers will have a far longer, multiple years grandfather period before the USGA rules will dictate the new groove shape for ALL competitions.

[Torpedo]

make tour players  use grooveless clubs
 

That would be interesting.

[Uisce Beatha]

Must Protect Par  (reg. tm)

Yeah, let's rollback equipment.  This game's way too easy. 

The USGA and the R&A are custodians of the game for everyone... not just the 0.0003% of golfers who make a decent living playing as professionals.  I have no problem with a "no mas" statement/position but if they start going backwards they're going to lose everyone.