http://uga.org/news/news.cfm?article=2429(Couldn't find this on the USGA site by the way. Curious.)
The proposal calls for two key additional groove specifications for clubs. One would call for groove edge sharpness to be limited to an effective minimum radius of .010 inches. The second would limit the total cross-sectional area of a groove divided by the groove pitch (width plus separation) to 0.0025 square inches per inch.
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The USGA proposes that these new groove rules become effective for all new clubs covered by this rule change that are manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010. A related Condition of Competition would be added to the USGA Rules of Golf to become effective Jan. 1, 2009.
And of course, an Uisce soap-box opinion.
It's a bit unclear to me if they're looking to actually change Appendix II or handle this solely through a condition of the competition. Murky waters.
“The skill of driving the ball accurately has become much less important in achieving success on Tour than it used to be,” Rugge said. “Our analysis of statistical data measured by the PGA Tour since 1980 shows that historically driving accuracy was as comparably correlated to winning as putting. Beginning in the early 1990s, however, driving accuracy became much less important. Today, the correlation between driving-accuracy rank and money winning rank on the PGA Tour is very low.”
Therefore, the USGA proposes to change the rules governing grooves.
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They make no bones that they're all about the professional tours. It's interesting to me that (for the first time maybe?) they're effectively advocating a divergence in the rules - one set for the pros and top amateurs, another for the rest of us.
The USGA is considering how to treat clubs that currently conform to the Rules of Golf, but would not conform to the proposed new rules. This consideration would be made for the vast majority of golfers who would not likely be affected by the proposed Condition of Competition, as well as for golf clubs already in use and/or manufactured prior to the proposed rule implementation date. The USGA proposes to allow their use for a lengthy period of time (at least 10 years).
