‘Bifurcation’ has become the hottest debate in golf. In an attempt to combat the ever-increasing distances achieved by the game’s elite players, we may soon see them using different equipment.
The recent announcement by the USGA and R&A, in which they proposed equipment standards changes, had been coming. A year ago, the governing bodies released their Distance Insights Project, and they stated that the continuing increase in length was ‘detrimental’ to the game.
It’s a topic that splits opinion.
Some say that the Bryson DeChambeaus of the game deserve everything they get for the effort they put in to getting more distance from their drives.
Others are saddened to see great courses being overpowered, and a move away from how golf was always supposed to be played.
So, what’s the answer?
We put that question to former professional Anthony Wall, who played more than 500 events on Tour over the course of 22 years.
The Sky Sports analyst and two-time European Tour winner is well placed to comment. In this Golf Care exclusive, he offers his unique and fascinating insights.
We’ve got to be careful. The whole idea with golf is that everyone can use the same clubs and play the same courses, whether you’re a professional or club golfer.
People like to buy what the pros use, but I think something needs to be done. Drivers are so good now that driving the ball is not that difficult a skill. Maybe we should say that pros are no longer allowed to tee the ball up. It’s a minefield, and this is why things haven’t been changed yet.
If you’re going to do anything, the driver has to be made harder to hit. I’ve still got all my driver heads that I used, many of which are 420cc. The problem is that they’re so good nowadays; the sweet spot is so big that the pros can hit the ball so much harder, and it won’t go offline.
You could say that from next year, here’s the maximum size head you’re allowed to use, and amateurs could carry on regardless for another five years. I think it would have a huge impact on the professional game, and the amateur wouldn’t worry because they’d have five years to sort it out.
They’re on board because their job is to sell new golf equipment. Let’s say they changed the head to a maximum 420cc – their marketing would become: ‘We’ve gone back to a 420cc driver, but this is the hottest one we’ve ever done.’
It probably would be because they’re geniuses at making golf clubs. I don’t think it would bother them. I think they’d make more money because people would have to change.
No time at all. I remember the grooves Rule change in 2010 to reduce spin from the rough, and they said that this is going to change the game forever – but it made no difference. Proper golfers just adapt.
I don’t blame the ball. If you change the ball, the longest players will still be able to rip it to within 30 yards of the green, and then you have half the field 100 yards away. Does that solve the problem? I’m not sure it does.
For me, it’s the driver. The materials allow people to hit a terrible strike, but it still goes pretty straight. After a while, unless you’re pretty silly, you will learn to start hitting it harder because it’s hard to hit it offline.
How many shots nowadays do you see offline? These guys are hitting it as hard as they can. The golf clubs are so stable, and it’s because the heads are so big. Yes, the ball goes further, but fairways are firmer and cut tighter, so the ball runs further; there’s almost a fast lane all the way to the hole.
There are a million reasons why the ball goes further, but I would love to see Bryson DeChambeau use a driver from 2000 and see if he can hit it that hard and not hit it off the planet if he mishit it. He’s so strong and talented, and fair play to him, but he really has opened a can of worms. You shouldn’t be lobbing it on par 4s at 370 or even 400 yards.
Golfers have become a lot better for several reasons. Technology and athleticism have advanced, but the golfers themselves are also too good for the courses.
The people who are supplying the golf equipment are so knowledgeable about what it takes to fit you a driver; they’re so good with all the equipment and all the technology.
When I first came on Tour, you did everything yourself – now there’s a whole team of people. Bryson has his chap going round putting his two launch monitors down in the pro-am for every shot he hits; there’s so much more data available for these players.
I was one of the longer hitters, but I never really got any longer with the change of equipment. I came on Tour hitting it 280, and I never really hit it any longer because I had a nice, classic, rhythmical swing. I wasn’t a smasher, and I hit it quite high.
Yes, it was, and even more so when Tiger appeared. I remember playing in the WGC-American Express Championship at The Grove [2006], and he’s hitting the 18th in two. You’re thinking: ‘That’s unbelievable’. I’m hitting a 70-yard pitch in there, and he’s lobbing it on in two.
The longest hitters will always be the best players, really. Go through the list: Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Seve was pretty long in his day – maybe Nick Faldo was the exception. However, the best players tend to be amongst the longest hitters.
He’s right, no question – but it’s unrealistic. You have the punters to get around. When tournaments pay big name players to play, the rough never seems to be up because they want the longest hitters to win. I do wonder about paying someone £2m to play there – you’re going to want them to win.
I’d like to see a few ex-players on some of these boards. You want people who can see both sides. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Are they going to make a change? I think they have to, but the problem is they’ve gone too far. I don’t see how you can pull the game back because people have seen the other side.
It’s hard. We’ve made a rod for our own back. You’ve got golf resorts being built all around the world, and they’re quite happy to make it 8,000 yards because they can stick more houses on it. Something needs to happen, but there are three or four other things that need addressing, too.
Yes, amongst other things. Green books shouldn’t be anywhere near a professional golfer – that’s another nonsense because you’re taking away the skill of reading the putt. In the old days, the best putter was probably the best reader of greens; now they don’t have to be, so there’s another skill gone.
It’s the simplest things. The putter should be the shortest club in the bag, and you shouldn’t be allowed to line your ball up five times before you hit a putt. I’m seeing the future of the game change while watching my kids develop. Kids are spending too much time lining up the ball with a line and not spending enough time learning to line themselves up and learning the art of green reading. Is this what we want the future of golf to look like?
You can listen to Anthony Wall on Sky Sports Golf and follow him on Twitter @awallgolfer.
