After replacing your divot, (hint hint), your next step before putting your club back in your bag should be to clean your club. I have watched many players hit their shot and immediately put their clubs away dirty. I often think that their grooves are full of dirt and how could they get any grip on the ball with dirty grooves. Am I crazy for thinking this way? Well, I have concrete proof that cleaning your clubs after each hit is important!
Continue readinggrooves
Chipping Success With My 7 Iron
This year I adopted the use of my 7-iron whenever possible. I have found that I this particular club (my friend Rick uses an 8-iron with the same success) has allowed for a greater up and down percentage and lower golf scores. My ability to scramble has really increased my confidence when missing the green on approach shots; to such an extent that it is expanding into other areas of my game. And this is a good thing all around!
Continue readingV-Grooves. U-Grooves. Really?
I was reading the rules of golf from Golf Canada and came across the changes to the grooves on clubs. I read their intent and have concluded that technology is making the game of golf too easy. Well, I for one completely agree….haha! I will concede that technology has allowed the amateur to hit the ball a bit further, lob the ball higher, and hit recovery shots easier. But, a player still must hit the shot straight, strike the ball to obtain the proper distance, and manage the course to lower their score.
So what is the big deal about V-Grooves or U-Grooves! The table below from the RCGA outlines when the rule will take effect.
| Date |
Change |
Effecting… |
| Jan 1, 2010 |
New specifications introduced on club-face markings. |
All new models of clubs launched after January 1, 2010. Existing models of clubs will continue to conform to the Rules of Golf. |
| Jan 1, 2010 |
Condition of Competition will be available to Committees requiring players to use clubs with markings which conform to the new specifications. |
Strongly recommended that this Condition should be introduced only on the major Professional Tours. All other golfers, playing in competitions where this condition has not been introduced, can and should be permitted to continue to use old model clubs which do not satisfy the new specifications. |
| Jan 1, 2014 |
Condition of Competition will continue to be available to Committees. |
Strongly recommended that this Condition should be extended only to lower level Professional events and expert level amateur events. Club level golfers can and should be permitted to continue to use old model clubs, which do not satisfy the new specifications. |
| Jan 1, 2024 |
Earliest date that the Rules will be applied to clubs manufactured prior to 2010. This date will be reviewed in 2020 and may be extended. |
All players, all abilities, all forms of play. |
Golf Digest’s excellent article on grooves explains why they are changing….or not changing the face of golf. I never really understood the reasons before, but I guess it make sense. The sharper the edges the more grip the club face will have in the rough or wet conditions.
Titleist.com has the best guide I could find. It explains everything. Their view is that the design of the grooves really do not make any difference. The main point of the guide is the angle of the groove face and the volume of the groove. This article is very good and will explain much about this issue.
So What? Why am I telling you this! Rules are changing. It is important that we stay on top of the changes so it does not have a negative impact on our game in the future. The rules are an important part of golf and levels the playing field. I am not fussed about the rule change on grooves, but would not change my clubs because of the rule change.
What do you think about the change in the groove rule?
The Grateful Golfer 