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Did you know that the USGA, the governing body for the rules of the game, has just passed a monumental rules change concerning the grooves and how they spin the golf ball? Well, rules can be boring...so let us give you the short version of what's going on. Most current wedges have square grooves with sharp edges. The USGA has banned square grooves on any club over 26 degrees of loft (6 iron and above). Instead manufacturers are going to have to start making grooves in the shape of a "V". They will also have to "round off" the edges with a radius instead of a sharp edge. (figure 1) These changes will take away a substantial amount of spin from the golf ball - especially from the rough.
Don't panic! You've got plenty of time to adjust. This new rule takes effect for the PGA Tour and other affiliated professional tours including the European Tour and Nationwide Tour on January 1, 2010. You will see this change drastically effect the way the top players in the world play shots from the rough!
Top level amateurs - that is those who will participate in the highest level USGA events like the US Amateur and US Public Links championships - have to adopt the groove changes in 2014. All others will have until at least 2024. Manufacturers are being asked to stop making the square grooves in 2010, so there will be 14 years for the old grooves to filter through the system.
Bottom line, this rule change is not going to affect you much right away, other than the fact that manufacturers have until the end of 2010 to continue to manufacturer the old grooves. You might consider stocking up on some of the square groove wedges still on the market before they start disappearing next year!
