V-grooves

Beginning January 1, the tour pros will all be playing new irons…at least irons with 25-degrees loft and higher.  A new V-groove cross-section requirement has been adopted by the USGA and all other golf organizations including the grumps down at Augusta.  It means the irons will impart less spin to the ball than offered by the current square grooves, meaning that shots from the rough will be harder to control, placing a higher premium on hitting the fairways off the tee.

The rule is intended to trickle down to the rest of us over time.  This is from the USGA website: “This means that clubs you own today will still be conforming for top-level amateur competition for another 5 1/2 years and, for other competitions, conforming until at least 2024, if not indefinitely.” Interestingly, the Ping Eye-2 irons manufacturred before March 31, 1990 with square grooves will still be allowed.  That has to do with a lawsuit won by Ping many years ago.  I happen to have a set of those with sharp grooves — the Beryllium-copper (BeCu) variety.  Maybe I can get $20,000 for them from Tiger…:-) ???

The touring pros will be hitting some “fliers” out of the rough.  Kenny Perry warns that the fans in the stands will need hard hats.  Jack Nicklaus used to grind down the grooves on his wedges — he preferred to control the action on the green with loft, not spin.  The Mercedes will be interesting this year….