what grooves are illegal in golf

After great debate, golf's governing bodies, the USGA

(United States Golf Association) and R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club), designated that square or "U" grooves are illegal in PGA tournament play.

Full Answer

Are U grooves legal in PGA tournaments?

After great debate, golf's governing bodies, the USGA (United States Golf Association) and R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club), designated that square or "U" grooves are illegal in PGA tournament play.

Why are “U” grooves illegal in football?

They implemented regulations restricting the dimensions of grooves that were legal to use in competition play. Many “U” grooves became illegal due to their dimensions, and manufacturers had to comply with the new regulations.

What are the rules for grooves on golf clubs?

For clubs with lofts of 25 degrees or more (five iron and shorter clubs) there are even more restrictions. The edges of the grooves must be round with a radius of between 0.010 and 0.020 inch. Contrary to popular reporting on this issue, these restrictions do not outlaw the U-shape, also know as square or box grooves.

Are there any golf clubs that are illegal?

That means that some clubs simply are not suitable for professional or competitive play and that they are, in essence, illegal. In fact, only several pieces of equipment have been officially banned from competitive golfing.

What is groove in golf?

How to tell if a wedge club has grooves?

How to repair grooves on golf clubs?

What degree wedges have deep grooves?

How to clean golf clubs?

How to tell if ping clubs are square?

What happens when you hit a golf ball with a sharp groove?

See more

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What wedge grooves are illegal?

A rule that is more important for wedges is the groove rule originating in 2008. This rule affects all clubs with lofts of 25 degrees and more, which basically means it refers to all the wedges. It banned all wedges with U-shaped grooves, allowing only wedges with V-groove design to be officially used.

Is it legal to sharpen grooves?

The rules of golf state that grooves must be no more than 0.035 inches wide, 0.020 inches deep and 0.075 inches from any adjacent grooves. If you play competitively, using a groove sharpener could make your clubs non-conforming and illegal for competition.

Is it illegal sharpen the grooves on a golf club?

Are golf groove sharpeners legal? While it is perfectly legal to use a golf groove sharpener, your modified club must still comply with the rules of the game regarding golf groove alignment, depth and spacing.

Are there any illegal clubs in golf?

However, some individuals and companies come up with golf clubs that are non-conforming to USGA regulations and therefore, illegal in professional play. We found some of the craziest and most unique non-conforming clubs on this list! Now the Dead Aim 3-DB Belly mallet putter is not inherently illegal to use.

Can I Regroove my wedges?

Getting the wedge regrooved is an option, but it's an inexact process that's probably not worth the time. "A lot of things can happen when you regroove an old wedge," said Kyle Cronkright, the director of club fitting at the Jim McClean Golf School's Texas Golf Center (Ft.

How many times can you Regroove golf irons?

How Often Should I Regroove? We would recommend at least every 3-4 years. You should have your clubs cleaned and regrooved to allow you to play your best golf game. This process also gets rid of any rust that might be building up on your club (within reason).

Can iron grooves be sharpened?

6:287:57I sharpened my golf grooves (unexpected results) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd from my testing i found there was an increase of spin with the seven iron and the sand wedgeMoreAnd from my testing i found there was an increase of spin with the seven iron and the sand wedge with sharpened grooves by about 600 rpm which is a difference how much that equates to on the golf.

How do I know if my golf clubs are grooves worn?

Learn the fingernail test To do the test, simply run your fingernail down the face of your wedge to see if your nail gets caught in each groove. If your fingernail runs smoothly across any grooves, it's probably because they're worn and it's time for a switch.

How often should you sharpen the grooves on your golf clubs?

A decent rule of thumb though would be to re-groove every 15 - 20 rounds of golf. You'll need to experiment to determine what frequency is best for you. How many passes with the groove sharpener across each groove should I make? Again, a decent rule of thumb is that you should make 5 - 10 passes on each groove.

Is the Nike SasQuatch illegal?

Are Nike SasQuatch Drivers Illegal? According to the USGA and Randa.org, all versions of the Nike SasQuatch driver are legal to use in all casual, amateur, high-level amateur, and professional tournaments. In other words, all versions of the Nike SasQuatch (SQ) driver are legal.

Is a chipper a legal golf club?

Are Chippers Legal in Golf? Golf chippers are legal because they are iron clubs instead of putters, according to the Equipment FAQ at USGA. However, since they are considered clubs, they must follow the same rules as other woods and irons equipment in the game.

What clubs are illegal?

Some Non-Conforming Golf ClubsClubWhy It's IllegalTaylorMade R510 TP DriverCOR exceeds 0.83 ratingMoney Club HL Driver520cc head sizePineMeadow PGX 500 Driver500cc head sizeIntech Behemoth Driver520cc head size16 more rows

Where can you find what type of grooves a particular club has?

I really don't think there are many true v grooves out there. The new rule allows for u grooves as long as they meet certain design criteria. What has essentially been outlawed for higher end events are box grooves (think perfect square).

Grooves: Common Questions And Answers - USGA

Implementation of 2010 Groove Rules for Expert Amateur Players . Why did the USGA introduce the revised groove rules in 2008? In establishing the revised technical specifications for golf club grooves, the USGA was fulfilling one of our key responsibilities – to protect the fundamental challenge of the game and ensure that skill, not an overreliance on technology, is the prime determinant of ...

Anybody sharpen their wedge grooves? - WRX Club Techs - GolfWRX

What do sharper grooves do? I was under the impression that the grooves just channel sand/mud/grass away as the flat surface of the face contacts the ball and don’t actually contribute much towards actual spin, so basically as long as there are grooves it really doesn’t matter if they are sharp or not.

Getting Clubs Re-grooved | Golf Channel

In this week's Q&A, Frank explains if you're allowed to recondition your existing grooves.

What is the test for golf balls?

In the Golf Ball Design business, one of the most important tests a new ball design goes through is called a Shear Test.

What is a control test wedge?

The control test wedge with no grooves has a straight, milled face. No tricks or gimmicks. It is simply the same club, before the grooves are cut.

How many parts are in the Key to a Repeating Golf Swing package?

Take advantage of this incredible offer and r eceive your complete 6 part package including FREE lifetime “The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing” manual updates.

Where is Jordan Spieth's golf tournament?

The event is at the famous Firestone CC in Akron Ohio which requires straight driving and puts a premium on wedge play into tricky greens. All great golfers know their own game. Jordan Spieth is not a long hitter compared to his fellow young guns. He drives the ball 291 yards on average which is 82nd on Tour.

Do grooves work on golf clubs?

The grooves only help when there is interference between the ball and the club face (grass, water, etc...). That's when the grooves kick in and do their thing. And different groove shapes do it better than others, hence the controversy. But they all work great.

Is a trademark copyrighted?

Other names, trademarks, and images are copyrights of their respective owners.

Do you need a club face groove on a fairway lie?

From a good lie in the fairway, the wedge grooves do little or nothing to improve spin or stopping power. Club face grooves are essentially not needed from a clean, fairway lie. Depending on what you can do with your regular wedge, the smooth faced wedge can make the ball bite, back up, skid to a stop, etc...

What are the groove regulations in golf?

The optional groove regulations, which apply to all clubs except drivers and putters, are in effect for all USGA championships, including qualifiers. This optional Local Rule is recommended only for events played at the very highest level of amateur golf involving expert players. (See Model Local Rule G-2 in Section 8 of the Committee Procedures, part of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf).

What is the optional groove rule?

The optional groove regulations, which apply to all clubs except drivers and putters, are in effect for all USGA championships, including qualifiers. This optional Local Rule is recommended only for events played at the very highest level of amateur golf involving expert players.

Does the USGA test clubs?

If the USGA has yet to test your clubs and you plan to enter a competition where the optional Model Local Rule will be adopted, you are invited to send your clubs to our Research & Test Center to determine if they can be used in your upcoming event.

What are grooves on golf clubs?

By Don Patton. Grooves on your golf clubs primarily are designed to create spin when the ball is struck properly. Grooves on golf club faces are there primarily to impart spin to the ball. They also channel water and foreign material away from the clubface, especially for shots from heavy rough. The larger grooves on some irons allow players ...

Why do golf clubs have grooves?

Grooves on golf club faces are there primarily to impart spin to the ball. They also channel water and foreign material away from the clubface, especially for shots from heavy rough.

How wide is a clubface groove?

The cross section may be U- or V-shaped as long as it is symmetrical and the sides don’t converge or have sharp or raised edges. The dimensions of each groove are limited to 0.035 inch wide and 0.020 inch deep. The required minimum spacing is three times the groove width and no less than .075 inch.

Why are there grooves on irons?

The larger grooves on some irons allow players to be less concerned about the rough, making driving accuracy less important . For this reason the USGA implemented a set of rules changes in 2010 that tightened the limits on groove dimensions.

When did golf clubs become tighter?

Professional golfers already began using clubs that conform to the new rules in 2010. By 2011 all newly manufactured clubs must conform to the tighter standards although retailers can sell existing stock until it is gone. Amateurs may continue using their existing equipment, but beginning in 2014 the new rules will apply to USGA and NCAA competitions, and in 2024 everyone’s equipment must meet the new restrictions.

How much less spin on golf shots?

This means 30 percent to 50 percent less spin on shots hit from the rough with very little effect on fairway shots.

Why are U grooves illegal?

In turn, because the rough shots were so “easy”, the PGA took action. They implemented regulations restricting the dimensions of grooves that were legal to use in competition play. Many “U” grooves became illegal due to their dimensions, and manufacturers had to comply with the new regulations.

Why do golf clubs have grooves?

Golf club grooves have the exact same function as the treads on a tire. They allow water and debris to move away from the ball’s point of contact to provide cleaner contact with better control. Striking a ball from the rough can be unpredictable when there is a lot of debris between your club and the ball. Grooves help tremendously to make these shots more predictable.

Why did the PGA use the U groove?

In turn, because the rough shots were so “easy”, the PGA took action .

What is the difference between a grooveless and a smooth face golf club?

The smooth face would have more surface area to come in contact with the ball. More surface area means more friction and therefore more ball spin. From a perfectly clean lie with no obstructions between the ball and the club face, a grooveless club will always out spin a club with grooves.

What is a check in golf?

They can land the ball straight on the green and have it either stop dead, or roll back, leaving them with a perfect uphill putt. In golf jargon, this roll back is called “check”. Many players mistakenly attribute the ball “checking-up” to the grooves on the club face. They think that the grooves must grab the ball at impact and cause it to spin. What they don’t realize is that a club face with no grooves would actually produce more spin in perfect conditions! Let me explain…

What happens when you shoot from the rough?

But when you're shooting from the rough, grooves make a massive difference. When a player strikes a ball from the rough, there is lots of debris between their club and the ball: soil, sand, grass, and water are the main culprits.

Does a smooth face golf ball have more surface area?

The intuition is correct that the more “grab” on the ball at the point of impact, the more it will spin. Many people don't know that a club face with no grooves would actually put more spin on the ball. The smooth face would have more surface area to come in contact with the ball. More surface area means more friction and therefore more ball spin.

Why are some golf clubs illegal?

Rules of competitive play state that professional golfers are required to use golf clubs that conform with the Rules of Golf prescribed by the United States Golf Association. This leads club and equipment manufacturers to submit their clubs to the USGA for testing in order to be completely certain that their clubs are compliant with all the rules.

What equipment is banned in golf?

Some equipment has been permanently banned from competitive professional golf, while some has been banned but, interestingly and surprisingly, approved all over again. That is why most legal considerations should be left to the pros, while enthusiasts should just focus on enjoying their time on the grass. But, let’s take a quick look at some of the banned equipment, just for the historical side of it.

What wedges are illegal in golf?

When it comes to golf wedges, there are several rules on golf wedges that explain whether or not a wedge is legal for standard competitive play. The general rule for all clubs states that any club cannot be substantially different from the customary traditional form and make.

What is the groove rule for wedges?

This rule affects all clubs with lofts of 25 degrees and more, which basically means it refers to all the wedges. It banned all wedges with U-shaped grooves, allowing only wedges with V-groove design to be officially used.

Why are steel shafts illegal?

The reason was the perceived lack of quality over the traditional hickory clubs that were used up to that point. That changed when Bristol Steel succeeded in creating a seamless shaft, ...

When did golf balls become banned?

The decision to ban it came in 1990 when the British variant was no longer deemed suitable for any kind of golf competitions.

Is it legal to play golf with a 52 degree wedge?

And, well, while all clubs are perfectly fine to train and play for fun with, some are simply not considered legal to play a golf course with. As it should be – rules are there to be bent, but never broken when it comes to sports. That is why you should turn to BombTech for a legal-but-incredible 52-degree golf wedge for sale.

What is the groove rule on golf clubs?

Groove Rule. The USGA announced new rules regarding club head grooves in 2008. The rules affect clubs with lofts of 25 degrees or more and, therefore, affect wedges of all types. The rules ban clubs with “sharp-edged U-grooves,” according to the PGA Tour, in favor of “the V-groove designs used predominantly in the past.”.

What are wedges banned from the PGA?

What Wedges Are Banned From the PGA? On the PGA Tour, players must use equipment “which conforms with the USGA Rules of Golf,” according to the 2012 PGA Tour Player Handbook. In practice, manufacturers typically provide a new club to the United States Golf Association for testing, to be certain that the club is compliant with the rules.

How to find out if a wedge is banned?

Golfers wishing to learn whether their wedges are banned by the PGA can search the USGA’s “Informational Club Database.” Type in the name of the club’s manufacturer, the product name and describe the club’s markings in the appropriate boxes.

What are the rules of golf?

Appendix II of the Rules of Golf lists the general characteristics of a legal club. A club “must not be substantially different from the traditional and customary form and make,” meaning that it must contain a shaft and a head, and that it “may” also contain a grip. These parts must be secured together to form “one unit,” ...

When did Ping ban eye 2 irons?

The USGA and the PGA Tour first attempted to ban PING Eye 2 irons, including wedges, in 1990. As a result of the company’s lawsuit, Eye 2 irons manufactured prior to April 1, 1990, were grandfathered in as conforming clubs. The clubs remained legal after the new groove regulations took effect in 2010, at which point Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Fred Couples and some other players began using Eye 2 wedges on the PGA Tour. PING then agreed to partially waive its rights, allowing the PGA Tour to ban the Eye 2 irons.

When are golf clubs required to conform to the groove rules?

Golf clubs manufactured on or after January 1, 2010 are required to conform to the groove rules effective from January 1, 2010. While it is expected that such clubs meet the groove rules, it is the player’s responsibility, prior to play, to ensure that his or her clubs conform with the Equipment Rules. If the player fails to verify conformance, he or she risks getting a penalty under Rule 4.1a (1) if a club is found to be nonconforming.

When did the groove rules become a condition of competition?

Since January 1, 2010, the groove rules effective from January 1, 2010 have been adopted as a Condition of Competition (now Model Local Rule G-2) for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as all qualifying stages for these three championships. Since January 1, 2014 the Condition of Competition (now Model Local Rule G-2) ...

What happens if another player calls into question the conformity of the grooves on a player's club?

If another player calls into question the conformity of the grooves on a player’s club (s), as with any question that arises during the competition, the USGA Rules Committee will take all pertinent facts into consideration in evaluating the situation, and the above procedure will apply if necessary. The decision of the USGA Rules Committee will be final.

Do players have to answer questions about club conformance prior to arriving on-site for any qualifying event?

Players are strongly encouraged to resolve any questions about club conformance prior to arriving on-site for any qualifying event.

What is groove in golf?

Golf club grooves have the exact same function as the treads on a tire. They allow water and debris to move away from the ball's point of contact to provide cleaner contact with better control. Striking a ball from the rough can be unpredictable when there is a lot of debris between your club and the ball.

How to tell if a wedge club has grooves?

Get a wedge cluband examine its face, the part of the golf clubthat hits the golfball. The V-shaped or U-shaped lines seen on the face are the grooves. Using a magnifying glass, look at the slight taper at the cross section of the grooves.

How to repair grooves on golf clubs?

Repair Your Grooves At Home! Clean the face of your clubs, including the groov es. Apply masking tape at the tow and heel of the club face at the outside edge of the grooves. Hold the groove sharpener like a pencil at a 45-degree angle to the face and draw it through the first groove.

What degree wedges have deep grooves?

The groove pattern changes as you go through the set, 46-54 degree wedges have narrow and deep grooves with the 56-62 having wide grooves, pushed to the limit to produce maximum spin.

How to clean golf clubs?

Clean the face of your clubs, including the grooves. Use warm, soapy water with a couple of tablespoons of liquid dish detergent and a scrub brush. Get as much of the built-up debris from between the grooves as you can. Run masking tape along the ends of your grooves.

How to tell if ping clubs are square?

Confirm the manufacturer name and model. All Ping clubs manufactured up to 2010 have been manufactured with square grooves. Check the patent for legality .

What happens when you hit a golf ball with a sharp groove?

The downward strike on the ball, coupled with the sharp grooves, traps the ball against the ground and creates backspin. Over time, the lower grooves will start to wear out and eventually will not catch the ball as sharply.