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Length of driver set to be limited to 46 inches in new R&A distance proposals

R&A announces new proposals to combat the increasing distance in golf, which include reducing the maximum length of a driver shaft from 48 inches to 46 inches.

Image: Bryson DeChambeau has been testing a 48-inch driver since winning the US Open

Bryson DeChambeau's plans to use a 48-inch driver could be scuppered by new proposals to combat the increase in distance in golf.

A year after the release of the Distance Insights Project report, the R&A and USGA have announced their intention to limit the length of a driver shaft to 46 inches - a regulation that could come into effect and "impact the 2021 season".

The latest announcement also proposes that officials representing all clubs, regions and Tours, will be able to impose their own regulations for equipment use, with further discussions taking place in November once the feedback has been monitored.

But R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers revealed the discussions on the driver length will resume in early March, with any new restrictions likely to be imposed during the summer.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R&A is hopeful fans will be in attendance at Royal St George
Image: Martin Slumbers confirmed the new limit on driver length could be brought in this summer

DeChambeau has been testing drivers with 48-inch shafts since winning the US Open by six shots at Winged Foot last September, although he abandoned plans to put the new driver into play at the Masters, and it now looks likely that all his testing could have been futile.

"Last February, before the pandemic changed all of our lives, we finished two years of research into the impact of distance on our sport," Slumbers told Sky Sports News. "At that point, we concluded that longer distances, longer courses, and a longer time to play, was all taking the game in the wrong direction.

"We've been on hold for a year because of the pandemic, so this is the next stage of that debate and hopefully it's the next stage of very constructive and serious debate about how we take our sport forward.

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"Limiting the driver length to 46 inches is a short-term conclusion, because we had consulted with the industry on that four years ago. We are seeking comment on that back by early March, and depending on the outcome of that feedback, that is the short-term impact for this season.

Distance Insight Project Report
Distance Insight Project Report

"We believe that this continuing cycle of increases is undesirable and detrimental to golf's long-term future."

"The key thing is that we take the industry with us collaboratively, we are totally committed to doing that and we are very serious about the importance of that. The club length discussion is through to March and, depending on what is said, that will impact the 2021 season."

The likes of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have led the calls for golf balls used in the professional game to be "rolled back", but Slumbers feels the ball going too far is not the biggest issue when attempting to combat the distance, and he is wary of counteracting the evolving technology that has impacted the sport.

"The main issue as I see it is that continuing length is not the right thing for the game in terms of distance, in terms of time to play and in terms of sustainability," he added. "For me, the most important thing is the balance between skill and technology.

"The technology is great for helping to make a difficult game a little bit easier. But, at the very elite level, perhaps that balance is not there. So this an area we need to research into how do we think about equipment going forward."

Image: DeChambeau had originally planned to use the new driver at Augusta

Slumbers was speaking ahead of the release of the latest update from the R&A on plans to combat increasing distance in golf, which is focused on "specific areas of interest" while detailing "three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules".

The statement read: "The Areas of Interest notice, sent to golf equipment manufacturers, follows the conclusions of the Distance Insights Report delivered last February. It is the first step of the established Equipment Rulemaking Procedures, which give the opportunity for golf's stakeholders to provide research and perspectives on topics that might lead to equipment rules changes.

"In addition, three proposals related to equipment standards were also sent to the manufacturers and have been published - two to modernise equipment testing protocols and the other to consider the adoption of a Model Local Rule that would provide flexibility for committees, if they so choose, to limit the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches."

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The two other equipment change proposals, which will be addressed again in August, are an "update of testing methods for golf balls" and a "change to testing tolerance - Characteristic Time."

The report also details the two specific areas of interest as:

  • The potential use of a Local Rule that would specify the use of clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances. This would enable committees conducting competitions to stipulate whether such equipment should be used. It could be available at all levels of play and would also allow golfers playing outside of competition to choose for themselves.
  • A review of the overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. This review would consider whether any existing specifications should be adjusted or any new specifications created to help mitigate continuing distance increases. It would not consider revising the overall specifications to produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the sport.

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