Typically, the head size and/or loft of the driver is what makes it illegal, or non USGA
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules of golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system f…
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is the oldest and most prestigious golf club in the world. It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf". Formerly, it was also one of the governing authorities of the game, but in 2004 this role wa…
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main professional golf tours played primarily by men in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, as well as PGA Tour Champions and the Korn Ferry Tour…
Are grooves in golf clubs legal?
Some groves are legal, while others are illegal. For instance, square grooves have been illegal since 1990. What’s more, clubs with v-edged grooves are not permitted for use. In 2010, the USGA introduced revised rules relating to club grooves that affected what you’re permitted to carry in your bag.
What are the new rules for head grooves on wedges?
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 the current rules on groove sharpness on golf clubs?
The rules also place a limitation on the sharpness of groove edges on irons, wedges, hybrids and fairway woods with lofts of 25 degrees or higher. I purchased my golf clubs after January 1, 2010.
What clubs&equipment are illegal in golf?
What Clubs & Equipment Are Illegal in Golf? While there are no clubs that the USGA considered “banned” or “illegal” in that exact verbiage, there are clubs that do not strictly conform to their general rules of acceptability.
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.
Are U shaped grooves legal?
Golf club manufacturers can continue to make clubs with grooves shaped like a “V”, a “U” or “square”. The USGA Rules have previously allowed, and will continue to allow, for a series of “straight grooves” with diverging sides and a symmetrical cross-section.
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.
Why did they ban square grooves?
Square grooves were briefly banned from the PGA tour, due solely to a PGA rule that had nothing to do with the legality of the clubs themselves. Depending on which study you believe, square grooves provide no competitive advantage, or they provide slightly higher spin rates from the rough.
Are ZIP Grooves legal?
As of December of this year (2010) they will no longer make clubs with the “ZIP” groove. But don't worry if you have already purchased a “Zip” Groove Wedge, the clubs will be legal for most players to use until 2024! (That's fourteen years from now… where will you be playing golf?
Do I have V or U grooves?
The deeper, sharper grooves are called "U" grooves. "V" grooves are the opposite. They are much shallower and have rounder edges. The "U" groove can move much more debris away from the contact zone.
Can you Regroove your 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. Worth) facility.
Is sharpening wedge grooves legal?
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.
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).
Are square grooves legal for amateurs?
Under United States Golf Association (USGA) rules implemented on January 1, square or U-grooves have been outlawed but a 20-year-old Ping wedge was deemed legal because of a lawsuit won by its manufacturer over the USGA in 1990.
Why is the Ping Eye 2 wedge banned?
The uproar resulted in the PGA Tour issuing a statement that included, "Because the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye 2 irons is permitted for play, public comments or criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best."
When did square grooves become illegal?
Jan. 1, 1990Saying that the use of square or U grooves in golf irons ''has changed the nature of the game,'' the PGA Tour Policy Board today declared clubs with square grooves illegal for use in PGA Tour events starting Jan. 1, 1990.
Should I sharpen the grooves on my irons?
The grooves on your golf club are vital to both backspin and ball control on the golf course. Sharpening the grooves may be something that you have never considered doing before - but worn down grooves will not give you the control or backspin you're looking for.
When were square grooves banned?
Jan. 1, 1990Saying that the use of square or U grooves in golf irons ''has changed the nature of the game,'' the PGA Tour Policy Board today declared clubs with square grooves illegal for use in PGA Tour events starting Jan. 1, 1990.
Do golf club grooves wear out?
Golf irons will go dead and wear out over time as their grooves and clubface deteriorate from repeated use. Golf technology is always rapidly changing, meaning irons that are older than five years of age are likely outdated and won't perform as well as the latest models.
How long do grooves last on wedges?
The general rule of thumb is that the grooves of a golf wedge can last 2-3 years of moderate playing. As time goes on, the wedge grooves will start to fade which will cause changes in distance control and in the ability to spin the golf ball. Many golfers, however, don't keep good care of their wedges.
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.
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.
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 wedges are 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. Make sure the club type is set for “Irons & Wedges,” then click the “Submit” button.
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 Eye 2 irons become legal?
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, ...
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, ...
What are the rules of competitive play?
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.
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.
Is a wedge legal 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. A rule that is more important for wedges is the groove rule originating ...
Is golf equipment banned?
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.
What happens if you alter the width of the grooves?
If you alter the width, shape or depth of the grooves then you render the club non conforming. The very fact that you are scraping metal off the clubface would indicate that you are altering the club. Click to expand... I understood it that you can adjust / sharpen the grooves, as long as you do not make them illegal.
Is it legal to sharpen grooves?
While groove sharpeners are legal and the how you use them in an attempt to return the grooves to their cutting best as if they were new, the result could be you increase the size of the groove making them illegal.
Is groove sharpener legal?
Exeter..ish - Devon. Yes groove sharpeners are legal, after all it's just a tool. It's what you do with it as D4S has stated that can make your club non conforming. All clubs now have their grooves machined to maximum tolerances, if you increase the size of them through scraping your club becomes non conforming.
