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. 2010 Additions to Rules For all clubs except drivers, an additional restriction is on the ratio of the cross-sectional area of each groove to the groove spacing.
Full Answer
What are the dimensions of a groove on a club?
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. For all clubs except drivers, an additional restriction is on the ratio of the cross-sectional area of each groove to the groove spacing.
Do grooves on a golf club affect spin?
The width and cross-section, according to the rules, “must be consistent” across the face of the club and along the length of the grooves. In other words, grooves can’t be slanted one way or the other to affect spin, nor can they be of inconsistent spacing.
What is the difference between grooves and smooths on a 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.
Do all golf clubs have linear grooves?
Although most clubs will feature linear grooves club manufacturers have ventured out into more elaborate designs. For example, the club maker Scotty Cameron famously uses a deep groove process that applies circular indentations into the face of its putters.
How wide are the grooves on a golf club?
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 deep should golf grooves be?
0.020 inches deepThe 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.
What is the groove rule?
The width and cross-section, according to the rules, “must be consistent” across the face of the club and along the length of the grooves. In other words, grooves can't be slanted one way or the other to affect spin, nor can they be of inconsistent spacing.
Do deeper grooves create more spin?
Just like the tread of a tyre generates grip on the road each groove of a golf club grabs the ball to create spin. And just like the design of tyres where the depth of the tread is directly linked to increased grip golf wedges were historically designed with deep grooves to create more backspin.
Should you sharpen iron grooves?
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.
Do I have V or U grooves?
0:040:59How to Identify Types of Grooves on Golf Clubs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere's two types of grooves that the USGA honors. You have u grooves. And then you have V grooves.MoreThere's two types of grooves that the USGA honors. You have u grooves. And then you have V grooves. Now you grooves.
What grooves are illegal in golf?
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.
Do golf drivers need grooves?
It completely depends on the loft of the club and playing conditions. For dry conditions, a driver without grooves will generate similar amounts of spin. But in wet conditions, the ball will actually hydroplane off the face because there's no escape route for the water.
Do grooves on Driver matter?
0:201:27What Are Grooves on Your Driver For? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTaking grooves out will help them do that really get the best distance with the most durability.MoreTaking grooves out will help them do that really get the best distance with the most durability.
Does sharpening golf grooves work?
Sharpening grooves won't make the ball go farther or your clubs necessarily perform more consistently, but crisp, sharp grooves will grip your ball more and the extra spin will help you hold more greens, something every golfer desires.
What wedge gives you the most spin?
Highest Spinning Wedges: Best of the restBettinardi HLX 3.0: 9,422rpm.Sub 70 Forged JB: 9,414rpm.Ping Glide 4.0: 9,349rpm.PXG 0311 Milled: 9,331rpm.Cobra King MIM: 9,304rpm.Cleveland RTX ZipCore: 9,289rpm.Ping Glide Forged: 9,242rpm.Cleveland CBX ZipCore: 9,081rpm.More items...•
How do you sharpen golf grooves at home?
0:087:57I sharpened my golf grooves (unexpected results) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI found the meanest looking sharpener online and i've got a couple of old golf clubs we're going toMoreI found the meanest looking sharpener online and i've got a couple of old golf clubs we're going to sharpen the grooves up and see exactly what happens.
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.
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.
Why do you use grooves on golf balls?
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 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 did the PGA use the U groove?
In turn, because the rough shots were so “easy”, the PGA took action .
What is a roll back in golf called?
In golf jargon, this roll back is called “check”. Many players mistakenly attribute the ball “checking-up” to the grooves on the club face.
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.
What is a groove in golf?
Grooves are generally horizontal and parallel indentations made into the clubface which serve to delimit the surface of the club that is meant to actually strike the ball. Indeed, the sweet spot will always be located somewhere within the area delimited by grooves.
Can you use a U-shaped groove in golf?
Basically, deep square U-shaped grooves are no longer allowed. Instead, golf manufactures are instructed to use rounded corner designs when grooving the clubface of their clubs.
Why do square grooves have to be further apart than v grooves?
In simple terms, square grooves would have to be further apart than ‘v’ grooves because they can channel away more grass and moisture.
How many yards can you shoot under par on a golf course?
First, if the PGA Tour wants to set courses up so its players can shoot 25 under par, let it. The USGA can continue to make its courses 7,500 yards, with 22-yard fairways and greens that don’t allow a dart game, and keep those winning scores around par.
When do you need new wedges for the USGA?
If you plan to qualify for any other USGA championship, you’ll need new conforming wedges by 2014. This might include the top amateur events in the nation as well. If you don’t play those specific events, you are good to go until at least 2024.
Did Stewart Cink go into the groove rule meeting?
In fact Stewart Cink just Twitter’ed that he just went into the Groove rule meeting a few minutes ago and that they would have an answer in a couple hours. That meeting has just actually ended and they have decided to go ahead with the current ruling and the date it is enforced.
Will the PGA Tour apply the rule in 2010?
Here’s where it gets interesting again. As of this writing, the PGA Tour has not decided whether or not it will apply the rule in 2010 or not. In an interview before the US Open, a USGA official said that if the PGA Tour doesn’t apply the rule, then they probably won’t apply it to the U.S. Open, either.
Is the square groove rule outlawed?
The Big Lie: “Square Grooves Are Being Outlawed.”. The USGA Rule does nothing of the sort. It does not propose to govern at all what the shape of grooves can be, or at least no differently than the current rule. Golf club manufacturers can continue to make clubs with grooves shaped like a “V”, a “U” or “square”.
Can a golf club groove be slanted?
In other words, grooves can’t be slanted one way or the other to affect spin , nor can they be of inconsistent spacing.
What happens when grass juice gets between the clubface and the ball?
It is only when grass juice gets between the clubface and the ball that the grooves really start doing their thing. This only happens out of relatively light rough not the real juicy 4” stuff where it doesn’t matter what type of grooves or condition of those grooves makes any difference.
What is Rule 4 1b?
“Rule 4 1-b. Wear and Alteration, states; “A club that conforms with Rules when new is deemed to conform after wear through normal use.
Can a hand held tool be used to measure grooves?
A hand held tool will not only do a number on the grooves but will most likely render them non-conforming because of the tight specifications the USGA has for grooves, i.e. depth, width, ratio of groove-width to pitch, radius of groove edges and even groove straightness.
Do iron clubs need chrome plating?
Most forged iron clubs made of mild steel, will need to be protected from rusting, which requires a layer of chrome to be deposited on the head after the grooves have been milled, rolled or stamped into the face. Some clubs are forged but made of stainless steel, which do not require chrome plating. These, as with most cast clubs can be re-grooved ...
How to test for nail grooves?
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. 2. Do regular checkups.
How to keep your golf clubs from wearing out?
1. Learn the fingernail test 2. Do regular checkups 3.
