Equipment

TaylorMade issues response to the USGA and R&A’s proposed golf ball Model Local Rule

Published

3 years ago

Mar 21, 2023

Titleist and Bridgestone are no longer alone in addressing the recent USGA/R&A proposal to lower the maximum distance of golf balls used for professional tour and elite amateur events, as TaylorMade Golf, today, has also released a statement on the matter.

And, in a unique move, the company is urging regular golfers to participate in a survey that will help to assess the broader golf community’s response to the proposed modifications.

The full text of TaylorMade’s statement is below.

“The USGA and R&A recently announced a proposal to create a Model Local Rule where highly skilled golfers must use a different golf ball from 2026 onwards. This will introduce bifurcation into our sport, meaning that you – the golfer – will play with different equipment than the professionals.

“We believe a large part of golf’s appeal is this underlying sense of: “I can do that, too.” And using the same equipment as the pros gives us a more accurate feel for how talented these players are. Most of us will never know what it’s like to play in Madison Square Garden, throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl, or score the game-winning goal in a World Cup final, but we can go to St. Andrews, walk across the Swilcan Bridge and for a moment feel what it’s like to be a professional. Walk in their shoes, play the same courses, and use the same equipment. It’s all part of why we love this sport.

“The USGA and R&A have provided a window in which all manufacturers can provide feedback on this proposal and its potential impact.

“As we absorbed this announcement and tried to understand the why, as well as the impact, all of our conversations came back to one place – you, the golfer. We want your voice to be heard, so please, let us know what you think.”

“We invite you to be part of the conversation and to be part of our feedback to the USGA and R&A: Take the survey here.”

More about the MLR, here: USGA and R&A officially reveal plan to roll back the golf ball for pros (see what GolfWRXers are saying)

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8 Comments

Tim

Mar 23, 2023 at 7:44 pm

Golf is on the rapid decline due to the idiots in charge. Play where you want to, and use what you want to. I love to play the game and couldn’t give 2 sh**s on what any of them think about what I use, wear, do, etc.

Reply Report comment
zidane

Mar 23, 2023 at 5:41 am

thank you for the article

Reply Report comment
Mack

Mar 22, 2023 at 4:16 pm

Use the same ball for all. Pro golfers will need to play par 5’s like par 5’s, and amateurs will get a few shots in their handicap. No big deal.

Reply Report comment
Pingback: Rory McIlroy explains why he fully supports golf ball rollback – GolfWRX
Andrew Singer

Mar 22, 2023 at 10:45 am

As far as I know, distance improvements have not made anyone putt better. They still need to get the ball in the hole no matter how far they hit it.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Mar 21, 2023 at 10:49 pm

USGA people have too much time on their hands. Is Joe Biden involved?

Reply Report comment
- Geno52
  
  Mar 22, 2023 at 1:12 pm
  
  Why does everything have to become political???? Give it a rest, take a break, it’s over, let it go. Sheeesh…..
  
  Reply Report comment
Chach

Mar 21, 2023 at 8:14 pm

boycott the USGA handicapping system. They will reverse this within weeks.

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Titleist Vokey Proto Wedges 54M, 60T

Published

29 mins ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.

From the listing:

(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.

Whats in the Bag

Ryan Palmer WITB 2026 (June)

Published

30 mins ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 70 6.5

5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX

Irons: Srixon ZXiU (23 degrees), Srixon Z785 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 (4), KBS Tour 130 X

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (50-08F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Check out more in-hand photos of Ryan Palmer’s clubs here.

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

21 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.