Equipment
‘I’m not going to be very popular for this’ – Jim Furyk calls for bold equipment rule change
Jim Furyk is a part of Golf Channel’s broadcasting team at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, and ahead of the event at Bay Hill, the 55-year-old proposed a change to the rules that would be a huge reform for equipment in the professional game.
Speaking on the Straight Facts Homie podcast this week, the 2003 U.S. Open Champion suggested that the governing bodies should look at reducing the driver head size for professionals, saying:
“I’ll tell you what I would do. I’m not going to be very popular for this, but I would reduce the size of the driver head. Maybe not necessarily for the average golfer, but I would do that for the golf professional. Because you can hit it all over the face right now and it’s pretty forgiving. You don’t lose a lot of distance.”
Furyk continued, using his own mini driver as an example of how things would look with a law restricting driver head size:
“I play a mini driver in my bag for my three wood. And when I hit that mini good, it goes darn near just as far as my driver. It’s less than 10 yards difference. But if I mishit it, if I hit it a little thin, a little on the toe, a little on the heel, I lose a bunch of yardage.”
The Pennsylvania native added:
“I think you’ve gotten these young guys that are rearing back and swinging 110 per cent at it, and you can kind of cover areas on the face and get a lot of forgiveness and a lot of distance. I just think it would show an extra skill set. They’re extremely talented, don’t get me wrong, but I think it would also limit guys swinging 110 per cent at it all the time. They’d have to pick and choose their spots and maybe golf courses wouldn’t have to be quite as long.”
The distance rollback in the professional game has been a big talking point in recent years, with new regulations expected to be enforced in 2028.
When it comes to a club that is battle-tested, it means it has been there for the peaks and valleys, the good and the bad. The club has stayed in the bag. Without a doubt, we are starting things off with a bang at a worthy all-time contender. The putter of PGA Tour veteran Ryan Palmer. This Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II is one of the foundational putters in the modern game.
The Dual Force Rossie II was originally released in 1994. Ryan Palmer won in his rookie year on the PGA Tour in 2004 at the FUNAI Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort. The putter in his hand for the win? You guessed it. The Rossie II. Maybe a few trials and tribulations of other putters through the years, but this is the predominant putter in the bag.
As time has gone on, the Rossie II Palmer plays has a few “modern” game upgrades compared to its 1994 release year. There is a custom dollar sign logo on the back cavity of the putter to keep the spirits high. Additionally, we can see a Breakthrough Golf Stability putter shaft along with a SuperStroke Claw 1.0 grip. These updates bring this model to a generation blend spanning over 30 years.
With a setup like this, putter for Ryan Palmer, this is the definition of Battle Tested!
The summer season is getting closer by the day and some of us need to add a little style to our wardrobe. Thankfully, Ghost Golf is here with their exciting new Qualifier Collection that will get us looking better than our swing. This new collection, along with tons of other options from Ghost, also makes great Father’s Day gifts. Clubs and golf balls can be tough, since some dads are pickier than others. So I went through and put together just a few items from Ghost Golf that could be perfect for your dad. None of these requires a handicap or club fitting to help elevate their game and style out on the course!
If you have seen any of my WITB videos, you will see that I am putting my clubs into the Anyday Black Ops stand bag. High quality is key with the Anyday bag, and you will immediately feel that with the materials and craftsmanship Ghost uses. I love how versatile the bag is, going from range, to cart, to push cart without breaking a sweat. I typically bring a lot of stuff with me when I play, and I was shocked at how much the Anyday can hold while still being lightweight. You get a single and double shoulder strap that is super easy to swap out to dial in the comfort or convenience you desire.
I loved the new Qualifier Polo as soon as I took it out of the package and tried it on. The Micro Pique fabric is soft and comfortable, so you can wear it all day and almost forget it was on. Ghost dialed in the fit as well; it doesn’t bind or bunch up anywhere and looks great. The little touches and Ghost logos make this polo perfect for the course, office, or date night.
Another polo from Ghost that has become a staple in my rotation. The black collar combines with the diamond pattern to stand out just enough. Definitely not too loud to wear to work. Ghost made sure these polos feature a soft, breathable fabric with Spandex for free, easy movement during your swing. With the warmer weather here, I have found this polo to be cool and dry from the moisture-wicking material.
I have a lot of hats (ask my wife), but this one has become my go-to since I got it. The 100% cotton fabric just feels high quality, and the Spectator hat just holds its shape so well. Average-to-large heads, like mine, get a great fit that is snug enough to stay on during an aggressive swing but not uncomfortably tight. This hat goes from school drop-off to the course without missing a beat.
At first glance, you will think this is just another club brush. Look closer, and you will see the thought and detail the team at Ghost put into it. A built-in magnet lets you slap it onto the golf cart, right there to clean off your club after your shot! Two sets of bristles are quickly swapped out so you can clean your clubs and then your shoes to keep them looking fresh. A built-in water reservoir also pumps out water to make sure your grooves are perfectly clean for every shot.
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, @raehtz10 is selling putters…and lots of them. Available for purchase Scotty Camerons, Bettinardis, and Odysseys.
From the listing:
All prices are OBO and include shipping and Paypal G&S and Venmo’s version too. If you’re west of the Mississippi, please add $5. If you have any questions or want additional pictures, please message me.
1. Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport. 34″, original grip and headcover. Weights are aftermarket 40g. Small ding on the hosel was repaired. Will send updated photo if interested. $300.
2. Scotty Cameron Mil-Spec 33/350g – 33 inches, 350g. Red dancing cord grip. No headcover. – $350.
3. Bettinardi Studio Stock 9. 35″, brand new in plastic. Does not include original headcover, but will come with new in plastic 2021 Studio Stock headcover. $275.
4. Bettinardi 2022 Inovai 6.0 – 33″, original grip and shaft. The pictures really tell the tale on this one. $230.
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.
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Joey5Picks
Mar 9, 2026 at 1:33 am
When par 5s are routinely driver-mid iron, the ball goes too far. When PGA National has to build peninsulas into lakes for new tee boxes, the ball goes too far. When The Old Course has to put tee boxes out of bounds, the ball goes too far. A simple solution would be to limit driver size. For those who complain about “bifurcation”, the game is already bifurcated. Pros play courses 1,000 yards longer, can’t use range finders, have caddies, can’t ride carts…
AJ
Mar 10, 2026 at 6:11 pm
good points- a rational take.
Rich
Mar 8, 2026 at 7:07 pm
It is possible to scale back the clubs and golfballs without affecting the recreational player. For example, the ball could be scaled back in a way that affects the professionals but not you since you don’t activate its features anyway.
As for the driver, most players would benefit from shorter shafts, whether thats in a mini-driver or regular one.
Rich
Mar 8, 2026 at 7:01 pm
I’ve been playing a mini-driver ever since TM introduced the SLDR. That’s 12 years. They’ve really improved over the years, and at 66 I’m about to switch to my R7 Quad full-time.
I’m not in favor of bifurcation, though. One set of rules, please. (Well, two, with both the USGA and R&A.
Kevin Llewellyn
Mar 8, 2026 at 6:28 am
I love the mini driver. I bought the taylor r7 last august and took my driver out of my bag. I hit the mini just as long and a lot straighter
Tutone
Mar 7, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I’m advocate for going back to wooden head drivers for the professionals. Just like baseball and wooden bats.
Matthew
Mar 7, 2026 at 8:51 am
I have to agree. Courses are designed specifically expecting certain limitations. Redesigning all of the courses is not an option, so the only way to keep that risk/reward aspect strong in the game is to limit distance. Honestly, they should have raised the hoops in basketball decades ago.
Michael
Mar 7, 2026 at 9:55 am
I agree. I have mini driver also. Not as long but pretty accurate. Not sure of cc I think about 300. Nice looking club gotta tee it lower. Also I say cut down shaft length. 43 max . Make these guys hit middle irons once in a while
BurkyGolf
Mar 7, 2026 at 8:05 am
As someone who grew up with smaller headed drivers and fairway metals, I’m fully in favor of this in combination with changing the testing protocol for ball speed. First, take the size threshold down to 400cc with drivers. Second just focus on ball speed. Test at 130 mph and make it so the face of a driver can’t exceed 170 mph ball speed in testing. For fairway metals, use 125 mph and make it so the ball speed can’t exceed 160 mph.
The ball is not nor will it ever be the problem, the problem is how efficiently the clubhead is allowed to transfer energy. Make the heads smaller and less efficient, problem solved.
Curtis
Mar 7, 2026 at 6:51 am
Who cares about this? Just go play and have fun even the pros isnt it better they hit it so far than short?
The ball has been going far for decades Arnold and Jack both hit it 300 back in the day
Brian
Mar 7, 2026 at 7:16 am
Literally anyone that follows the sport cares. The drivers are too easy to hit and go to far making courses pitch and putts for these guys.
Rich
Mar 8, 2026 at 7:04 pm
More like 275. IBM measured Jack in 1967 and that’s what they came up with.
Drkviol801
Mar 7, 2026 at 2:31 am
Make the Driver smaller, roll back the golf ball. You can try taking these measures but these guys are so good at the end of the day they will adjust and continue to amaze us.
The players are better today regardless of equipment.
Bagger Vince
Mar 6, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Lou Stagner looked at the USGAs own stats and concluded distance an issue
The USGA Says Distance is “Ruining” the Game. Their Own Data Says Something Else.
https://x.com/LouStagner/status/2020584799904166156
BD57
Mar 6, 2026 at 5:03 pm
If increasing the spin of golf balls could be done, I think that’d have an effect on distance.
okie
Mar 6, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Absolutely. When Sheffler says ” I just line up down the left edge of the fairway and hit it as hard as I can’ that says the forgiveness across the face is out of control.
Dan
Mar 8, 2026 at 10:50 am
And talent
Bruce Helbig
Mar 6, 2026 at 10:23 am
I’ve been an advocate of restricting the clubhead size since the Big Bertha phenomenon in the early 2000’s. I wrote a letter to the USGA and RCGA and asked why the hadn’t learned the lesson tennis taught about oversized heads. Never got an answer as they were terrified of another PING type legal battle.