THE
FOLLOWING IS A NOTICE SENT TO GOLF EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ON
JUNE 17, 1998:
NOTICE
SUBJECT:
SPRING-LIKE EFFECT
Rule
4-1e in Appendix II states, "The material and construction of the face shall
not have the effect at impact of a spring, or impart significantly more spin to
the ball than a standard steel face, or have any other effect which would unduly
influence the movement of the ball."
The
USGA staff has developed a test procedure for the purposes of measuring a spring-like
effect (enhanced rebound velocity) in driving clubs. The base line against which
the magnitude of this effect is measured will be a metal test plate which represents
the structural design of the face of a typical modern driver.
A
test protocol will be distributed to you in about three weeks, at which time you
will have 60 days in which to provide written comments.
All
interested persons are invited to Golf House in late September to discuss and
provide input, in an open forum, regarding the test procedure that the staff has
proposed.
Following
the open forum, the Executive Committee will evaluate the written materials submitted
and the oral presentations made, and determine what test procedure should be used
in enforcing the Rule.
Yours
sincerely,
Frank
W. Thomas USGA Technical Director
