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Wedges, the USGA & a good solution
Cleveland CG-15 wedges
By ED TRAVIS
Cleveland CG-15 wedges
By ED TRAVIS
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Cynics have said more than a little sarcastically,
though some club company executives sobbed and
pulled their hair over the injustice of the USGA
shrinking the allowable size of grooves they in fact
weren’t all that upset. It was pointed out there were
going to be a lot of new clubs purchased to replace
the old nonconforming irons so deep down the club
guys were actually cheering the USGA.
This writer never saw any evidence of that opinion
during his many contacts with club makers so that
cynicism is a nonstarter.
There is however a ludicrous but at the same time very
serious aspect of the USGA’s attempt to rein in, what
the solons of Far Hills have determined is, the
excessive distance top players are hitting the ball. For
this perceived misdeed by perhaps one-hundredth of
one percent of all golfers, the other 25 million must
pay the price. It’s disproportionate and shows how
remote and out of touch the rulers of the game are
with everyday golfers.
The ludicrous part is and no one is talking about this,
the USGA’s mandated change from “greater” to
“lesser grooves” did not nor will it ever produce the
result they wanted, i.e., stopping the big knockers from
knocking it big. The reason of course, as the PGA Tour
catch phrase says, “These guys are good.”
By mandating everyone change to “lesser grooves,”
thereby reducing the spin shorter irons can produce,
the USGA leaders thought long hitters would have to
choke up, hit irons off the tee or in some other way
keep the ball in the fairway so as to not risk facing the
problems and uncertainties of hitting “lesser groove”
irons from the rough.
The real reason? This wasn’t an attack on long hitters
per se but was in fact to “preserve the playability” of a
few, in truth very few, of “those great old layouts.”
Courses deemed to be too short for the modern game
and mostly ones all but a few will ever play.
though some club company executives sobbed and
pulled their hair over the injustice of the USGA
shrinking the allowable size of grooves they in fact
weren’t all that upset. It was pointed out there were
going to be a lot of new clubs purchased to replace
the old nonconforming irons so deep down the club
guys were actually cheering the USGA.
This writer never saw any evidence of that opinion
during his many contacts with club makers so that
cynicism is a nonstarter.
There is however a ludicrous but at the same time very
serious aspect of the USGA’s attempt to rein in, what
the solons of Far Hills have determined is, the
excessive distance top players are hitting the ball. For
this perceived misdeed by perhaps one-hundredth of
one percent of all golfers, the other 25 million must
pay the price. It’s disproportionate and shows how
remote and out of touch the rulers of the game are
with everyday golfers.
The ludicrous part is and no one is talking about this,
the USGA’s mandated change from “greater” to
“lesser grooves” did not nor will it ever produce the
result they wanted, i.e., stopping the big knockers from
knocking it big. The reason of course, as the PGA Tour
catch phrase says, “These guys are good.”
By mandating everyone change to “lesser grooves,”
thereby reducing the spin shorter irons can produce,
the USGA leaders thought long hitters would have to
choke up, hit irons off the tee or in some other way
keep the ball in the fairway so as to not risk facing the
problems and uncertainties of hitting “lesser groove”
irons from the rough.
The real reason? This wasn’t an attack on long hitters
per se but was in fact to “preserve the playability” of a
few, in truth very few, of “those great old layouts.”
Courses deemed to be too short for the modern game
and mostly ones all but a few will ever play.
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Further the USGA accomplished something they said
they would never do…a bifurcation of the rules. Since
full implementation for non-elite amateurs is not until
2024 the pros and top tournament playing amateurs
are playing with one set of rules and everyone else,
another set. Bifurcation…two sets of rules.
The closing words from “The Bridge on the River
Kwai” come to mind. "Madness! Madness ...
madness!"
Club companies to their credit have responded with
some innovative well publicized, reviewed and “Hot
List-ed” solutions. However Cleveland Golf took a
proactive sensible approach back in Nov. 2009
anticipating the “lesser grooves” rules and introduced
the CG-15 wedge.
Billed as at the time as “the ultimate wedge,” the
CG15 has a classic profile with laser cut grooves
which means not only the grooves are precise but they
are at the maximum limits allowed by the new USGA
rules. However, Cleveland went a step further (still
within the rules) and laser milled four score lines
between the grooves. This effectively produces a
consistent surface roughness that adds to amount of
wedge-to-ball contact and therefore produces spin
and more control.
The Cleveland CG-15 wedges, even though they have
been out for a year and a half, are at the top of our
recommended list for any serious player. They are
available in a variety of finishes and bounces for $119.
Note: For a more complete background on “lesser”
and “greater grooves” read “Lies, damn lies and
statistics - The case against the groove rules changes”
they would never do…a bifurcation of the rules. Since
full implementation for non-elite amateurs is not until
2024 the pros and top tournament playing amateurs
are playing with one set of rules and everyone else,
another set. Bifurcation…two sets of rules.
The closing words from “The Bridge on the River
Kwai” come to mind. "Madness! Madness ...
madness!"
Club companies to their credit have responded with
some innovative well publicized, reviewed and “Hot
List-ed” solutions. However Cleveland Golf took a
proactive sensible approach back in Nov. 2009
anticipating the “lesser grooves” rules and introduced
the CG-15 wedge.
Billed as at the time as “the ultimate wedge,” the
CG15 has a classic profile with laser cut grooves
which means not only the grooves are precise but they
are at the maximum limits allowed by the new USGA
rules. However, Cleveland went a step further (still
within the rules) and laser milled four score lines
between the grooves. This effectively produces a
consistent surface roughness that adds to amount of
wedge-to-ball contact and therefore produces spin
and more control.
The Cleveland CG-15 wedges, even though they have
been out for a year and a half, are at the top of our
recommended list for any serious player. They are
available in a variety of finishes and bounces for $119.
Note: For a more complete background on “lesser”
and “greater grooves” read “Lies, damn lies and
statistics - The case against the groove rules changes”
Cleveland CG-15 wedges have 4 score lines between the
grooves to provide a uniform face roughness and aid
distance control from long grass.
grooves to provide a uniform face roughness and aid
distance control from long grass.
The PGA Tour, evidentially not remembering paying
patrons come to see 300-yard drives, eagles and lots
of birdies caved like wet cardboard making the “lesser
grooves” mandatory for the 2010 season.
During the first few tournaments, even as television
commentators piously intoned, “Well, that one would
have stopped on the green if he’d been using a wedge
with the old grooves”, it was obvious to everyone the
players had so much talent they were compensating
very nicely, thank you. Hitting it in the rough was no
more a big deal than it had been before.
Therefore as predicted, the only golfers impacted are
us…the weekend warriors, the hackers, the guys and
gals who need every bit of technological help we can
get. Not only are we the ones who must part with the
money for new irons but also the ones who really
need the extra spin provided by the old “greater
grooves.”
patrons come to see 300-yard drives, eagles and lots
of birdies caved like wet cardboard making the “lesser
grooves” mandatory for the 2010 season.
During the first few tournaments, even as television
commentators piously intoned, “Well, that one would
have stopped on the green if he’d been using a wedge
with the old grooves”, it was obvious to everyone the
players had so much talent they were compensating
very nicely, thank you. Hitting it in the rough was no
more a big deal than it had been before.
Therefore as predicted, the only golfers impacted are
us…the weekend warriors, the hackers, the guys and
gals who need every bit of technological help we can
get. Not only are we the ones who must part with the
money for new irons but also the ones who really
need the extra spin provided by the old “greater
grooves.”