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How driving distance in golf has increased as new rule reduces ball travel

Golf鈥檚 governing bodies have announced a change to the way golf balls are tested in order to reduce the distance they travel.

The revision to the Rules of Golf will apply at the elite level from 2028 and for recreational players in 2030, resulting in a 14-15 yard reduction for the former and less than five yards for the latter.

Here, the PA news agency looks at how advancements in equipment have led to this point.

Early days

The earliest clubs were often carved by the players themselves and made of wood, while King James IV of Scotland is recorded as buying clubs from a bow-maker in Perth in 1502. Balls were initially also made of wood before the 鈥渇eatherie鈥 鈥 made of cow or horsehide and stuffed with feathers 鈥 was introduced early in the 17th century. Around 1750, the first club heads made of iron began to emerge, while hickory and persimmon imported from America became the standard wood of choice for club makers.

The early 1900s

Hickory golf clubs
John Dixon from Georgian Antiques, who has sold 7,000 hickory golf clubs to a Chinese entrepreneur for an undisclosed six-figure sum (PA Archive)

1960s and 70s

Average driving distance of elite golfers. See story GOLF Distance Progression. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.

1979-present day

The launch of the first metal TaylorMade driver in 1979 kickstarted the next stage in club development, although it took more than a decade before persimmon clubs became fully obsolete. TaylorMade later offered the first driver with easily adjustable weights to help promote a fade or draw, while the use of lightweight titanium allows manufacturers to create much larger club heads with thinner walls to maximise the sweet spot for greater forgiveness. The ball also developed with the advent of a Surlyn resin cover, and later Urethane, while Nike鈥檚 solid construction ball was hugely popular after Tiger Woods used it to win the 2000 Open at St Andrews. Three months later, the launch of Titleist鈥檚 ProV1 in Las Vegas prompted numerous players to switch to the new three-piece multilayer ball.

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