Getting into the groove of things

Picture this - a week ago I was towering over the ball (as much as you can at 5ft 6"!) trying to envisage quite how I would extract it from this damp grassy downhill lie in the left hand rough of the Faldo Course.

I was 195 yards out with the pin cut back right just over the top tier of the green and just four paces from the drop off into the lake and to make matters worse there was a rather ominous looking smudge of earth on the back of the ball. It wasn't a particularly attractive proposition especially as lunch was riding on the outcome of the match against a rather annoyingly competitive friend of mine. The scores were all square and he was adequately positioned in the centre of the fairway another 20 yards up (so ok - he was 6ft 3'!) and he was on a shot!

As I settled over the ball with 4 iron in hand, I was overcome with panic and the raw emotion which only the thought of defeat to a close sarcastic friend can cause. Anyway, with trembling hands, I tried to stay positive knowing that my staff discount would limit the damage to the lunch bill. I tracked the club head back smoothly then with eyes partially shut, I launched into the downswing. Imagine my surprise when I felt the ball strike the centre of the clubface! The relief was intensely energising, as I realised the clubhead had not only torn through the damp heavy rough but had also pushed aside the dirt which had ferociously clung to my Titleist No 1 - what a result!

The ball rocketed skywards through the damp air at a surprisingly elevated trajectory given the awful lie I had. As it honed in on its target my only hope was that it wouldn't release into the water at the back right of the green. But no - to my surprise it not only pitched inch perfect just over the top tier, it then, as if assisted by a supernatural force, dug its heels in and stopped on a sixpence just a foot from the hole. Unbelievable! A 4 iron, wet damp rough, downhill lie, mud on the ball and I still stopped it on a sixpence next to the flag - what a player! Well, at least that's what I thought until I read the recent announcements on grooves from the R&A!

So ok, apparently it wasn't me that spun a little magic after all, and before you all start smirking - it probably wasn't you that time either! According to a significant amount of research conducted by the R&A and the USGA, it has been proven that modern day grooves (being of more volume and sharper edged) enable golfers to produce nearly the exact same amount of spin from poor grassy lies as you can from a perfect lie in the fairway. How disappointing!

New specifications

The resulting action is that, as of 1st January 2010, all club manufacturers must re-specify their equipment in order to reduce the volume and sharpness of their grooves in all clubs excluding a putter and a driver, with exception of clubs with 25 degrees of loft (standard 5 iron) and less which must only reduce the volume of the grooves. The new specifications will take immediate effect in all major tours for 2010, but thankfully it will likely take an additional 14 years before it is compulsory in all forms of competitive golf.

Being practical I have to say I like the new rule - it will certainly put more emphasis on accuracy over length, which can only be good for the game. I'm not so sure about club sales as I know that for a good few years to come I will be sticking to my pre-2010 manufactured clubs! Happy golfing!