Pre 1990 Pings Wedges

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jpvegas1

jpvegas1

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Seems like the pre-1990 ping wedges with square grooves are causing a minor controversy on tour. Because of the court settlement these clubs are allowed to be used despite the fact they have square grooves. Most pros are not playing the clubs, but a couple are and other pros think the use of these clubs are going against the spirit of the game.

Wilson: Estes 'should think about what he says' - Press Tent
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Interesting.

I am not sure what to think of this.

Really they should have banned everything...by not they are simply leaving themselves open to something like this. It is to be expected if you ask me.

I mostly am not bothered by this.

I like the V groove thing in general though. I say if you drive it wild you SHOULD be punished. Bring in more risk/reward, baby.

Where's risk/reward without the risk? (if you know your grooves will bail you out of a bad lie)
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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It doesn't seem like the pros are having a tough time with the V-grooves anyway.

I think they should have avoided it to begin with and start scaling back the ball or put a moratorium of sorts on the golf ball enhancements.

I was reading an old article where they asked about Tiger about his game and he talked about how his driving accuracy was worse because the Tour had players hitting the ball much further with the new heads and graphite shafts, along with the golf ball and as Tiger basically said 'people wanted to hit it further so they can get closer to the hole and shoot a lower score.' There was no talk of U-grooves, it was distance because distance gets the ball closer to the hole.

I just think the thought that banning U-Grooves will see higher scores is a bit foolish because as long as the ball keeps flying further, the pros will still shoot the same low scores they have been shooting.




3JACK
 
jpvegas1

jpvegas1

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Count Phil Mickleson as another player that will play the Ping wedges.

Mickelson also announced that he would take advantage of the loophole that allows players to use square grooves as long as they're on Ping Eye2 wedges manufactured before April 1, 1990.

Mickelson said he experimented with several old Ping clubs that he had kicking around the house before deciding to bend a 60-degree wedge to 64 degrees for tournament use. It is the only Ping Eye2 club he will use. Mickelson's clubs are mostly made by Callaway.

"After talking about it to the Tour and the USGA, the only thing that matters is are they approved for play," Mickelson said. "So I don't feel that there's any problem if I were to play those clubs or if anybody else were. All that matters is that it is okay under the rules of golf."

Read more: Mickelson: We've had 'limited communication' with 'Woods family' - Press Tent
 
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mb6606

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Breed did a V groove wedges spot on TGC the other night. The V grooves are not really "V" shaped. The edges of the "U" grooves have been rounded off.
In his testing on the show there is little spin difference from the fairway - the big difference is in the rough. If grass gets between the clubface and ball you generate 1/4-1/3 the spin rate with a sand wedge.
 
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Robbohank

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If I read the article correctly, Dean Wilson wasn't "comfortable" with the current Ping wedges? Is he on Ping staff?

Even if he was, are you kidding me? He's more comfortable with an Eye 2 wedge? How in the world someone who isn't playing a full set of Eye 2's can suddenly pick up a wedge of that same model and suddenly be "comfortable" is laughable.

Why do these cry-babys have to look for any/every possible equipment related edge they can?!

It's time to cut the purses in half and start making things a little more uncomfortable for the guys that need an equipment van behind them in order to perform.
 
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softconsult

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"It's time to cut the purses in half and start making things a little more uncomfortable for the guys that need an equipment van behind them in order to perform."

Yes, that really sounds great. However, those of us old enough to remember Nixon's price controls, know a bad idea when we hear one.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Robbohank said:
If I read the article correctly, Dean Wilson wasn't "comfortable" with the current Ping wedges? Is he on Ping staff?

Even if he was, are you kidding me? He's more comfortable with an Eye 2 wedge? How in the world someone who isn't playing a full set of Eye 2's can suddenly pick up a wedge of that same model and suddenly be "comfortable" is laughable.

Why do these cry-babys have to look for any/every possible equipment related edge they can?!

It's time to cut the purses in half and start making things a little more uncomfortable for the guys that need an equipment van behind them in order to perform.
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I guess Wilson has just recently started playing the Eye 2 wedge? I did not think he was on PING staff either. Taylormade guy as far as I can tell.

I don't see the big deal though.

I would advocate for the rule change. I am all for V grooves. But if you leave a loophole in there some people are gonna take advantage of it. Especially if, by the rules, it is NOT CHEATING. (Scott McCarron was all riled up and said it's "cheating")

NOT CHEATING.

Rule should be changed? Yes. I am with that 100% in fact they could not do it fast enough. For now, it is certainly not cheating.
 
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SJO

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birdie_man said:
I guess Wilson has just recently started playing the Eye 2 wedge? I did not think he was on PING staff either. Taylormade guy as far as I can tell.

I don't see the big deal though.

I would advocate for the rule change. I am all for V grooves. But if you leave a loophole in there some people are gonna take advantage of it. Especially if, by the rules, it is NOT CHEATING. (Scott McCarron was all riled up and said it's "cheating")

NOT CHEATING.

Rule should be changed? Yes. I am with that 100% in fact they could not do it fast enough. For now, it is certainly not cheating.
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It's not really a case of leaving a loophole. They have a court injunction against them because Ping sued the Tour and won. Not a lot they can do about that.

I think it's a joke that any players are going to try and use the old Pings and if someone wants to call it cheating I'm not going to argue.
 
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savydan

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No one "won" the lawsuit. It was settled out of court.

And grandfathered means grandfathered for play indefinately. The USGA/Tour didn't have a choice to ban the pre 4/1/90 clubs.

And all reports state that they KNEW about the grandfathered situation when they announced the new rule.
 
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niblick1

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SJO said:
I think it's a joke that any players are going to try and use the old Pings and if someone wants to call it cheating I'm not going to argue.
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To argue that something using something that has clearly been ruled as legal as "cheating" because it is against the "spirit" but not the letter of the rules is, to me, quite a stretch.

Far easier, as B. Chamblee pointed out, to call Scott McCarron's use of the long putter, which is anchored against his body a clearer violation of the "spirit" of the rules of golf, although it is similarly still allowed under the letter of the law.

I'm no Mickleson fan, but I think McCarron made an ass of himself.
 
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garymag

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niblick1 said:
To argue that something using something that has clearly been ruled as legal as "cheating" because it is against the "spirit" but not the letter of the rules is, to me, quite a stretch.

Far easier, as B. Chamblee pointed out, to call Scott McCarron's use of the long putter, which is anchored against his body a clearer violation of the "spirit" of the rules of golf, although it is similarly still allowed under the letter of the law.

I'm no Mickleson fan, but I think McCarron made an ass of himself.
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Couldn't agree more.

Interesting that the number of players using the Ping wedges has increased every week so far.....hmmmmmm
 
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