Acushnet Company, the parent company of Titleist and Footjoy, responded to the latest announcement of the Distance Insights Project made on Tuesday by the USGA and R&A.
In its report, the USGA / R & A proposed changes to equipment manufacturers, including revised standards for how drivers and golf balls are tested from a distance. It was in the latter that David Maher, CEO of Acushnet Co., focused on the company’s stated response.
Full statement:
Acushnet’s position is rooted in the belief that equipment innovation, while complying with the rules of golf, has been a powerful force in the game and a major contributor to its evolution and fun at all levels of the game. The evolution of the equipment, together with the increased athleticism of today’s competitive player, helped to promote the game’s timeless and aspirational appeal. This was the cornerstone of our response to government agencies’ request for stakeholder participation before publishing the Distance Insights report in 2018.
Our initial response is focused on the proposed change to the golf ball test methodology, which would represent a significant departure from the current general distance pattern (SDG), which is set around a specific set of speed, pitch and spin conditions. mirroring the characteristics of elite player launch. Established by the USGA in 1976, the ODS has stood the test of time and has evolved over the years to take advantage of improved testing technologies and reflect updated player launch conditions.
The proposed consideration of a bandwidth approach, with a launch angle between 7.5 and 15 degrees and rotation ranging from 2200 to 3000 rpm disconnects the elite player process and introduces a wide range of design complexities , manufacturing and conformity of the golf ball we need more research.
Acushnet hopes to participate in this process and contribute to our perspective, which is informed by more than 80 years of experience in designing and manufacturing equipment accordingly and our daily interaction with thousands of golf players worldwide and wherever the game is played. disputed.