Courses dont have to be longer, just needs to be more trouble at these longer travel distances. Where courses usually have bunkers and such at 300 yards you don't have to scatter bunkers everywhere but why not just reduce the fairway by half on holes that they do not wish to be driven past a certain point so you have to be realllly accurate or you will need to lay up
ForzaOwnz I couldn’t agree more neck the fairway, make the rough progressively longer as you go from 300yrds onward. Reducing ball flight still won’t help control players
Wise words from Monty, I agree that something needs to be done about the ball at tournament level. We need to protect the integrity of the classic courses. Do it now while the game is in transition and put everyone on the clock.
I enjoy hearing the conversation between the caddy and players. Hearing their strategy. Not so much the what is said after the bad shot. That sounds too much like me!
When I was in high school in the late 70's Wilson came out with an iron called the Reflex. It's selling point was that the faced flex, thus giving you more distance. About a year after it's release the iron was ruled as non-conforming by the USGA and R&A because of it's flex. Now both bodies have made a decision to not only allow it, but to regulate it. It's time to eliminate that face flex. This would have the additional effect of making clubs LESS expensive which might bring more people to the game.
Thanks Colin for the tip. To add to this story and this will explain the long drives... Dechambeau didn't win so its relevant. Big hitters of the ball don't not win every week. Let the game progress the way it is. Shorter hitters of the ball hit better mid irons because they have to. Myself if any new courses are to be built have some doglegs on the fairways both left and right. 4 day tournament have greens fast when you can one day mix it up a little. We have the weather that will always add to a complex game over 4 days. And you must be able to putt to win on tour! Even if it's for a par.
Does he want weight class for golf? This is what happens when real athletes play golf and take it seriously. To make it a sport you have to be an athlete and train like one. Even if you drive it 300-400 yards you still have to sink a 4 ft putt !!!!
You're missing the point. We have all these amazing courses that are just unplayable for the pros because they are so damn easy with the ability for players to smash the ball 340 carry. Bigger courses cost more money, require more water, more maintenance. If we made a ball that went 80% as far as current balls then Bryson, Bubba, Koepka etc. would still the be longest, but we would be able to see them play at many other courses across the country and the world and it would still be a challenge. It's about keeping the game sustainable for the long haul.
I've been saying that about the ball for years. Roger Federer doesn't get to choose which ball he wants to use at Wimbledon, everyone uses the same ball. Implement the same thing at Golf and individual championships could have whichever ball manufacturer it wants as a sponsor. They then tailor the ball within set USGA/R&A guidelines to best suit their venue.
Kind of like professional baseball. The pros use a wooden bat and their balls have slightly different seam sizing. Once you reach the pga tour your equipment should be toned down slightly because you already have proven you are one of the best in the world so you need to prove how good you are when the game is made to be tougher.
It's very easy to admire Monty as I did during his career. He was however the kind of a guy you didn't want to get too close to as I did working a tournament years ago .... where the worst side of him is presented up close and personal. He's not alone in that regard though ...... for most of these guys, comfortably watching them on TV or outside the ropes is best if you wish to keep your admiring thoughts about them intact. He does seem to be in a much happier place these days from all accounts. Good for him ...
Interesting discussion regarding technology. I'm always a bit flummoxed why we don't return to a rule that we've already had namely different clubface thicknesses for amateurs and pro's. That was the case about 16/17 years ago with hot faces. Based on the old COR tests, why don't we just roll back the clubfaces for the pro's to 0.8 on drivers , 3 woods and 2 irons compared to 0.83 limit which is allowed today. That would allow the club's to 'look' identical so they can still be marketed by the manufacturers. A lower C.O.R for pro's would probably drop distances back 20/25 yards which is all we really need.
The tournament ball will never happen...but still, surprised CBS (especially) or NBC haven't made a play for Monty...on course announcer...would be a piece of cake for him I reckon...
To get players to display all skills with all clubs why not limit the number of holes where a tee shot can be played with a club less than 20 degrees loft. Plus, all 14 clubs to be played at least once. Just a thought. Might be a change to the current norm of monster drive, wedge, putt. Repeat!
What about categorising balls for weight of the athlete? Like in boxing, smaller fighters use 10oz gloves vs heavyweight fighters using 14oz gloves? Recognition for best Pound for pound drivers on tour....even out the playing field.
Dont need a different ball, .... regulate driver lofts. Guys out there 7.5 to 5.5 that's not a mystery of why the ball is going far. Make it a no less than 8.5 and that's all need to be done.
I don"t know but one or two pros that use that low of a loft. I have tried a 7* one time , very hard to keep air born. I don't want to go to a golf tournament and watch Roey hit a drive of 280 yds.
@@jimmyculp8756 ... you didn't have the right angle of attack and possible wrong shaft. 7deg loft is low, its gonna launch low, so you would need to tee it higher than normal, and would need a shaft that kicks properly to maximize it. Given time, shaft options, and some trackman, you would eventually hit it. Give guys 8.5 loft will draw them back to the 300yd range. N yes you do see rory hit 280yd, yet tpc courses have hard fairways for rollout. Folks complain about balls, when its actually everything but the ball, its guys taking the game far more seriously, technology all around, new hitting mantras, ... long story short the tiger era ushered in the athlete golfer vs club championship guy golfer. Now dechambo is ushering in scientific tinker golfer.
@@jimmyculp8756 Bryson is using a 5.5° degree driver right now. The guys is right, make the lowest lofts 8.5 and tighten the fairways after 325 yrds. Dont screw with the golf balls
Golf is not supposed to be a driver and short iron game. That’s not skillful. All other sports control the characteristics of the ball that they use. Long irons are hardly used to approach the greens anymore. Today, golf is very boring.
Just let golfers BOMB it down the fairway for an easy birdie if they have the distance. It’s exciting to watch a pro BOMB a drive then only have a chip to the green. It’s like the nba raising the hoop so nobody can dunk. Also changing to a tournament ball would hurt sales for golf balls. People pay a premium for ProV1’s because it’s what many of the pros use.
I like what Colin is saying, but the PGA Tour needs to walk towards his notion. Step 1 would be for all Pros to play the same ball (Titleist Pro V1), then step 2 would introduce the Tour ball that doesn't exceed 280-300 yards off the tee. I think it's insane that the Pro's hit a 9-iron 150 yards and a 4-iron 240 yards. Something has to change.
What you need to understand is why they can hit a 9 iron 150 , it's not a nine iron it's an 8 iron with a 9 stamped on it ... ( your saying wtf are talking about) so I'll explain the lofts on irons have been tweaked so much from traditional lofts .. that its really an 8 iron not a 9 that's stamped on club ... but also with the club head speed that they can generate adds to this ( swing speed ) as well as the irons that they generally play are forged irons which are harder to hit for the average player the sweet spot is size of a dime , but they have practiced so much they consistently the sweet spot ... all playing same ball is nuts ... just alter course to change risk management.. risk and reward..
Who cares what they shoot? Golf is getting more popular and appealing to people. If they shoot 20 under, who does that harm? People like to watch pros smash the ball. The problem is that they make judgements for all players based on what the pros do. Non pros like me enjoy hitting drives 320-340. I don’t want to play with a dead ball. If they want to limit equipment for tournament play, so be it, but leave the casual golfer alone. You’re gonna lose players. Most players still can’t hit the ball over 250 anyways, even with the modern equipment. Monte is right. Give them a tournament ball. “Problem” solved.
I am sorry Colin has sliced his opinion here. Every sport evolves, simple as that. Golf courses place hazards such as water sand etc, in and around the greens, fairways etc. Some tighten the fairway and so on and so forth. ANY course can take the average driving distance of tour players, and put a trap, I mean dig a hole, put some sand in it. When the tourneys over, put the grass back on top simple. or tighten the fairway and leave the fringe longer, there are sooo many options to do, to make great golf, still great. And honestly no one really wants to see a tour player crush it for 250 yard carry, hell I can do that. If we were to follow Colin and companies opinions on this ball issue, Maybe we should go back to football player wearing just a leather helmet, take the helmets away from hokey players and give them back the old skates they had and little padding. Give baseball players bats made from pine, tennis player teeny tiny racks, and so on and so forth.
agree with Monty that ball needs to be looked at but the normally intelligent Scot is out to lunch about bifurcation. One of the beauties of golf is that we all play the same game---who wants to be quizzed after a career round about what"ball" he was playing??
I used to like Montgomerie...but a few years back he was playing Justin Leonard in match play at either the Pres Cup Or the Ryder cup...in an interview he stated that Justin was going through a nasty divorce at the time and he was going to play on that to get an edge! Ever since then can't stand him and nothing he says matters! I am a Scotsman.....Montgomerie is a lowlander!
I have idolized Monty and respect his opinion but I disagree with the idea of a tournament ball. The modern sports scene across the board is bigger, better,faster, stronger. The MLB has declined in views and audience attendance after the years of the big bats being powered on “juice” because fans were used to the excitement of the home runs, a ground double can be exciting but people want to see home runs hear the crack of the bat. I imagine that golf could see a similar effect, take the spectacle distance out of golf and risk loosing the enthusiasm of the younger fans.
I am not so sure the ball is that much hotter. Back in the early 80s we were hitting it 320 as kids. The drivers are hotter nowadays for sure, and the players are stronger, they look athletic and not like Julius Boros weak and with a pot belly. All those things play into the ball going further.
Horrible idea in my head. Who the hell wants to play a handicap ball? I want to play the same sport as the pro's play. If it was a game of just power the long drive guys would win all the tournaments, but they are not even close.
You're dead wrong and you obviously know less about golf than you do about grammar. Colin is a legend and he's not stuck in old times. Develop some respect for your elders and for a gentleman who has done more for the game of golf than you or I ever will. "plus it makes golf MORE FUN to watch". Not funner. educate yourself Danny. peace
What the course designers need to do, design stuff so if you hit it too far, you will run into obstacles that will hurt you. Punished just like the Church Pews at Oakmont. As technology advances, so should the architecture
The more I’ve heard from Montgomery the more respect and admiration I have for him. What a gentleman.
For me it was very enjoyable to watch a tournament where your didn't hear some idiot yell "Mashed Potato!" or "You're the man!"at impact.
Amen. Can’t stand it.
Whereas, "In the hole !!" never gets old...😉
Agreed ... if golf never had fans around I wouldn't care one bit.
Courses dont have to be longer, just needs to be more trouble at these longer travel distances.
Where courses usually have bunkers and such at 300 yards you don't have to scatter bunkers everywhere but why not just reduce the fairway by half on holes that they do not wish to be driven past a certain point so you have to be realllly accurate or you will need to lay up
ForzaOwnz I couldn’t agree more neck the fairway, make the rough progressively longer as you go from 300yrds onward. Reducing ball flight still won’t help control players
If you don’t love and respect Monty, you don’t love golf.
Montgomery has aged into being a class guy!
Hazards or rough in the landing areas over 320 on some holes. That's all that is needed
Johnny Brundle good point. Why not restrict the driver. So much talk about the ball.
Top man...Could listen to Colin all day 🙂👍
Wise words from Monty, I agree that something needs to be done about the ball at tournament level. We need to protect the integrity of the classic courses. Do it now while the game is in transition and put everyone on the clock.
Montgomerie is a real gentleman. I felt terrible for him at Winged Foot, I thought his moment had finally arrived.
I enjoy hearing the conversation between the caddy and players. Hearing their strategy. Not so much the what is said after the bad shot. That sounds too much like me!
When I was in high school in the late 70's Wilson came out with an iron called the Reflex. It's selling point was that the faced flex, thus giving you more distance. About a year after it's release the iron was ruled as non-conforming by the USGA and R&A because of it's flex. Now both bodies have made a decision to not only allow it, but to regulate it. It's time to eliminate that face flex. This would have the additional effect of making clubs LESS expensive which might bring more people to the game.
Thanks Colin for the tip. To add to this story and this will explain the long drives... Dechambeau didn't win so its relevant. Big hitters of the ball don't not win every week. Let the game progress the way it is. Shorter hitters of the ball hit better mid irons because they have to. Myself if any new courses are to be built have some doglegs on the fairways both left and right. 4 day tournament have greens fast when you can one day mix it up a little. We have the weather that will always add to a complex game over 4 days. And you must be able to putt to win on tour! Even if it's for a par.
Does he want weight class for golf? This is what happens when real athletes play golf and take it seriously. To make it a sport you have to be an athlete and train like one. Even if you drive it 300-400 yards you still have to sink a 4 ft putt !!!!
You're missing the point. We have all these amazing courses that are just unplayable for the pros because they are so damn easy with the ability for players to smash the ball 340 carry. Bigger courses cost more money, require more water, more maintenance. If we made a ball that went 80% as far as current balls then Bryson, Bubba, Koepka etc. would still the be longest, but we would be able to see them play at many other courses across the country and the world and it would still be a challenge. It's about keeping the game sustainable for the long haul.
I've been saying that about the ball for years.
Roger Federer doesn't get to choose which ball he wants to use at Wimbledon, everyone uses the same ball.
Implement the same thing at Golf and individual championships could have whichever ball manufacturer it wants as a sponsor.
They then tailor the ball within set USGA/R&A guidelines to best suit their venue.
also pro's playing with different balls is not a unique concept, in squash the pro's play with a different ball that has less bounce
Kind of like professional baseball. The pros use a wooden bat and their balls have slightly different seam sizing. Once you reach the pga tour your equipment should be toned down slightly because you already have proven you are one of the best in the world so you need to prove how good you are when the game is made to be tougher.
It's very easy to admire Monty as I did during his career. He was however the kind of a guy you didn't want to get too close to as I did working a tournament years ago .... where the worst side of him is presented up close and personal. He's not alone in that regard though ...... for most of these guys, comfortably watching them on TV or outside the ropes is best if you wish to keep your admiring thoughts about them intact. He does seem to be in a much happier place these days from all accounts. Good for him ...
Interesting discussion regarding technology. I'm always a bit flummoxed why we don't return to a rule that we've already had namely different clubface thicknesses for amateurs and pro's. That was the case about 16/17 years ago with hot faces. Based on the old COR tests, why don't we just roll back the clubfaces for the pro's to 0.8 on drivers , 3 woods and 2 irons compared to 0.83 limit which is allowed today. That would allow the club's to 'look' identical so they can still be marketed by the manufacturers. A lower C.O.R for pro's would probably drop distances back 20/25 yards which is all we really need.
The tournament ball will never happen...but still, surprised CBS (especially) or NBC haven't made a play for Monty...on course announcer...would be a piece of cake for him I reckon...
Always was my fav player,
To get players to display all skills with all clubs why not limit the number of holes where a tee shot can be played with a club less than 20 degrees loft. Plus, all 14 clubs to be played at least once. Just a thought. Might be a change to the current norm of monster drive, wedge, putt. Repeat!
Still got my hat from Monty from the desert classic. Legend
If I'm not playing by the same rules, same conforming equipment, the touring pros play, then I'm not playing the same game.
What about categorising balls for weight of the athlete? Like in boxing, smaller fighters use 10oz gloves vs heavyweight fighters using 14oz gloves? Recognition for best Pound for pound drivers on tour....even out the playing field.
Tournament ball = range ball. If Monty has his way, it won’t be long until the balls currently in my bag will be the ones the pros use 🤞
It’s time to separate the pros from the peeps who play in the weekend. August can do it now, and know one would complain.
Dont need a different ball, .... regulate driver lofts. Guys out there 7.5 to 5.5 that's not a mystery of why the ball is going far.
Make it a no less than 8.5 and that's all need to be done.
I don"t know but one or two pros that use that low of a loft. I have tried a 7* one time , very hard to keep air born. I don't want to go to a golf tournament and watch Roey hit a drive of 280 yds.
@@jimmyculp8756 ... you didn't have the right angle of attack and possible wrong shaft.
7deg loft is low, its gonna launch low, so you would need to tee it higher than normal, and would need a shaft that kicks properly to maximize it.
Given time, shaft options, and some trackman, you would eventually hit it.
Give guys 8.5 loft will draw them back to the 300yd range. N yes you do see rory hit 280yd, yet tpc courses have hard fairways for rollout.
Folks complain about balls, when its actually everything but the ball, its guys taking the game far more seriously, technology all around, new hitting mantras, ... long story short the tiger era ushered in the athlete golfer vs club championship guy golfer.
Now dechambo is ushering in scientific tinker golfer.
Jimmy Culp driver loft doesn’t make the ball go further- why don’t you get a 5* driver if it makes everyone hit it further?🤣
@@foregardens9776 You swing a 5* and I swing a 9*. I will out drive you 9/10 times!!
@@jimmyculp8756 Bryson is using a 5.5° degree driver right now. The guys is right, make the lowest lofts 8.5 and tighten the fairways after 325 yrds. Dont screw with the golf balls
Golf is not supposed to be a driver and short iron game. That’s not skillful. All other sports control the characteristics of the ball that they use. Long irons are hardly used to approach the greens anymore. Today, golf is very boring.
Just let golfers BOMB it down the fairway for an easy birdie if they have the distance. It’s exciting to watch a pro BOMB a drive then only have a chip to the green. It’s like the nba raising the hoop so nobody can dunk.
Also changing to a tournament ball would hurt sales for golf balls. People pay a premium for ProV1’s because it’s what many of the pros use.
Totally just put trouble in landing areas.... big trouble and regulate length of shafts and degree on clubs .... that's ALL that's needed....
A comp ball is a logical answer. Tricking up a classic course -- it's not playing the same course.
I like what Colin is saying, but the PGA Tour needs to walk towards his notion. Step 1 would be for all Pros to play the same ball (Titleist Pro V1), then step 2 would introduce the Tour ball that doesn't exceed 280-300 yards off the tee. I think it's insane that the Pro's hit a 9-iron 150 yards and a 4-iron 240 yards. Something has to change.
That’s not that fair for a 9 iron I hit my 9 iron 152 and I’m a 15 yo player who just started golf 6 months ago with a 7 handicap
I’m a 10 handicap and hit 52 150, 9 iron 170, 7 iron 200. The game is a lot more than just distance
What you need to understand is why they can hit a 9 iron 150 , it's not a nine iron it's an 8 iron with a 9 stamped on it ... ( your saying wtf are talking about) so I'll explain the lofts on irons have been tweaked so much from traditional lofts .. that its really an 8 iron not a 9 that's stamped on club ... but also with the club head speed that they can generate adds to this ( swing speed ) as well as the irons that they generally play are forged irons which are harder to hit for the average player the sweet spot is size of a dime , but they have practiced so much they consistently the sweet spot ... all playing same ball is nuts ... just alter course to change risk management.. risk and reward..
I’m a 59 yr old 9 handicap, with a speedblade 41 degree 9 iron I hit it 150 easily
I hit my 9 150 to 160. So not sure what you are saying.
Who cares what they shoot? Golf is getting more popular and appealing to people. If they shoot 20 under, who does that harm? People like to watch pros smash the ball. The problem is that they make judgements for all players based on what the pros do. Non pros like me enjoy hitting drives 320-340. I don’t want to play with a dead ball. If they want to limit equipment for tournament play, so be it, but leave the casual golfer alone. You’re gonna lose players. Most players still can’t hit the ball over 250 anyways, even with the modern equipment. Monte is right. Give them a tournament ball. “Problem” solved.
I am sorry Colin has sliced his opinion here. Every sport evolves, simple as that. Golf courses place hazards such as water sand etc, in and around the greens, fairways etc. Some tighten the fairway and so on and so forth. ANY course can take the average driving distance of tour players, and put a trap, I mean dig a hole, put some sand in it. When the tourneys over, put the grass back on top simple. or tighten the fairway and leave the fringe longer, there are sooo many options to do, to make great golf, still great. And honestly no one really wants to see a tour player crush it for 250 yard carry, hell I can do that. If we were to follow Colin and companies opinions on this ball issue, Maybe we should go back to football player wearing just a leather helmet, take the helmets away from hokey players and give them back the old skates they had and little padding. Give baseball players bats made from pine, tennis player teeny tiny racks, and so on and so forth.
agree with Monty that ball needs to be looked at but the normally intelligent Scot is out to lunch about bifurcation. One of the beauties of golf is that we all play the same game---who wants to be quizzed after a career round about what"ball" he was playing??
I used to like Montgomerie...but a few years back he was playing Justin Leonard in match play at either the Pres Cup Or the Ryder cup...in an interview he stated that Justin was going through a nasty divorce at the time and he was going to play on that to get an edge! Ever since then can't stand him and nothing he says matters! I am a Scotsman.....Montgomerie is a lowlander!
I have idolized Monty and respect his opinion but I disagree with the idea of a tournament ball. The modern sports scene across the board is bigger, better,faster, stronger. The MLB has declined in views and audience attendance after the years of the big bats being powered on “juice” because fans were used to the excitement of the home runs, a ground double can be exciting but people want to see home runs hear the crack of the bat. I imagine that golf could see a similar effect, take the spectacle distance out of golf and risk loosing the enthusiasm of the younger fans.
I am not so sure the ball is that much hotter. Back in the early 80s we were hitting it 320 as kids. The drivers are hotter nowadays for sure, and the players are stronger, they look athletic and not like Julius Boros weak and with a pot belly. All those things play into the ball going further.
But the ball is the simplest thing to change if change is warranted.
Horrible idea in my head. Who the hell wants to play a handicap ball? I want to play the same sport as the pro's play. If it was a game of just power the long drive guys would win all the tournaments, but they are not even close.
This guy old and stuck in old times, it’s time for change make golf adapt with the The younger generation. plus makes golf funner to watch !
You're dead wrong and you obviously know less about golf than you do about grammar. Colin is a legend and he's not stuck in old times. Develop some respect for your elders and for a gentleman who has done more for the game of golf than you or I ever will. "plus it makes golf MORE FUN to watch". Not funner. educate yourself Danny. peace
What the course designers need to do, design stuff so if you hit it too far, you will run into obstacles that will hurt you. Punished just like the Church Pews at Oakmont. As technology advances, so should the architecture