Frustated LPGA Tour member Jenny Shin has suggested an alternative method to the golf ball rollback.
The USGA and R&A have announced that from 2028 for all professionals and 2030 for everyone else, newly-made golf balls will travel up to 15% less far in a bid to make the sport as a whole more sustainable.
But Shin - who has one LPGA Tour title to her name - feels the change is an unnecessary one for the women's game, with the leading average driving distance on the LPGA Tour in 2023 sitting at 282 yards (Polly Mack) compared to Rory McIlroy’s PGA Tour-leading total of 326.3 yards.
The 31-year-old proposed an alteration to the driver heads men use which would either make the head smaller or simply reduce the giant sweet spots in modern equipment.
On her X (formerly Twitter) account, Shin said: "I finally got my 7iron to fly 152yards, carry, now they want to roll it back. How depressing. Why can't men just have different driver heads[?]"
I finally got my 7iron to fly 152yards, carry, now they want to roll it back. How depressing. Why can't men just have different driver heads.December 4, 2023
Since the initial news broke, a wide-ranging debate has broken out among the golfing community about how the issue of ever-increasing distance and its adverse effects could best be dealt with so that the game remained fair for everyone.
Rory McIlroy argued that bifurcation was the way forward, but "money talks" and a universal golf ball rollback was the next best option.
McIlroy said after the news: I think it’ll bring back some skills into the pro game that have maybe been lost. I actually think it will make the pro game more entertaining to watch. I think you’re going to see a different variety of games succeed, it’s not just going to be this bomb and gouge that we see predominantly now when you watch the top level of golf."
Tiger Woods, speaking at last week's Hero World Challenge, said a "wood bats and metal bats" approach would have also worked for golf, while broadcaster Brandel Chamblee took aim at the USGA and R&A for their supposed decision - claiming the governing bodies are "out of touch" with 'over 50 million golfers worldwide.'
-
Match Play Vs Stroke Play: How The Rules And Penalties DifferThere are some important differences to note in The Rules when it comes to match play vs stroke play formats. There are some things you can do in one that you can’t in the other.
-
Chevron Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And TwoA look at when the players are teeing it up in the opening two rounds of the Chevron Championship - the first women's Major of the year
-
Chevron Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And Two
A look at when the players are teeing it up in the opening two rounds of the Chevron Championship - the first women's Major of the year
-
Charley Hull Social Media Video Reveals Brutal Weather Conditions Ahead Of Chevron ChampionshipCharley Hull has added a video to her Instagram stories showing strong wind and heavy rain in Texas ahead of the first women's Major of the year
-
How To Watch Chevron Championship 2025: Live Streams, TV Channels, ScheduleAll the details on how to watch Chevron Championship online and on TV from anywhere, as the first women's Major of 2025 takes place at Carlton Woods this week.
-
Rose Zhang Ruled Out Of Chevron ChampionshipThe American hasn't featured in a competitive event since withdrawing from the T-Mobile Match Play, with it reported that Zhang will miss the Chevron Championship due to an ongoing neck injury
-
Rookie Ingrid Lindblad Seals Maiden LPGA Tour Title In JM Eagle LA ChampionshipThe Swedish star won by one over fellow rookie Akie Iwai at El Caballero Country Club
-
Nelly Korda Reveals Menu For Chevron Champions DinnerThe 2024 winner hosts the Champions Dinner before the defense of her title, and the menu hints at her Czech heritage
-
Meet The 8 Amateurs Playing In The Chevron ChampionshipThe Chevron Championship includes eight amateurs – here are the details of the rising stars and how they reached the first women’s Major of the year
-
JM Eagle LA Championship Prize Money Payout 2025The LPGA Tour heads to California for the JM Eagle LA Championship, where the largest prize money payout of the season so far is on the table
