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.'
-
Yan Liu Facts: 10 Things To Know About The LPGA Tour ProYan Liu has been making solid progress in her professional career – here are 10 things to know about the LPGA Tour golfer
-
Mao Saigo Facts: 14 Things You Didn't Know About The Japanese GolferDiscover more about Japanese pro golfer, Mao Saigo via these facts regarding her life and journey through the game so far...
-
Chevron Championship Prize Money Payout 2025Nelly Korda won her second Major at the 2024 edition of the Chevron Championship
-
12 Big Names Who Missed The Cut At The Chevron ChampionshipThe first women's Major of 2025 is at its halfway stage and, heading into the weekend, a number of notable players failed to reach the two-over-par cutline
-
What Is The Cut At the Chevron Championship?The first of five women's Majors of the year, what do players need to do make the cut at the Chevron Championship?
-
Yani Tseng Won Five Majors Putting Right-Handed, But Now She's Flipped Sides - Here's Why...A dominant force in the women's game 15 years ago, Tseng has lost her way since and is now employing a "last resort" putting tactic in order to play well again
-
Nelly Korda Looking At Another Putter Switch After Shooting 77 in Chevron ChampionshipWorld No.1 Nelly Korda was almost in tears after her first-round 77 at the Chevron Championship, and was looking to instantly make another change of putter as a result
-
Chevron Championship Tee Times: Round FourHae Ran Ryu and Mao Saigo share the lead with one round to play at The Club at Carlton Woods
-
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 Final Round: 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.
