Jon Rahm: This Rollback Solution Could Actually Be 'Counteractive'
The Spaniard speaks to Golf Monthly about what has become one of the sport's most hotly debated topics
In an exclusive interview with Golf Monthly, Jon Rahm has given his take on whether or not the sport’s distance problem can be solved by simply limiting the height players can tee up their drivers.
It is one of the most fiercely debated topics in golf. The governing bodies – the R&A and USGA – previously announced they would implement a golf ball rollback in the men’s professional game in 2028 but, following negative feedback from several major stakeholders, that has been pushed back.
January 2030 is now the planned date for the implementation of a rolled back golf ball for everyone, pros and amateurs alike.
It is something that has split opinion. Most in favor want to see the game become more of an all-round test again, while the detractors insist those in charge are searching for an answer to a problem that does not exist.
There have been plenty of differing ideas floating around that would likely be easier to put in play, and one such came from Sir Nick Faldo.
The six-time Major winner believes limiting the height of tees to one inch would have the desired impact as it would stop players from being able to really optimise how they deliver their driver.
“What is the goal of the rollback, to make the golf ball go shorter,” Faldo says in an upcoming episode Golf Monthly's Kick Point podcast.
“It's pretty harsh to say off you go, you've got to go retool, which I assume costs hundreds of thousands, and how do they market this ball that goes 15% shorter than last year, good luck with that one.
“So as I said, it's right under our noses, give them a short tee.”
Faldo even revealed he has proof it works after convincing Bryson DeChambeau and Kyle Berkshire to try hitting a driver off a one-inch tee.
Now Rahm has had his say on the idea.
Put to him ahead of The Open at Royal Birkdale, the Spaniard told Golf Monthly: “That's a very, very specific question!
“I think I’d need to get into the physics of the game, but the tee height would actually be counteractive to the ball rollback.
"So If you're a person that hits down on the ball, even with the ball rollback, you wouldn't lose that much distance.
“An example [would be] Gary Woodland with his dynamics, he's down on it, more spin. With the rollback, you will lose one to two yards.
"A person like Rory McIlroy, let's just say with the same ball speed because he hits up with it, it's a more efficient ball flight and he would lose up to 16.
“So if you reduce the tee height then you’re almost doing everybody a favor.
"I think we would adapt, honestly. It would change a little bit, but manufacturers spend so much money on finding out the most efficient way for all of us to be able to play the clubs and play at our highest [level].”
Padraig Harrington agrees that players would quickly adapt to a lower tee
Rahm's fellow multiple Major winner Padraig Harrington agrees that players would quickly adapt.
"We’d adapt very quickly to a shorter tee peg. No doubt about it, we can change our spin lofts, the equipment, we can adapt our own physical self to tee heights and things like that. We would adapt, no doubt about it," Harrington told Golf Monthly.
"I wouldn’t disagree with them doing it," the two-time Open champion continued.
"I’m all for it, if you want to reduce the tee height, great. If you want to reduce the size of the heads, great. If you want to reduce the length of the clubs, great.
"If you want to reduce the number of clubs, think that would be fantastic, great. If you want to make sure the putter has to be the shortest club in the bag, great.
"If you want to stop anchoring, great. They did change the grooves, that really hurt my game back in the day but it was the right thing to do, great.
"We want to make the game the most rewarding you can to the most skillful player. Being powerful is part of being skillful so I don’t have a problem rewarding the most powerful player. This idea of the rollback will actually advantage the more powerful and stronger player.
"But we do need to roll back something because you can go to any golf club now and you’ll find ten youths who hit the ball with 190mph+ ball speed and have no idea where they hit it.
"And they don’t even know they hit it that fast.
"You can go out there and all the kids hit it 300 yards plus. When I played if you hit it wild you hit the treeline, now if you hit it wild you carry that treeline and pitch in the next fairway.
"So every club in Dublin is defunct because of the equipment. All the parkland courses in Dublin and courses are closing holes, you see golf courses where you can only hit an iron off this tee, you can only play to the corner, you’re not allowed to do this, do that.
"The rollback is not needed in America because they have more land. It’s so much needed in Ireland, in the summer and with the young guys."
The rollback debate will surely rage on... Stay turned to Golf Monthly for all the latest news and updated.
