Golf ball distance rule changes delayed as R&A and USGA rethink plan

The R&A and USGA have delayed their plan to restrict golf ball distance in the professional game. Any change for elite players will now come no earlier than 2030, and the earlier idea of a phased rollout has been dropped.

The previous proposal would have required top professionals to use balls built to revised distance standards from 2028, with estimates suggesting leading players could lose about 15 yards. Recreational golfers were expected to be affected later and less severely because of lower swing speeds.

The rethink follows feedback from major stakeholders, including the PGA and DP World Tours and members of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council. The governing bodies have acknowledged concerns that the updated testing approach for the Overall Distance Standard may not produce the intended outcome.

Other possibilities are now being examined, including tighter ball specifications and broader equipment-rule changes. The debate remains focused on whether modern hitting distances are putting pressure on traditional courses, increasing maintenance demands and changing how elite golf is played.