Golf Ball Bifurcation and the Model Local Rule - How this technology change may pave the way for more green jackets for Jon Rahm

Easter Sunday saw Jon Rahm gain a sharp new garment for his wardrobe, with the Spaniard becoming the first European to win both the US Open and the Masters; and the fourth Spaniard to don the green jacket.

While the build up to the Masters most years is focused on tournament favourites, course conditions, weather forecasts and betting odds, this year was slightly different in the wake of proposed changes to golf ball technology at the elite levels of the game.

At the start of this year, golf’s governing bodies (the R&A and USGA) proposed implementing a Model Local Rule that gives tournament organizers the option to require the use of golf balls which are tested under modified launch conditions, ultimately rolling back the distance golf balls may be hit. Understandably, this announcement was met with mixed reaction from the world’s elite players and equipment manufacturers.

This conversation stems from the trend of increased driving distance at the top levels of the game, causing many of the world’s most iconic courses to expand (by moving tees further and further back) to accommodate the increased average driving distances of the world’s best, and allow them to continue to host the biggest tournaments. The Masters tournament last week further emphasized this issue, with Augusta National spending upwards of $30 million last year to buy the land required to lengthen its 13th hole by 35 yards, and thereby maintain the design integrity of one of its most famous holes.

From a technical point of view, the Model Local Rule would impose criteria that golf balls must meet if they are to be used in competition. The proposed rule states that a golf ball would not be able to fly more than 317 yards at a club head speed of 127 mph, with 11 degrees of launch and 2200 rpm of spin. Currently, the limitations on golf balls are that they are allowed to fly this distance with the same launch angle and spin, with ‘only’ a club head speed of 120 mph. According to the research carried out by golf’s governing bodies, a ball tested under these parameters would travel 14 to 15 yards less than golf ball models currently in play.

The 2023 Masters champion has previously been critical of the proposed Model Local Rule, stating that he feels it would create a divide in the game between the top level players and the weekend amateur; given that each may now be using differing equipment, with a loss of connection between the amateurs with the world’s elite.

From looking at the statistics though, such a change may pave the way for even greater success for players such as Jon Rahm, potentially helping him to add more green jackets to his wardrobe.

For example, such a change in technology does not change the fact that Jon Rahm will still be one of the longer drivers of the golf ball at the top level of the game. To this point, he has even conceded that with the proposed golf ball rollback, it would return his driving distances to roughly what they were in 2019 and 2020, when he was still finding great success in the game.

While the golf ball change will certainly result in longer approaches to greens from Rahm (e.g. he may have to use a 7 or 8 iron from 170 yards, instead of a 9), he will still have relatively shorter approaches than his competitors; which statistically speaking will remain a huge advantage when it comes to winning golf tournaments.

The group to whom this ball change may be of the most concern will likely be the medium to shorter length hitters at the top level of the game – who have only been able to stay competitive on lengthened golf courses by virtue of the distances modern golf balls fly. If the Model Local Rule is to be implemented though, this will likely mean that the likes of Jon Rahm may have fewer competitors to worry about, with shorter hitters simply being unable to keep up with the Model Local Rule ball, especially on the longer golf courses.

While the proposed Local Model Rule is not proposed to come in to force until 2026, with golf equipment manufacturers currently having an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes, a consequence of if/when it does come into play currently looks to be that guys like Jon Rahm will have even greater success.

How each manufacturer may meet the proposed regulations for the Model Local Rule golf ball remains a topic of discussion for golf tech gurus; and it will be fascinating to see the innovations of manufacturers to meet the criteria proposed by the R&A and USGA for new golf balls to be used at the elite levels of the game.

Augusta in 2023 may be a big part of the business case that golf’s governing bodies hold up in the argument that if the sport’s most iconic and historic venues are to be preserved, the Model Local Rule may be a technology change that the golf world has to get on board with.