The R&A and USGA have set out to address the trend of increasing teeing distances and lengthening courses, which they believe threaten the long-term sustainability of golf and undermine the basic principle that a broad and balanced set of skills for the game should remain the primary determinant of success in golf, ensuring that distance does not become predominant in the balance of skills required in the game of golf.

For this reason, it has been made public that, starting in January 2028, both the R&A and the USGA will implement a widespread change in the speed used to test golf balls according to the Total Distance Standard.

The new testing conditions will apply to all balls submitted for inclusion on the January 2028 Conforming Golf Ball List. In other words, all balls received by the USGA/R&A during or after October 2027 will be evaluated according to the new testing conditions.

The balls that meet the standards will appear on the Conforming Golf Ball List starting in January 2028.

Any ball that appeared on the December 2027 Conforming Golf Ball List (or on an earlier Conforming Golf Ball List) may continue to be used until January 2030.

Professional players who hit the ball farther are expected to see a reduction of approximately 12-14 meters in their driving distance. Similarly, average professional players and elite male players are expected to see a reduction of 8-10 meters, with a reduction of 5-6 meters for an average female player on the LET or LPGA.

For most amateur golfers, the change in test speed is expected to have a minimal impact on distances of 5 meters or less.

It is worth noting that the term Total Distance Standard was first introduced in 1976 and has been updated three times previously (1980, 2002, and 2004). This is the first time the test speed has been updated since 2004, the year the current standard was established based on the players hitting the ball the farthest at that time.

RFEG Rules Committee