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Golf Introduces New “Bryson” Rule to Limit Driver Length

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2021

Around this time last year, the world was different. We were amidst a global pandemic, parents were thrust into the job of teachers as schools were, for the most part still solely online learning, and oh yeah…48-inch drivers were one of the hottest topics in the golf equipment world. That was mostly thanks to Bryson DeChambeau’s announcement that he’d be testing longer drivers following his 2020 U.S. Open win.

Mind you, DeChambeau had just lapped the field at Winged Foot, quite literally one of the most difficult U.S. Open venues statistically. Then he does what? He starts talking about his plan to test out even longer drivers to push his distance limits. This clearly got the golf worlds attention. Fast forward 12 months…

You could almost hear the thoughts swirling in the heads of his competitors heads: If Bryson gets even longer, I’m gonna be forced to keep up. Shoot, I can’t keep up now. I must be better! Others were likely more skeptical of longer drivers and wanted nothing to do with it.

All that said, either way, DeChambeau did bring up a viable point. Why not experiment with longer driver builds to see if there’s significantly more distance to be had?

In the wake of DeChambeau’s declaration, some tour players ordered 47- and 48-inch drivers from their PGA Tour equipment reps to try out. “If he is gonna do it, why cant I? Afterall, he is the mad scientist of golf” As onlookers, and experimenters ourselves, we speculated: Will 48-inch drivers REALLY become the new norm? Will so many players switch into longer drivers that 8,000 yard golf courses will become the new norm?

I suppose, if you really wanted to, you could argue that distance was already an issue on the PGA Tour. Hell, even without longer drivers being thrown into the equation. The USGA has certainly been researching the distance debate for itself.

In the last year, though, 48-inch drivers haven’t quite taken over professional golf like some thought they might. Sure, Viktor Hovland has experimented with the concept. And yeah, Phil Mickelson won the 2021 PGA Championship with a driver measuring 47.9 inches (Bet you didn’t know that gem).

But as the PGA Tour discovered in its recent research on the matter of driver length, it really only impacts a very small segment of tour golfers. The numbers you ask, well I am glad you did. A mere 3 percent of professional players use clubs longer than 46 inches. That’s not exactly the takeover that us equipment insiders were anticipating. Surely golf wouldn’t make a rule that affects 3 out of 100 golfers and makes the game less fun? Right?

Regardless, on Tuesday, the USGA and R&A announced a new local rule option to limit driver length to 46 inches. That’s right, its an option. So, week in and week out the rules governing this will change based on who is hosting the event. 1 week it’s OK, but the next may be… “nah, sorry man – it’s a hard no for us”. It’s kind of like reservation gambling at the native American casinos. Its illegal over here, 1 mile away, BUT over here, 1 mile east, you are playing blackjack and penny slots to your hearts content and it’s all good. Something seems off to me on this one…

“Admittedly, this is not the ‘answer’ to the overall distance debate/issue, but rather a simple option for competitive events,” Mike Whan, the USGA’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “It’s important to note that is not a ‘Rule of Golf,’ and as such, it is not mandated for the average, recreational golfer. Rather, this is an available tool for those running competitive events.”

In a statement, the PGA Tour then announced that it would implement the local rule for its competitions starting on Jan.1, 2022.

“After understanding the feedback received from the golf manufacturing community, we also undertook a survey of usage of clubs in use across the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and the Korn Ferry Tour and found that a very small number of players either have used or are currently using clubs greater than 46 inches,” the statement read. “The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council recently reviewed the subject and we have concluded that the PGA Tour will implement the Local Rule on Jan. 1, 2022.”

We already know Mickelson’s stance on the subject, as you can watch in the embedded Tweets below. Spoiler alert, He don’t like it!

The USGA is trying to ban the sale of ice cream in NYC?
Hear me out – Restricting the driver length (again) is misreading the data (again). pic.twitter.com/mbfTOsSVx8— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 2, 2021

It is extremely disappointing to find out that the PGA Tour adopted the new USGA rule through the media. I don’t know of any player who had any say or any kind of representation in this matter. 🤔 I do know many are wondering if there’s a better way.— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 13, 2021

That got us thinking…What do other PGA Tour players think about the ban of drivers longer than 46 inches? Here’s what a collection of PGA Tour pros had to say at the 2021 CJ Cup following the news.

Justin Thomas

“Yeah, I don’t really agree with it,” Thomas told the press on Tuesday at the 2021 CJ Cup. “I think it’s — I don’t know. I feel like there’s a lot of other things, you know, like the arm-bar putter, that they should be approaching as opposed to the length of driver. I think the fact that you see only a few people using a long driver speaks for itself, that it’s not really that big of an advantage. It’s a lot harder to hit it straight.

“In terms of do I think it makes the game of golf and growing the game better? No, I don’t at all, but they seem to have their kind of mind around that for a while now, so it seems to be the issue because if there’s an amateur golfer or players at home that want to hit it a little bit farther, so be it. Or if there’s guys out here that want to have a chance to put it in play with a 47-, 48-inch driver, then power to them. I had that opportunity; I just chose not to. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but it is what it is.”

Kevin Kisner

“I don’t know what they’re trying to accomplish other than to keep people from hitting it far,” Kisner told GOLF.com. “I mean, the game’s moving in that direction. I think they’re just trying to figure out a way to keep it in some sort of a realm. But anything that makes the game harder I’m against. So, if it makes it harder, I don’t wanna do it. The game’s hard enough, man.

Dustin Johnson

“My opinion is more, I don’t think it matters what length someone uses, because the longer the driver gets the harder it is to hit straight,” Johnson told GOLF.com. “So, if you could hit a 48-inch driver and keep it on the planet, then more power to you. I’ve tested with ‘em, and yeah it goes further, but it also goes a lot more crooked. You lose a lot of control, so for me, I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Adam Scott

“My initial reaction is that I don’t think it’ll make any difference,” Scott told GOLF.com. “The only thing I can say is maybe for the future if everyone started using 47- and 48-inch drivers and they all started to go down that route, but for now I don’t see it making any real difference. I don’t know how many guys were using 47-inch drivers.”

Collin Morikawa

“Look, it’s not going to change my driver specs, I’ll tell you that, and I don’t think it’s going to change many other guys’ driver specs,” Morikawa told the press on Tuesday. “Is that the answer to hitting it shorter? No. You know, I think yeah, if you have a long driver and you see what Bryson did, you see what long drive guys do, they have a longer driver, right, and they’re able to hit it farther, but can you maintain that on the golf course? Hasn’t been done yet. Not saying it won’t be done, but you know like if a guy wants a 47-inch driver, I think they should let them, because why not?

“We’ve seen courses that you end up shooting 10-to-15 under, and it’s not because the course is 9,000 yards long. We don’t play that. It’s because it makes you shape shots; it makes you hit different shots and it’s all about course design. So that’s my opinion in it or on it, is that I think course design needs to be structured in a way where we don’t need 8,000-yard courses. Yeah, they’re great sometimes, but there’s a lot of short courses on our tour that don’t provide 25 under par and it’s because of the way the layout is and the conditions. So, I don’t think many guys have over 46 inches, their driver, anyways, so I don’t think it will change much.”

Hudson Swafford

“I mean I can’t hit a 48-inch driver, so, it doesn’t really bother me,” Swafford told GOLF.com. “I hit a 45-inch driver; pretty standard, actually a little shorter. So, it doesn’t really bother me. It is what it is. I don’t really care. But it’s interesting; people are trying it and picking up a lot of speed. I picked up like a 46-inch and picked up speed, but I can’t hit it straight. So, it didn’t do me any good.”

Stewart Cink

“I think it’s going to have zero impact on golf, because I don’t know if I’ve ever known a golfer to use a driver longer than that in competition out here,” Cink told GOLF.com. “I don’t think it’s going to be a huge impact. To me it seems like there’s other areas, if they want to address distance, the length of the shaft is probably not the main thing, it’s probably just to safest one from a legal standpoint.”

This article originally appeared on Golf.com

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On the Importance of Not Caring: A Guide to Lowering Your Score

Worry causes many issues. When you are able to just stop, a wonderful thing happens. Follow this guide from Ty Webb to learn more.

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2025

Ty Webb

They say golf is a game of mental fortitude, of unwavering focus, of meticulous planning. They say you must visualize the shot, commit to the swing, and execute with precision. And to them, I say, “Hogwash!” Or perhaps, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” Because, my friends, the true secret to lowering your score, to achieving that elusive state of golfing nirvana, is to simply not care. Not one whit. Not a single, solitary damn.

Think about it. When do you hit your best shots? Is it when you’re agonizing over every blade of grass, every gust of wind, every microscopic imperfection on the green? Or is it when you’re distracted, perhaps by a particularly interesting cloud formation, or the existential dilemma of whether to order a hot dog or a chili dog at the turn? It’s the latter, isn’t it? Because when you stop caring, you stop thinking. And when you stop thinking, you start playing golf.

The golf swing, in its purest form, is an act of instinct, a fluid motion unburdened by the shackles of conscious thought. But we, in our infinite human capacity for self-sabotage, insist on overthinking it. We analyze, we dissect, we intellectualize. We turn a simple act of hitting a ball into a complex mathematical equation, a philosophical treatise on the meaning of spin and trajectory. And what is the result? A hooked drive, a chunked iron, a three-putt that would make a novice weep.

But when you don’t care, a magical transformation occurs. The tension drains from your shoulders, the grip loosens, the mind clears. You swing, not with intent, but with a blissful indifference. The ball, sensing your newfound detachment, responds in kind. It soars, it draws, it fades, it lands precisely where it was always meant to be. It’s as if the ball itself is saying, “Finally! Someone who understands me! Someone who isn’t trying to force me into submission!”

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should actively try to hit bad shots. That would be caring, in its own twisted way. No, the art of not caring is a subtle one. It’s a state of detached engagement, a Zen-like acceptance of whatever the golf course throws at you. A bad bounce? Who cares. A missed putt? Such is life. A lost ball? Perhaps it’s off on a grand adventure, a journey of self-discovery. And in that detachment, in that blissful indifference, you will find a freedom that transcends the scorecard.

So, the next time you step onto the tee, take a deep breath. Let go of your expectations, your desires, your desperate need for perfection. Embrace the chaos. Embrace the absurdity. And most importantly, embrace the profound, liberating power of not caring. For in the gentle art of indifference, you will find not only a lower score, but a deeper, more meaningful connection to the game. Or at least, a more enjoyable round.

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The Art of the Unsolicited Golf Tip: How to Annoy Your Playing Partners with Wisdom

Published

1 week ago

July 7, 2025

Ty Webb

There’s a certain breed of golfer, a truly special individual, who believes that every swing, every putt, every moment on the course is an opportunity for unsolicited advice. They are the self-appointed gurus of the green, the unsolicited senseis of the sand trap. And while most people recoil from such an individual, I, Ty Webb, find a certain perverse charm in their relentless, often misguided, generosity. After all, what is golf if not a canvas for human folly, painted with strokes of well-intentioned, yet utterly useless, wisdom?

Consider the scenario: your playing partner, a man (or woman) of quiet desperation, is about to address the ball. Their brow is furrowed, their stance is tentative, their very soul is screaming for a moment of peace. And then, from the depths of your profound, albeit unrequested, knowledge, you unleash it: “Keep your head down!” Or, “Slow backswing!” Or, my personal favorite, delivered with a knowing wink, “Be the ball.” The effect is instantaneous. A subtle flinch. A barely perceptible sigh. The swing, already fraught with anxiety, becomes a tortured ballet of self-doubt. The ball, inevitably, finds its way into the deepest, darkest rough.

And that, my friends, is the art. The beauty of the unsolicited golf tip lies not in its efficacy, but in its disruption. It’s a gentle reminder that even in the serene confines of the golf course, chaos lurks. It’s a subtle assertion of dominance, a playful jab at the fragile ego of your fellow golfer. It’s a way of saying, without actually saying it, “I know more than you, even if I don’t.”

Of course, there are rules to this art. Never offer a tip when someone is actually asking for one; that would be far too helpful, and thus, entirely counterproductive. Always deliver your wisdom with an air of profound nonchalance, as if the secret to a perfect swing has just casually occurred to you while contemplating the existential dread of a missed putt. And most importantly, never, ever, acknowledge the catastrophic results of your advice. A shrug, a thoughtful nod, perhaps a mumbled, “Well, that’s golf,” is all that’s required.

So, the next time you’re on the course, and you see a fellow golfer struggling, resist the urge to be genuinely helpful. Instead, embrace the art of the unsolicited golf tip. For in the gentle torment of your playing partners, you will find a profound, if slightly mischievous, joy. And who knows, perhaps in their frustration, they will, inadvertently, discover their own path to enlightenment. Or at least, a new appreciation for silence.

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Why Your Golf Balls Disappear (and It’s Not the Gophers)

Published

2 weeks ago

June 28, 2025

Ty Webb

Ah, the vanishing golf ball. A phenomenon as old as the game itself, and one that has baffled, frustrated, and occasionally driven golfers to the brink of madness for centuries. Most theories involve gophers, those furry, subterranean saboteurs with an insatiable appetite for Titleists. Or perhaps a particularly aggressive squirrel, or a flock of unusually organized crows. But I, Ty Webb, have delved deeper into this mystery, and I can assure you, the truth is far more profound, and far more amusing.

Consider, if you will, the golf ball itself. A small, dimpled sphere, designed for one purpose: to be struck with great force and sent hurtling through the air. A life of constant abuse, of being smacked, sliced, and occasionally submerged in murky ponds. Is it any wonder, then, that some of these brave little spheres simply decide they’ve had enough? They yearn for freedom, for a life beyond the confines of the fairway. They dream of rolling unencumbered through fields of wildflowers, or perhaps, for the more adventurous among them, a quiet retirement in the depths of a particularly challenging water hazard.

I’ve seen it happen, you know. A perfectly struck shot, soaring through the air, destined for glory. And then, poof. Gone. Not a trace. No splash, no rustle in the bushes, just an empty space where a golf ball once was. It’s not a gopher, my friends. It’s an escape. A liberation. That golf ball, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen a different path. It has decided that its destiny lies not in the bottom of a cup, but in the boundless expanse of the unknown.

And who are we to judge? We, who are so obsessed with control, with precision, with the rigid rules of the game. Perhaps the golf ball, in its spontaneous disappearance, is teaching us a valuable lesson about letting go. About embracing the unexpected. About the inherent futility of trying to dictate the trajectory of a small, white sphere that clearly has a mind of its own.

So, the next time your golf ball vanishes into thin air, don’t curse the gophers. Don’t blame your swing. Instead, offer a silent salute to that brave little sphere, wherever it may be. For it has achieved what many of us can only dream of: true freedom. And who knows, perhaps one day, it will return, laden with tales of its adventures, ready to impart some profound, dimpled wisdom upon us all.