The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have reached a compromise to end a three-year disagreement over rules relating to limits on golf equipment.
The two rule-making bodies announced yesterday that, from January next, they would implement a policy of measurement used by the USGA in 1998, but never implemented by the R&A, to limit the coefficient of restitution (COR) on golf clubs.
The COR, as created by the USGA, is used to measure the spring-like effect on the ball when it comes off the driver face.
The USGA's COR limit of 0.830 will be increased to 0.860 worldwide and reflected in the Rules of Golf by both bodies from January 2003.
The higher standard of 0.830 will be used for the British and US Opens and for all competitions held on the major professional tours across the globe.
Earlier this year, the USGA decided to water down a proposal to place restrictions on clubhead size and shaft length in the US game, following pressure from the American industry. The USGA currently lists 56 drivers banned because of a "spring-like" trampoline effect which propels the ball further.
