Would you think about buying a banned item to improve your game? That’s been a question raging all year over certain golf clubs. It didn’t attract as much mainstream media attention when it came up last winter, but there was the little scandal involving a certain high profile golfer.
But the USGA last year banned certain clubs that got their groove on, or rather had too much of a groove. The issue is more complex because certain clubs such as the Cleveland CG14 Wedge was banned, while initially the CG15 Wedges were in the clear. To the untrained eye both wedges have the same laser-milled groves.
In its holiday gift guide round-up Wired magazine noted that the CG15s won’t be sold after this year – so get them while you can, or not. The clubs are, according to the outlet, verboten for amateurs after 2024. So if you plan to keep the same clubs for the next dozen years you might want to reconsider. But in the meantime check the USGA Equipment Overview site to see if your clubs conform to the “rule of golf.”
Of course it is possible the ruling will be overturned too. By 2025 the USGA might be banning anti-gravity balls.