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Randall Mell

7Wadkins says new rules favor Woods

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profileIconRANDALL MELL, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com   Posted 11/02/2009, 4:27 PM EST

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Count Lanny Wadkins among players who believe the upcoming change in the grooves’ rules will only make Tiger Woods tougher to beat.

New rules that take effect Jan. 1 are meant to limit the effectiveness of grooves on shots from the rough to V-groove design. That will substantially reduce spin that's been created from modern U-groove or square-groove design.

“Guess who's been playing V grooves all along? Tiger Woods,” Wadkins said during a news conference Monday before his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. “All he's got to change are two clubs in his bag. He's got to change his 56 [degree wedge] and his 60 [degree wedge]. He doesn't have to change balls, driver, nothing.  Let's just give Tiger a bigger advantage. Just what he needs, right?"

Wadkins said adapting to the new rules shouldn’t be a hardship for today's players, and he would like to see more severe restrictions.

“I like the idea of trying to get back to V grooves,” Wadkins said. “I just wish they had gone to a straight, old, traditional V groove because what they're doing ... is basically going to shallower U grooves. The manufacturers are going to figure out a way around it. They're going to figure out a way to keep as much spin as possible in the ball. I would love to see it back to the V grooves we played in the early '70s.  

“My generation has changed all the way along the line. We've changed from shafts that weren't frequency matched, then we went to frequency-matched shafts. Then we went to wooden clubs that were heavy, 14 1/2 ounces for a driver, a shaft that weighed 135 grams, which is probably what mine weiged early '70s, mid '80s. We've changed to small-headed metal clubs to big-headed metal to U grooves to balls that don't spin. My generation has changed all the way up. This generation, like where my boys are, my boys have always played the same stuff. They've never hit a wooden club. They're 21 and 17, all they've known is big-headed metal stuff. I think it's about time. This generation has to change something.  Let's see if they've got some imagination."

 

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Nov

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  1. DiNunzio

    DiNunzio Said on 11/05/2009, at 9:41 PM EST

    “DAMNED KIDS!!! Why, if I had a mashie niblick i'd...”

  2. Patchez

    Patchez Said on 11/05/2009, at 3:00 PM EST

    “Narrower fairways, and longer rough, closer to those narrower fairways.....Problem solved with out messing with clubs. Patch”

  3. 3irons

    3irons Said on 11/04/2009, at 9:28 AM EST

    “stub,....FYI,...Bubba HAS NEVER WON on ANY Tour despite his length ! Take away the control factor of "box groove" irons and he has virtually no chance at future wins. Same with Daly. Leonard,Weir and Immelman types ,will see their performance increase due to their superior ball-striking skills. Woods,....big question mark, but his scrambling prowess will be deminished as it will for Mickelson as well,...perhaps even more so. Lefty will have a tough year. It's back to a contest of skill, instead of brute strength. That should tighten up the fields considerably...........Z.”

  4. stub

    stub Said on 11/03/2009, at 5:02 PM EST

    “ WOW Macer..why don't ya tell us what ya really think..LOL..I tend to agree on your numbers, but remember the requirements are what they are..Who has the authority to change them???.I like the LPGAs' where ya plays your ass off or no go...Nebraska..the problem is, to make the easier..no it's not, it is to sell more stuff..that's why the mfgs come out with "NEW AND IMPROVED" almost on a yearly basis, so the sheep will part with their $$$..Records indicate that handicaps have not dropped even 2% in the last 10 years, so who is kidding who??..3irns..I hope you used windex on your crystal ball, cause it seemed clouded on some of your earlier predictions...any word how Bubba feels about your writing him off???...STUB”

  5. 3irons

    3irons Said on 11/03/2009, at 11:01 AM EST

    “Lanny's information is incorrect. Of course, he IS a Nike contracted player, so he's only repeating what Nike tells him. In fact, according to two tour players here at WR, Woods HAS NOT been playing V groove in 2009. These players are both Nike contracted, and because our conversations were private, and not to the media, I have no reason to doubt their validity. In fact, one plays the EXACT same iron as Woods, right down to the Tiger on the hosel. These were clearly BOX groove irons to my eye. Woods is a Bomb and Gouge player and hardly in the category of accomplished ball striker. He drives it soooo crooked , but BOX grooves saved his wild ass. Next year will be different. Watch for the Justin Leonard type of player to become more prominent,...and say adios to Bubba Watson et all...........................Z”

  6. nebraska_golfer

    nebraska_golfer Said on 11/03/2009, at 7:00 AM EST

    “What rule wouldn't favor Tiger Woods? Any rule change is going to seem like it will favor Tiger Woods because he is so much better than the rest. Second, Lanny talks about his generation having to "change all the way along the line." All of which have been changes to make the game easier to play, and then says, "This generation has to change something." Which sounds to me like he only wants this generation's changes something to make the game harder and not easier like his generation had it. Lanny just sounds like a bitter old man. ”

  7. macer

    macer Said on 11/02/2009, at 5:16 PM EST

    “First, Lanny Wadkins is not Hall of Famer in my book because he only won one major (HOF entry should require three major wins plus 15 PGA or worldwide other wins), he was a terrible golf analyst, and he remains a complainer. Tiger Woods is a superior striker of the ball, period. Macer”