Too Big? Why the USGA aims to ban supersize drivers

Golf Digest, March, 2002 by Scott Smith

"The only advantage of a large head is that it will potentially allow for a larger sweet spot," adds Thomas. "The unfortunate part of the USGA's action is that it will have its impact on the wrong people--the seniors, the women and the beginners--all of whom need a little help."

RELATED ARTICLE: Your Views on New Golf Technology

Golf Digest recently conducted telephone interviews of 300 golfers, asking them about the impact new technology is having on their games and the game of golf overall. Where applicable, the results of this 2002 survey are compared with those from a similar survey conducted in 1998. Among our findings:

Has new technology in golf equipment benefited your game?

                                                       2002   1998

Yes                                                     77%    69%
No                                                      20%    27%
Don't know                                               3%     4%

How has new technology benefited your game? (Multiple answers)

                                                       2002   1998

More forgiving
  on off-center hits                                    66%    61%
Longer shots                                            54%    49%
Straighter or more                                      44%    58%
  accurate shots
Don't know                                   [less than] 1%     1%

Which one area of golf equipment
do you think is most responsible
for improving the typical amateur golfer's
game and making shots go farther
and straighter?

                                                       2002   1998

The golf ball                                           27%    11%
Clubhead material                                       22%    22%
Shaft material                                          21%    24%
Size of clubhead                                        21%    24%
Length of shaft                                          1%    11%
Other/Don't know                                         8%     8%

Do you think tour pros should abide by different equipment rules
than the typical golfer and be restricted from using certain equipment?

Yes                                                            32%
No                                                             67%
Don't know                                                      1%

Do you think that oversize drivers, exceeding 385cc, should be banned?

BANNED FOR AMATEUR GOLFERS

Yes                                                            22%
No                                                             74%
Don't know                                                      4%

Banned for Tour Pros

Yes                                                            36%
No                                                             59%
Don't know                                                      5%

If oversize drivers exceeding 385cc were banned
(ruled nonconforming by the USGA), would you play with one?

Yes                                                            18%
No                                                             79%
Don't know                                                      3%

Results projectable within a sampling
tolerance of 5.6 percent.