Have you read Titleist's "Tradition and Technology" charts? The charts and the data contained in them certainly present an entirely different view of the debate. If you haven't read through the charts, you should.

Thanks for mentioning that, Barry. Here's a link to that presentation:

media.titleist.com/.../traditionandtechnology.pdf

Rick

If the TPC network needs to build 7800 yard courses so DJ can't use a wedge on a par 5 - good for them. Most amateurs using the back tees over 7000 yards slow the game down - because they should be at 6500 yards based on their length. The ball is not hurting the game - building in length for bragging rights where professional tournaments are never held is hurting the game. Courses can be tricked with narrow fairways and tight greens, length is not the only solution. The US Open is still the Open. Where in USGA tournaments do amateurs have to switch balls? Keep the game fun for the 98% and don't change it for the 0.01% that are professionals.

Don: Our club plays to 6400 yards from the tips. A lot of our average players never play the back tees because they don't have the distance. If courses are adding length it's because of the 1%. 99% of players can't, shouldn't and won't play from the new tips.

Another club across town built some new tees that stretch it to something like 7300 yards. No one, no one, plays those tees. Even in tourneys there we play the regular back tees at 6800-6900 yards. 95% of players play the members tees at 6200-6400 yards and that's long for many of them. The new 7300 yard tee configuration is purely braggadocio. They make snide remarks about how short our course is, but when we play our annual team grudge match against them it's an even match. We've beaten them at their place, they at ours, but extra length of the course doesn't have an impact. Knowledge of the greens does!

I still have my first set of Titleist clubs purchased in the early 80's. Iron distance about the same as my AP2's, the woods are where I see the most difference.

I don't see the need to roll back distances because of the pros when the average golfer isn't overpowering anything. Even with modern equipment the game is hard enough for most people, low handicappers included.

The latest distance report shows that after the multi-layer balls phased out the balata balls, the distance increased from 280 to 300+ yards. The gain from clubhead innovation gain was fairly flat over that time. Siomply put, the ball is too hot and should be toned down to emulate balata. www.usga.org/.../2017-distance-report-final.pdf

IMHO when it comes down to Golf Ball data, you don't need to look any farther than Titleist own research and data. I have read what I can from Titleist, the USGA and PGA. I have viewed stories on the Golf Digest, Golf Channel, and Youtube people like Mark Crossfield, all about their stats on ball distances, equipment etc. But none ever seem to address the fact that with success by a few PGA players, the rest of us view and strive to do better and perhaps have accomplished. Trackman, and the Titleist Performance centers have no doubt had a massive effect on players swings. Camera technology has massively improved the ability for an amateur to break down a pro's swing and take it step by step to improve his own swing. Golf lessons are being taken by many many more people. Youtube influence's peoples game.
The Long and the Short of it, is that 'Distance' has many many influences and the ball is only 1 small factor in a very large equation. And when it comes to ball data, look no farther than the #1ball in golf, Titleist. Titleist has done the most research on golf balls ever. It's inception was to make a better ball, pure and simple no matter the game. whether its feel or distance or something new that comes along. The best data will be available from those whom do the most R+D. That will be Titleist. IMHO the USGA needs to back off and take ahrd hard look at their data and what it doesnt show, or the differences and how little they truly are. I think they are making a mountain out of a mole hill