Golf’s distance debate has taken another turn. In a notice to equipment manufacturers dated 21 September, the R&A and USGA asked for feedback on three possible Model Local Rules that would apply only at the elite level. If you play club golf, your bag isn’t changing. But the proposals say a lot about where the professional game is heading, and they’re worth understanding.
What has been proposed
According to GOLF.com’s report by Jack Hirsh, the three options were suggested by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which have been working with the governing bodies since June. They could be implemented as early as January 2028:
- Golf balls: players would have to use a ball model with an overall distance of 317.0 yards or less when tested.
- Driver faces: drivers would need a maximum Characteristic Time (CT), a measure of face flex, of 239 microseconds when tested before competition.
- Club length: all clubs other than putters would be limited to a length below the current 46-inch limit set by an existing Model Local Rule.
Golf Monthly explained that the first two mainly remove testing tolerances. Today, a ball can fly up to three yards past the limit and still conform, and driver faces have an 18-microsecond tolerance on CT. The proposals would take those buffers away.
Manufacturers have until 21 October to respond. Golf Monthly also confirmed that these rules would not change the overall equipment rules and have no impact on the wider golf ball rollback, which has been pushed back to 2030.
Why now?
GOLF.com reported that average driving distance on the PGA Tour rose again in 2026 to 306 yards on measured drives, up 16 yards in ten years, and that two players, Aldrich Potgieter and Rory McIlroy, averaged over 330 yards off the tee.
Whatever your view on the rollback, it’s clear the governing bodies want options they can put in place sooner than 2030.
Does any of this affect club golfers?
In short, no. Both GOLF.com and Golf Monthly are clear that these would be opt-in rules for tournament organisers at the highest level. As Golf Monthly put it, that would mean pros and amateurs playing under different equipment regulations, which is often called bifurcation.
So you can keep your current driver and your favourite ball. The more useful question is what you can do about your own distance and consistency, without waiting for anyone to change the rules.
Where club golfers actually find yards
Equipment matters, but for most of us the biggest gains come from the body, not the bag. In our experience, three things cost amateurs the most:
A rushed transition
When the downswing starts before the backswing has finished, the sequence breaks down and power leaks out through the hands and arms. A smoother tempo, with the backswing taking roughly three times as long as the downswing, is a good benchmark that many coaches use.
Lateral sway
Sliding the hips away from the target on the backswing makes it harder to get back to the ball. It also moves the low point of the swing, which costs both distance and contact.
Standing up through impact
Losing your posture in the downswing, often called early extension, makes the strike inconsistent and can send the ball either way.
All three show up clearly on video, and all three can be practised without a launch monitor.
How DE-SHANK helps
DE-SHANK watches your body movement through your phone’s camera and scores tempo, head movement, hip sway and posture change from 30 to 100 on every swing. It doesn’t measure ball flight, spin or club data, and we’re upfront about that on our how it works page. What it does do is help you see the body habits that usually matter more for club golfers.
DE-SHANK gives estimates from one camera view. It’s designed for practice feedback, to help you spot habits and track trends.
Our take
These proposals are aimed squarely at the elite game, and the comment period closes on 21 October. We’ll keep an eye on what happens next. In the meantime, the yards most of us are missing aren’t hidden in the ball or the driver face. They’re in tempo, stability and posture.
For more updates, visit our Golf News section.
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