Your Golf Ball

The history of the golf ball is a fascinating mix of aerodynamics, physics, and governing body politics. The game went through a major split in design before unifying, and it is now facing another massive transformation.

Here is the breakdown of how the ball changed, when it became standardized, and the upcoming "rollback" rules designed to limit distance.

For much of the 20th century, golf was played with two distinctly different types of balls depending on which side of the Atlantic you were on.

The American ball vs. the smaller British ball. Source: GOLF.com

The two balls weighed exactly the same (1.62 ounces), but their dimensions differed significantly:

• The "American" Ball: Governed by the USGA (United States Golf Association), it had a minimum diameter of 1.68 inches.
• The "British" Ball (or "Small" Ball): Governed by the R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews), it had a minimum diameter of 1.62 inches.

Because the British ball was smaller but carried the same weight, it was more dense and had less surface area. This gave it a massive aerodynamic advantage, especially in the wind. It cut through heavy gales beautifully and flew significantly farther than the larger American ball.

However, because it was smaller, it sat slightly lower in the grass and was harder to hit cleanly out of thick rough. The American ball, being larger, sat up better and offered more aerodynamic drag, which gave players more control over spin and stopping power on firm greens.

When American pros went over to play the Open Championship in the UK, many gladly switched to the smaller British ball to conquer the seaside winds.

The path to a single, unified golf ball took decades of negotiation between the USGA and the R&A.

The Open Championship Transition

1974

The R&A mandated that the larger 1.68-inch American ball must be used for the Open Championship, forcing global touring pros to use the same equipment at the game's oldest major.

European Tour Implementation

1980

The European Tour officially banned the use of the 1.62-inch "small ball" in its sanctioned tournament events, standardizing professional play in Europe.

Complete Global Unification

1990

The R&A officially altered the Rules of Golf to make 1.68 inches the universal minimum size for all golfers worldwide, effectively rendering the traditional British ball obsolete even for amateurs.

Fast forward to the modern era, and golf faces a different equipment issue: players are hitting the ball too far. Advanced club technology, athletic training, and hyper-optimized solid-core golf balls have made historic courses obsolete, forcing clubs to stretch their layouts to over 7,500 yards.

To combat this, the USGA and R&A announced a universal distance rollback that updates how golf balls are tested.

USGA projections for the distance rollback impact. Source: Golf Blog & News | Course Reviews & Rules | The Social Golfer ...

Currently, balls are tested under specific laboratory conditions to ensure they don't exceed an overall distance standard (ODS) of 317 yards (plus a 3-yard tolerance).

Starting in 2028 for professionals and 2030 for amateurs, the governing bodies will increase the testing robot's swing speed from 120 mph to 125 mph (equivalent to a 183 mph ball speed), while keeping the maximum distance limit at 320 yards.

Because modern premium balls already go far beyond 320 yards when struck at 125 mph, manufacturers will have to redesign the core and dimple patterns of their balls to make them less efficient.

• Elite Male Pros & Long Drivers: Will see the biggest drop, losing roughly 9 to 11+ yards off the tee.
• Elite Female Pros: Will likely lose around 5 to 7 yards.
• Average Male Amateurs: Expected to lose just 3 to 5 yards.
• Average Female Amateurs: Will see a minimal impact of 1 to 3 yards (or less).

Unlike previous proposals that only targeted professional tours, this rollback will apply to all golf balls sold on the market, ensuring that the entire game continues to be played under a unified set of equipment rules.