The USGA and R&A, in a joint statement with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, announced Wednesday that the organizations will not change their golf ball distance-measuring standards until 2030.
The USGA and R&A had previously targeted 2028 as when they would begin implementing new testing via the Overall Distance Standard (ODS), meant to limit golf ball distance, particularly among “elite” players (being defined as top-level amateurs and professionals).
An original two-step process (2028 and 2030) will now be a single phase at the latter date.
In the statement, the organizations said feedback from the golf industry along with “constructive discussions” with PGA Tour and DP World Tour leadership led to the decision to push back what is colloquially called the golf ball “rollback.”
“Given these developments, The R&A and USGA will take the appropriate amount of time to assess a range of possible options and determine the path forward,” the statement read.
“Specifically, the governing bodies will work closely with key stakeholders — including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and their respective members — to review, test and implement options that have a meaningful impact on distance at the elite level. These efforts will ensure the elite game does not become too one-dimensional while continuing to emphasize the importance of shot-making. There will be no change to the ODS testing approach until January 2030 while these options are evaluated.”