Golf’s ongoing rollback debate has taken its latest turn.
Earlier this week, the USGA and R&A sent out their fourth notice of 2026 to manufacturers regarding potential solutions to increasing distances at golf’s highest levels. This time, the governing bodies are seeking feedback on three potential model local rules (MLR) that could slow the rapid gains in distance while the rulesmakers continue to consider a proposed golf-ball rollback.
The three potential MLRs were suggested by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which began working in consultation with the USGA and R&A in June, when the four organizations jointly announced the delayed implementation of any proposed golf-ball rollback.
These three MLR options would be enacted only at golf’s highest levels (i.e., wouldn’t affect your bag) and could be implemented as early as January 2028:
(a) Requiring the use of a golf ball model included on the List of Conforming Golf Balls with an overall distance of 317.0 yards or less when tested by the USGA or The R&A.
(b) Requiring the use of a driver head of a model and loft included on the List of Conforming Driver Heads, and when tested prior to competition, has a maximum CT of 239 microseconds.
(c) Restricting the maximum permitted length of all clubs (other than putters) to a limit that is less than the 46-inch limit imposed by MLR G-10.
So what does this mean in real numbers?
The governing bodies are considering the following Local Rules for Tour:
1. Ball that tests at ODS < 317.0 yds: The current test is 317 +3 tolerance. So just reducing by the 3yd tolerance. (?)
At first glance, the first two proposed rules don’t look all that different from the current rules, but they notably remove the tolerances previously allowed.
Previously, the golf-ball conformance test allowed a three-yard tolerance that allowed for balls that flew 320 yards to be deemed conforming. This differs from the current roll-back proposal, which increases the swing speed used in these tests from 120 mph to 125 mph.
Likewise, the driver CT (Characteristic Time) rule change omits the 18-microsecond buffer that allowed heads measuring as high as 257 microseconds to conform.
The length change would create a new restriction after drivers were limited to 46 inches starting in 2022 with a similar MLR, after pros began experimenting with builds as long as 48 inches and Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship with a 47.9-inch driver.
Today, most PGA Tour players use drivers shorter than 45.5 inches, and many even shorter than 45 inches, calling into question how much impact this change would have. Some players, like Jordan Spieth, have gone to longer 46-inch driver builds to take advantage of more stable modern driver heads, but it’s still a small minority.
None of these rules would have any effect on the recreational game, as the MLRs are designed only to be used at golf’s highest professional levels, such as the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
The USGA will accept comments on the proposed rules until Oct. 21.
The notice also came with a section stating that the governing bodies are still looking at other changes to the rules to lessen the effect of increased distance on the game.
Driving distance on the PGA Tour increased once again in 2026 with the average distance on measured drives reaching 306 yards, up over 3 yards from 2025 and up 16 yards in the last 10 years. The Tour saw its first two golfers, Aldrich Potgieter and Rory McIlroy, average over 330 yards off the tee in 2026, smashing McIlroy’s 2023 record of 326.3 yards.
