Is This Legal?

DennisMiller

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Location
Miami, Florida
HCP
Old Age
Local club/country
Killian Greens Golf Club
Irons
MX-1000
Driver
ST-180
#1
I have always heard that when a club is supplied to the governing bodies for approval, the more modern clubs are tested with the weights in every possible position. BUT, are they tested with no weights in them?

Over time, I've settled on the JPX-850 as my favorite driver. Is it legal to remove the weight completely?

At this stage of life, I can pick up a little bit of clubhead speed without the weight.
 

PaulBoy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
HCP
WHS 7.0
Local club/country
Army GC
Irons
Mizuno Pro 223 (4-AW) Modus3 120s
Driver
Titleist TSi2 Graphite Design Tour AD XC-50s
#2
Hi Dennis ... Someone may have the definitive answer, but I'm pretty sure what you plan to do is legal - The 850 has 3x channels for weights: Centre / Left / Right
It was common for one or both the outside channels to be left empty, so leaving them all empty should not be against the law?
On drivers with screw in weights, it was illegal to take a weight out & leave the cavity open, but this is not what you are doing
I think you are fine, but you could always check with USGA Rules if you want to be 100%
Cheers ... Paul
 

DennisMiller

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Location
Miami, Florida
HCP
Old Age
Local club/country
Killian Greens Golf Club
Irons
MX-1000
Driver
ST-180
#4
It wouldn't be the slightest bit critical to me otherwise, but there's a few guys starting a senior league at a near by course and I'm thinking about joining them. Needless to say, where I wouldn't care on a casual round, playing in a tournament will certainly demand legality.

And Hairy Essex Bloke, (May I call you Hairy, or would you prefer Mr Bloke?), if you need help developing some really classy excuses for taking naps, I'm your man. I'll send you a schedule of my free professional seminars. ;-)
 

MTR

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2010
HCP
f0re
Local club/country
EU
Irons
MP-9-11-14-29-37-20
#5
Nothing in the rules against removing or adding weight, as long as you don't do it mid round and it does not leave a tunnel through the head. From R&A:
“If one weight screw was missing, then the club would still be conforming. However, if both were missing, then the club would effectively have a "hole
through the head" and, as such, it would be in breach of Appendix II, 4d of the Rules of Golf”.

Be careful: your club head speed might very well go up, but ball speed might actually go down depending on type of head and strike location. Also stability/MOI can suffer. If a lighter head or total weight gives better results, be sure to also look into the club heads designed for lower weight. The ST200X for example or a XXIO Prime. Also some 'ladies' driver heads are lighter than the corresponding men's version.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom