WATCH: Phil Mickelson uses ICE-CREAM analogy to bash the USGA
Lefty had some interesting thoughts on the potential new driver rule
Phil Mickelson used an ice-cream analogy to bash the USGA over a potential new driver rule.
Lefty posted the clip on his social media channels to his fans following the rumours from golf's governing bodies.
They are potentially reviewing whether or not to cap the maximum allowable length of the driver to 46 inches from 48.
In typical fashion, Mickelson was against the idea and explained his thoughts in the three-minute clip.
The USGA is trying to ban the sale of ice cream in NYC?
Hear me out - Restricting the driver length (again) is misreading the data (again). pic.twitter.com/mbfTOsSVx8— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 2, 2021
Afte all, we all know about the six-time major winner's love of hitting hellacious bombs.
He suggests the change is pathetic, and it would encourage a more violent swing that would lead to injuries.
It would also mean that the arc of the swing would not be able to generate swing speed.
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Mickelson explains he thinks the USGA is using the wrong data and should think again.
He referenced the groove change rule which was introduced in 2010, making them smaller and less sharp.
Word is USGA is soon rolling back driver length to 46inches.This is PATHETIC.1st it promotes a shorter more violent swing (injury prone,) doesn’t allow for length of arc to create speed,and during our 1st golf boom in 40 years,our amateur gov body keeps trying to make it less fun
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 27, 2021
The point of that rule was to make the game more challenging for elite golfers.
But all that happened was the amateur golfer was punished, he says.
“If you remember when the liquid center golf ball was the ball of choice 20 years ago, there was more weight in the center of the ball than there was on the perimeter,” said Mickelson, before explaining the physics of how liquid-core balls behave.
“What if we just got rid of the perimeter weighting so the ball wasn’t as stable and we had more weight in the center of the golf ball? We’re going to get more sidespin. And who’s that going to affect?
"The guy that hits the ball 300 yards, as opposed to the guy who hits 200 yards.
"Yeah, they might get more offline, but (recreational golfers) hit it so short, it’s not gonna get in as much trouble as the guy that hits it farther.”
Mickelson's driver length is currently 47.5 inches.
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