could i get this thread merged with another?

could i get a moderator to merge this thread with a similar one?

Inquiry Project Thread
 

Hey guys, I am doing an inquiry project for E.L.A class. For those of you who dont know an inquiry project is where you go through the inquiry process i.e research, notetaking etc.. My project has two main topics:
Belly Putter:
What are they?
How can they help/hinder you?
Why are more and more professionals using them?

Conforming wedge grooves:
Whats the difference between conforming and non conforming?
How is spin rate effected?
Where is spin rate affected i.e pitch shots, full swing?
Why do only the pros have to use them.

Of course i dont expect or wantyou to answer these questions as i already have. However the purpose of this thread is to try and start a discussion about these topics. If all gos well the link to this thread is what i will be sending my teacher to mark.

Ed,

Belly Putter:
What are they?

A different, somewhat new fad of putting that you anchor to your belly that I believe gives an unfair advantage to those using it and looks very silly.

How can they help/hinder you?

They can help by giving you a much more consistent stroke, but are supposedly harder to gauge distances with from like 20 feet and farther out.

Why are more and more professionals using them?

A lot of these young guys were raised on it and have always done it, and now think it's the norm.

Conforming wedge grooves:

Whats the difference between conforming and non conforming?

Conforming is what the USGA says you are allowed to use.

How is spin rate effected?

In my experience, the old grooves only help a little more from the rough.

Where is spin rate affected i.e pitch shots, full swing?

Anywhere from the rough.

Why do only the pros have to use them.

Because the USGA would be forever known as irrational fools if they said every amateur golfer out there needs to go buy new wedges this year to conform to their rule. And because it will most affect the pros and was probably directed at pros in the first place.

As far as the wedges go the "non-conforming" wedges are legal for amateurs up until like 2024. The rule went immediately into effect on tour because the USGA believed the grooves made it too easy for tour player to generate spin. For some levels the rules go into effect in 2014 I believe. You will notice a little more spin with the old grooves especially out of the rough to their ability to better channel the grass and debris away. Depending on how much spin you generate now you may not even notice it.

when testing the new wedge grooves found you lose so much spin 40 yards and in. much more than on full swings.

anyone?

You shouldn't have to worry about loosing much spin. Club makers are finding others way to get spin like texturing the faces. A new fresh wedge will always get you more spin than any older, used one regardless of conforming grooves.

see the last paragraph of the original post :-)

I only lose spin 40 yards in when I can't make solid contact with the grooves like in the rough. I believe that the new grooves are unpredictable in the rough but I am hitting my xFT's pretty well.

As both of those subjects have been covered in other threads I don't know for sure how much traction this thread will get. Can you use the other threads as examples if we keep the discussions going there?

thats interesting i was demoing a conforming xft and found it rolled out much more on the greens.

lets get some more activity in this thread this is i important for my final mark!