USGA Driver Testing: No Changes Planned
- The USGA will not change its current methods for driver testing, according to CEO Mike Whan, despite recent calls from golfers like Xander Schauffele for increased scrutiny.
- Whan addressed the issue at a news conference at Oakmont Country Club, site of this week's U.S.
- The USGA evaluates drivers based on characteristic time, measuring how long a ball remains on the club face.
The USGA is standing firm: no changes are coming to its driver testing methods, despite recent discussions surrounding conforming drivers. Initially stirred by the findings of nonconforming drivers used by pro players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the debate has led to intense scrutiny. USGA CEO Mike Whan addressed the issue at Oakmont, indicating that altering the USGA testing policy would cause unnecessary disruption. The current tests measure characteristic time to ensure compliance. News directory 3 covers the story, and the USGA will continue monitoring driver performance, striving to balance fairness with minimal disruption. What will the USGA’s next move be? Discover what’s next …
USGA too Keep Current Driver Testing Policy Amidst concerns
Updated June 11, 2025
The USGA will not change its current methods for driver testing, according to CEO Mike Whan, despite recent calls from golfers like Xander Schauffele for increased scrutiny. The debate over conforming drivers intensified after Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy had drivers deemed nonconforming at last month’s PGA Championship.
Whan addressed the issue at a news conference at Oakmont Country Club, site of this week’s U.S. Open, stating that altering the current USGA testing policy would cause too much disruption. He indicated that the governing body would reconsider its approach if an alarming trend emerged, but current data does not warrant such a change.
The USGA evaluates drivers based on characteristic time, measuring how long a ball remains on the club face. A driver is considered nonconforming if the ball stays on the face longer than 257 microseconds, indicating excessive flexibility.
whan explained the concept using a trampoline analogy: the longer a kid jumps, the higher they bounce. The USGA sets limits with manufacturers regarding this “bounce” effect. Drivers can become more spring-like with extended use. Scheffler, fresh off his PGA Championship victory, knew his driver was nearing nonconformance due to its age and had been practicing with a replacement.
The USGA typically tests PGA Tour golfers’ drivers two or three times each season, examining approximately 30 drivers per tournament. Whan believes the current testing frequency aligns with the minimal failure rate observed. He noted that when failures occur, they are marginal, not indicative of critically important performance advantages.
“I know that if we saw a trend that was alarming in terms of either how many or how far they were moving beyond [the permissible limits], we would change the way we approach it,” Whan said. “But with what we’re seeing today, it would be a greater interruption. The juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.”
Schauffele suggested at last month’s Memorial Tournament that all drivers should be tested, with serial numbers recorded, to prevent the use of “hot” drivers.
“It just depends if you want anyone playing with a hot one or not,” Schauffele said. “It’s pretty simple.”
Lucas Glover,a former U.S. Open champion, speculated on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that some golfers might submit backup drivers for testing, keeping their primary drivers in reserve. whan countered that 90% of drivers tested at practise facilities are used on the first tee.
“I can tell you as a rules body, if we had concern about this amazing advantage, we would change the degree in which we test,” whan said. “But we think the testing that we’re doing now is commensurate with the size of both the issue and the size of the reality of the issue.”
What’s next
The USGA will continue to monitor driver performance and assess the need for future adjustments to its testing protocols, balancing fairness and minimal disruption to the game.