List of Non-Conforming Drivers

According to Appendix II, section 5a of the Rules of Golf, "The material and construction of, or any treatment to, the face or the clubhead shall not have the effect at impact of a spring (test on file), or impart significantly more spin to the ball than a standard steel face, or have any other effect which would unduly influence the movement of the ball."

This is the part of the rulebook that has caused so much controversy: the spring-like effect. High-COR drivers, low-COR drivers, legal drivers, illegal drivers. And COR ... what exactly is "coefficient of restitution" anyway?

What you need to know is that just as there are non-conforming golf balls, there are non-conforming drivers. And the USGA and R&A maintain a list of non-conforming drivers.

If your driver is on that list, it means that the driver exceeds the limit of COR put in place by golf's governing bodies. According to the USGA, the COR of a driver may not exceed a measurement of .830 (above that, they say, and the driver begins to act as a spring) in any competitions or in handicap rounds.

The R&A puts a limit on COR of .860, but will change to .830 on Jan. 1, 2008. In the meantime, the R&A has instituted a "condition of competition" that limits the COR in drivers played by highly skilled players to .830.

As of 2008, the .830 standard will apply across the board.

Ready to view the USGA list of non-conforming drivers?

Go to List of Non-Conforming Drivers