Yes. Irons and wedges made before 1 January 2010 are still legal for everyday rounds and for handicap rounds. The newer groove limits only apply to models made on or after that date, to clubs that have been re-grooved, and to events where the committee has chosen to require them. That choice is recommended only for professional and elite amateur competitions.
The ChartIs my club legal? By club and situation
"Groove condition" in the last column means the committee has adopted Model Local Rule G-2, which requires clubs that meet the 2010 groove and punch mark specifications. If your event has not adopted it, use the first two columns. The handicap column assumes you are not breaking a condition of the event.
| Your club | Everyday play | Handicap rounds | Event with the groove condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron, wedge, hybrid or fairway wood made before 1 January 2010, original grooves | Yes | Yes A round has to be played by the Rules of Golf to count, and these clubs are within them. | Only if it meets the 2010 specifications. The R&A's club groove database can help you find out. |
| Model made on or after 1 January 2010 | Yes It has to meet the current Equipment Rules. | Yes Same condition. | Yes New models after 31 December 2009 must already conform. |
| Pre-2010 club that has been re-grooved | Only if the new grooves meet the 2010 specifications | Same | Same |
| Pre-2010 club refurbished back to its original state, such as a light sandblast | Yes It may keep the allowance for pre-2010 models. | Yes | Only if it meets the 2010 specifications. |
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Equipment, Part 2 (Conformance of Clubs), 2.5c Impact Area Markings, Notes 1 and 2; Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, Section 8, Model Local Rule G-2; Rules of Handicapping, Rule 2.1b.
The groove condition does not cover drivers or putters. The 2010 groove and punch mark specifications were written for all clubs other than those two.
2010What the 2010 rule changed
Three limits were added for clubs other than driving clubs and putters. A groove's cross-sectional area divided by its pitch (width plus separation) is capped. Groove edges must be rounded to a minimum radius, on clubs with a loft of 25 degrees or more. And grooves have to be plain.
The width, spacing and depth limits in the table below apply to every club. The additions apply to models made on or after 1 January 2010 and to any club whose face markings were purposely altered, for example by re-grooving.
LimitsThe groove and punch mark numbers
| What is measured | The limit | Which clubs must meet it |
|---|---|---|
| Groove width | Not more than 0.035 inches (0.9 mm) | All clubs |
| Space between edges of neighbouring grooves | Not less than three times the groove width, and not less than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm) | All clubs |
| Groove depth | Not more than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm) | All clubs |
| Groove shape | Straight and parallel, with a symmetrical cross-section and sides that do not converge | All clubs |
| Plain groove cross-section | Required on clubs with a loft of 25 degrees or more | Models made on or after 1 January 2010, and re-grooved clubs |
| Groove area divided by pitch | Not more than 0.0030 square inches per inch (0.0762 mm²/mm) | Clubs other than driving clubs, if made on or after 1 January 2010 or re-grooved |
| Groove edge radius | Not less than 0.010 inches (0.254 mm) and not greater than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm), on clubs with a loft of 25 degrees or more | Models made on or after 1 January 2010, and re-grooved clubs |
| Largest dimension of a punch mark | Not more than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm) | All clubs |
| Distance between punch marks, or a punch mark and a groove | Not less than 0.168 inches (4.27 mm), centre to centre | All clubs |
| Punch mark depth | Not more than 0.040 inches (1.02 mm) | All clubs |
| Punch mark edge radius | The same 0.010 to 0.020 inches (0.254 to 0.508 mm) range as groove edges, on clubs with a loft of 25 degrees or more | Models made on or after 1 January 2010, and re-grooved clubs |
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Equipment, Part 2 (Conformance of Clubs), 2.5c Impact Area Markings; Supplementary Paper C (2010 Club Face Markings).
EventsWhen the groove condition applies
Only when the committee adopts it. Model Local Rule G-2 lets a committee require that every club a player uses to make a stroke meets the groove and punch mark specifications that took effect on 1 January 2010. The Rules recommend it only for competitions limited to highly skilled players, meaning professional and elite amateur events.
Making a stroke with a club that breaks the condition is disqualification. Carrying one without using it carries no penalty under the local rule, though under Rule 4.1a a non-conforming club still counts toward the 14-club limit in Rule 4.1b(1).
The Rules say clubs made before 2010 are not required to meet the 2010 specifications until four years' notice is given. If an event you are entering uses the groove condition, the entry details or the committee will tell you.
Using itHow to use this page
1. Find out when your club was made. The cut-off is 1 January 2010. A model made before then, with its factory grooves, is fine for everyday play and handicap rounds.
2. Read the entry details for the event. Look for the groove condition or Model Local Rule G-2. It is recommended only for professional and elite amateur events, so a typical club event is unlikely to use it.
3. If it does, check the club. The R&A's Club Groove Informational Database lets you look up irons, wedges, fairway woods and hybrids against the pre-2010 and post-2010 groove rules. Match the identification markings on the clubhead, because they separate one exact model from another.
4. Still unsure? Ask your club or committee before the round. They make the call for their event.
Watch forCommon mix-ups
Thinking worn grooves make a wedge illegal. Under Rule 4.1a(1), a club that conformed when new is still a conforming club after wear through normal use. The reverse does not hold: a club that did not conform when new cannot be worn into conformance.
Re-grooving an old wedge to freshen it up. Re-grooving puts the club under the 2010 specifications, so the allowance for pre-2010 models no longer covers it.
Treating the database as the rule. It is a tool to help you check a club. It is not itself the condition of any competition.
Assuming a club missing from the database is illegal. It may simply not have been submitted. It may pre-date 1995. A fairway wood or hybrid under 25 degrees of loft is only listed if it was submitted and found not to meet the 2010 specifications.
FAQQuick answers
Are my old wedges legal?
If they were made before 1 January 2010 and still have their original grooves, yes, for everyday play and handicap rounds. They only become a problem in an event where the committee has adopted the groove condition (Model Local Rule G-2).
Will my pre-2010 irons count for a handicap round?
Yes. A round has to be played by the Rules of Golf to be acceptable for handicap purposes (Rules of Handicapping, Rule 2.1b), and pre-2010 irons are allowed under those Rules. If a committee has required the 2010 grooves for an event and you used clubs that do not meet them, ask the committee how your score is treated.
Can I have my old wedges re-grooved?
You can, but a re-grooved club must meet the 2010 groove and punch mark specifications, so it loses the allowance for pre-2010 models. A club refurbished only back to its original state, perhaps with a light sandblast, may still use that allowance.
Do worn grooves make my wedge non-conforming?
No. Rule 4.1a(1) says a conforming club stays conforming when its playing characteristics change through wear from normal use.
What happens if I carry a club that does not meet the groove condition?
Nothing under the local rule, as long as you do not make a stroke with it. Making a stroke with it is disqualification. It still counts toward the 14-club limit in Rule 4.1b(1).
How do I check one specific club?
Search the R&A's Club Groove Informational Database for irons, wedges, fairway woods and hybrids. Match the identification markings on your clubhead to the entry. If you cannot find it, that does not mean it fails, so ask your committee.