There is no change to how golf balls are tested until January 2030 at the earliest. The R&A and USGA said so in a joint statement with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on 17 June 2026, and they are now weighing other ways to limit distance at the elite level. For a weekend golfer, the ball you play today stays legal.
The TimelineWhat the R&A and USGA have announced, in order
| Date and announcement | What it says |
|---|---|
| 14 March 2023 Proposal for a Model Local Rule option for golf balls used in elite competitions | Competition organisers could require balls tested at 127 mph clubhead speed, 11 degrees and 37 revolutions per second (2220 rpm). Other balls would keep 120 mph, 10 degrees and 42 revolutions per second (2520 rpm). The limit stays 317 yards plus three yards tolerance. Earliest start January 2026. The rule would have no impact on recreational golf. |
| 6 December 2023 Decision to revise ball testing conditions from January 2028 | Test clubhead speed goes from 120 to 125 mph, spin from 2520 to 2220 rpm and launch angle from 10 to 11 degrees. The 317-yard limit and the 3-yard tolerance are unchanged. Existing balls approved for conformance in 2027 could be used by recreational golfers until January 2030. |
| 17 March 2026 Notice and Comment on a single implementation date | Asked manufacturers for views on moving to one implementation date for the updated test conditions instead of two. |
| 17 June 2026 Joint statement from the USGA, The R&A, PGA Tour and DP World Tour | Industry feedback favoured a single 2030 date over a phased 2028 and 2030 plan. The tours doubt the updated testing will achieve its goals, so the governing bodies will assess other options with them. There will be no change to the ODS testing approach until January 2030. |
| 21 September 2026 Notice to Manufacturers | No ODS change will take effect in 2028. The earliest ODS change is a single date in January 2030. The submission dates proposed in March no longer apply. Possible Model Local Rules for balls, driver heads and club length are being explored for use as early as January 2028. Comments are open until 21 October 2026. |
Source: The R&A, proposal announcement (14 March 2023), decision announcement (6 December 2023), Notice and Comment (17 March 2026), joint statement (17 June 2026) and Notice to Manufacturers (21 September 2026).
ODS stands for the Overall Distance Standard, the limit on how far a ball may fly in the governing bodies' test. A Model Local Rule is a rule that a competition committee can choose to use. It is not a change to the Rules of Golf or the equipment rules.
Who it applies toWhich golfers are affected
| Who | What the notices say today |
|---|---|
| Everyday and club golfers | No change to the ODS testing approach until January 2030. The possible Model Local Rules are not changes to the existing Equipment Rules and will not change the conformance status of any conforming golf ball or club. |
| Elite events | A ball rule is one of three Model Local Rule options requested by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, for use as early as January 2028: a ball model on the List of Conforming Golf Balls with an overall distance of 317.0 yards or less when tested by the USGA or The R&A. These are options under review, with comments open until 21 October 2026. |
| Ball makers | The earliest change to the ODS test is a single date in January 2030. The R&A and USGA said they will communicate again on the ODS test within five months of the 21 September 2026 notice. |
Source: The R&A, Notice to Manufacturers, 21 September 2026; joint statement, 17 June 2026.
The old planWhat the 2028 plan expected to do
The December 2023 decision gave expected distance losses by type of golfer. The 2028 date has since been dropped, so read these as the size of the change the governing bodies were aiming for, not as a date.
| Golfer | Expected drive distance reduction |
|---|---|
| Longest hitters | 13 to 15 yards |
| Average professional tour and elite male players | 9 to 11 yards |
| Average LET or LPGA players | 5 to 7 yards |
| Most recreational golfers | 5 yards or less |
Source: The R&A, Decision to revise golf ball testing conditions beginning in 2028, 6 December 2023.
Today's rulesThe ball rules that apply right now
| Requirement | The rule |
|---|---|
| Size | Diameter not less than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). There is no maximum. |
| Weight | Not greater than 1.620 ounces (45.93 g). There is no minimum. |
| Spherical symmetry | The ball must not be designed, made or intentionally changed to have properties that differ from a symmetrical ball. |
| Initial velocity | Must not exceed the limit in the Initial Velocity Standard on file with The R&A and USGA. The rule itself does not print the number. |
| Overall distance | Carry plus roll must not exceed the limit in the Overall Distance Standard on file with The R&A and USGA. The December 2023 announcement gives the limit as 317 yards with a 3-yard tolerance. |
| Form | The ball must not be substantially different from the traditional and customary form and make. |
Source: The R&A, Rules of Equipment, Part 4, Conformance of Balls; distance limit and tolerance from the 6 December 2023 decision announcement.
Compression is not among these requirements. For what the compression numbers on a ball do and do not tell you, see the golf ball compression chart.
Using itHow to use this page
If a headline says the ball is being rolled back, check the date against the timeline. Anything that gives 2026 or 2028 as the start is from the 2023 plan and has been replaced.
If you play a club event, a charity day or a weekend round, the rules table is the one that matters. A ball at or above 1.680 inches and at or below 1.620 ounces meets the size and weight rules.
If an event asks for a ball from the Conforming Golf Ball List, look it up on The R&A's list. It covers balls submitted for evaluation within the last 12 months, is updated on the first Wednesday of each month, and identifies a ball by its Pole and Seam markings. A ball that is not listed may never have been submitted, may have been ruled non-conforming, or may have dropped off the list after 12 months. The list page says an expired ball should still be considered conforming for non-elite use.
Watch forCommon mix-ups
Thinking it has already started. The testing approach for balls is unchanged, and the earliest change is January 2030.
Mixing up two different things. One is a change to the ODS test that every ball must pass. The other is a Model Local Rule, which is an option for a competition. The September 2026 notice says the Model Local Rules under consideration would not change the conformance status of any conforming ball.
Treating 2028 as the date. The 2028 date came from the December 2023 decision. The September 2026 notice says no ODS change will take effect in 2028.
Reading the 317 yards as a ball number. It is the limit in the distance test, measured under the test conditions. It is not how far a ball goes for a golfer.
FAQQuick answers
Is the golf ball rollback happening?
Not yet. On 17 June 2026 the R&A, USGA, PGA Tour and DP World Tour said there will be no change to the ODS testing approach until January 2030 while other options are evaluated. Those options focus on the elite level.
Will the balls I play now become illegal?
Nothing in the current notices says so. The ODS test does not change before January 2030, and the Model Local Rules under consideration would not change the conformance status of any conforming golf ball.
What happened to the 2028 date?
Feedback to the March 2026 notice favoured one date over two, and the 21 September 2026 notice says no ODS change will take effect in 2028. The earliest ODS change is a single date in January 2030.
What are the size and weight limits for a golf ball?
The diameter must be at least 1.680 inches (42.67 mm), and the weight must be no more than 1.620 ounces (45.93 g). There is no maximum size and no minimum weight.
Does the rollback change how far I will hit the ball?
The December 2023 plan expected most recreational golfers to lose 5 yards or less. That plan is no longer set for 2028, and the notices since then focus on the elite game.
How do I know if my ball is on the conforming list?
Search The R&A's Conforming Golf Ball List and match the model by its Pole and Seam markings. The list is updated on the first Wednesday of each month.