I play these clubs, which have M grooves, in a competitive league I recently joined. I’ve heard some chatter that my clubs are illegal. I’m a high handicapper — 26 — so I’m not likely to contend for a gold metal! Thanks!
We have always made all of irons and wedges to be conforming to the rules of golf. Important to remember that if grooves conformed pre-2010, they were grandfathered into to the new groove rule specifications until 2024. So for that reason alone what your playing are conforming. That being said, I don’t think we sent the Glider irons in for testing because at the time, we never thought they would be used for “for professional events, all USGA championships and selected amateur competitions throughout the world”, as the USGA describes it. The USGA developed the “Informational data base” to cover irons, wedges, fairways and hybrids. the USGA website states ” Unlike the List of Conforming Driver Heads, the Database (informational data base) is to be used for reference purposes only. The Database is not to be used in any manner stipulating that clubs must be included in the Database in order to be carried when the Condition is in effect.” So, in short, it is not required that irons, wedges, hybrids or fairways be on the informational database, however, if they are to be used in designated events where the groove rule and other conditions must be met, they still have to be conforming. I am confident that the Glider irons are conforming to the pre-2010 rules and are good through 2024 and that the original M-Series wedges are too, however, we did not send them in, it appears, back in 2007. We do now send in all models we feel might be considered for use in these type of designated events.
Britt Lindsey
Thanks much for the background on the groove rules.