A decisive 69% of EssentiallySports readers say the USGA made the right call delaying the golf ball rollback, according to our poll of 201 voters. Just 24% disagreed, while 6% stayed on the fence. The comments tell the story: readers don't think the rollback would have moved the distance needle enough to justify the disruption. One voter argued the change would affect fewer than 10,000 elite players worldwide while stripping recreational golfers of those rare moments when their shots mirror the pros. Another insisted the fix lies elsewhere — roll back the driver to 360cc and leave the ball alone. A third pushed for smarter course design with doglegs, narrower fairways past 300 yards, and risk-reward par fours rather than equipment changes. The thread that ties it all together? Readers love that everyone plays the same equipment. The USGA's pause, it seems, protects exactly that.
Essentially Golf
Jun 19, 2026
Do You Think USGA Was Right to Delay the Golf Ball Rollback?
69%
Yes
139
24%
No
49
6%
Share Your Thoughts in the Comments
13
201 readers voted
We asked readers to weigh in — 8 shared their take. Here’s what they said:
Reader Reactions
8
jb*tt*k@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 2:23 PM EDT
I don't think it was going to provide the impact on distance they were looking for. They need to revise the testing criteria to get better results.
ro**o**e**0@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 11:11 PM EDT
Change course design with more doglegs and add sand traps at key distances. Narrow fairways over 300 yards. Make some par fours drivable but with lots of risk. That will make golfers be more strategic in their choice of play. Change the golf ball to not go as far, but same ball for all golfers.
to***t**1**7@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 3:14 PM EDT
Here’s something better. Leave the ball alone. Roll back the driver. Go to 360cc and leave it at that
br***.**r***r@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 2:46 PM EDT
My view is don’t roll it back.
ph***i**i**t@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 2:15 PM EDT
Its time for the USGA to limit the length of a putter or ban them!
co**e**r**9@gmail.com
Jun 19, 2026 · 1:15 AM EDT
Research not supporting roll-back, which affects less than10,000 players worldwide, but deprives ordinary golfers of their occasional moments when their shots look just like the pro's.
du**l**e**m@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 2:20 PM EDT
They need to roll back more than the ball
cd*et*8@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2026 · 3:12 PM EDT
I'm against any roll back and I'm against different equipment for different skill levels. One of the things I love about this game is everyone uses the same equipment. Then you go out and see how your game compares.