Golf bodies delay ball testing changes until 2030

Golf's governing bodies have announced a significant pause and reconsideration of plans to change how golf balls are tested for distance, delaying any new standard until at least January 2030. The decision was made public on June 17, 2026, in a joint statement from The R&A, the USGA, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour.

The announcement marks a shift from a previously proposed phased implementation, which would have introduced updated testing for elite players in 2028 and for all golfers in 2030. Instead, the organizations will now use the intervening years to explore alternative solutions aimed more effectively at curbing distance increases at the professional level. The current Overall Distance Standard (ODS) testing approach will remain unchanged during this period.

Two key developments prompted the change in direction. First, feedback from the golf industry through a formal notice-and-comment process showed majority support for a single implementation date in 2030 rather than the two-phase plan. Second, discussions with tour leadership and players revealed a shared concern that the previously proposed ODS update might not achieve the desired long-term results in controlling...