Yesterday, the USGA and R&A released their 2016 Review of Driving Distance. It goes to great lengths (pun, totally intended) to illustrate that it has successfully wrangled the scourge of ever increasing distances.
Notably, I snicker at how the timeline from 2004 to 2016 is labeled “Stability through Regulation”.
What does that mean for you, the consumer? Easy: any manufacturer claiming “increased distance” is likely just pushing a well crafted marketing message at you. The parameters by which the USGA constrains equipment manufacturers (clubs and balls) virtually guarantees that additional gains in distance aren’t technically possible.
Forgiveness? Sure, maybe they can offer that.
Higher launch angles? Sure, if you like hitting knuckle balls, go for it.
More distance? Not for Iron Byron.