Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
OLD WEIGHT ADDED
| TO PILL NOW USED
Designation CT 1852 Ounce
and 1.e9-!nch Pellet Is
Victory for buffers.
BY WALTER r. McCALLUM.

golf ball, adopted for official
play by the United States
Golf Association on Janu-
AIRY l last, is tc be replaced on
April /, 1882, by another sphere of
khe same size as the present official
ball, but even-hundredths of an
ounce heavier in weight. The new
ball will weigh 162 ounces, as
against the 155-cunce weight of
the present ball and will be the
same size as the present sphere,
namely 1.69 inches in diameter.
The official announcement of the
adoption of the new ball is to be made
tomorrow from headquarters of the
United States Golf Association in New
York. The Implements and Ball Com
tmittee of the association met in Chi
cago during the amateur championship
with representatives of tie Golf Manu-
facturers' Association and announced
TO them that because of inSistent pub
bic demand and genera. dissatisfaction
with the present l.55xl 60 ball the
association will revise its golf ball
specifications to tht degree of permit
ting ball of the lame sizs and slightly
heavier in weight Thus The doom of
the new large: and lighter golf ball is
sealed by L:e very organization which
brought - into being after exhaustive
tests extending over five years. And
thus tie prayers of thousands of duff
ters are answered. for the present
of>lcial ball-Wcighing l.55 ounces and
measuring ! SO inches in di2meter-has
met with a storm of criticism through
but the country. The United States
Golf Association will announce its step
tomorrow on the basis ct public demand
for a revision of golf ball standards
based on pleas for a return to a heavier
ball from Thousands OF golfers al over
the land.
Effective April 1. 1882.
The new ball will bacome effective
Tor official play on April !, 1882. but
Ia Iready manufacturers have begun
changing their machinery to produce
1T and within a few wees the new
62Xl 69 ball will become available for
purchase.
BY setting so far ahead the effective
date for mandatory use of the new
sphere the association hopes manu-
facturers will be able to reduce their
inventories of tho present sphere and
be in a position to move right ahead
bn production of the new ball without
Severe loss on then investment IN the
present ball. but the manufacturers
view the step as one that will cost
Them many thousands of dollars.
One large manufacturer Of golf balls
has informed me that golf ball sales
bitter September Is are negligible IN
comparison with those during the
Earlier playing season and that bloatsd
inventories can hardly be reouced ey
April l of next year. II John }. Pup
flo ont
1t is put on the market, as ne did Tor
he present ball many months before
It became the official bal for play, the
manufacturers who are overstocNed with
Quantities OF the present ball VIII be
holding the bag-and no mistake.
News of the adoption of a new golf
ball. of the same size but heavier tnan
The present official sphere, will be hailed
with delight by many thousands OF COLL
hrs throughout the country. To the first
banking amateurs and to most OF the !
pros the new ball will make little diff
ference. for a scrutiny Of the scores
made in tournaments during the past
Reason by the top-notch golfers OF the
and show little, If any. dlflerence IN
heir scoring capabilities with the pres
ent 1.55xl SO ball against the old
SKI 80 ball, which was the official ball (
Tor play prior to January /. 1881.
Hailed as Boon to DuHeTS
But to the duffer. who found that 7
he claimed good qualities of the present .
sphere we're more than offset by us lack ,
III distance and the tantalizing manner /
In which it has Tipped around the edge
bf countless golf cups since its othclai
hdoption, the new 1.62-weight ball Will
ZONE as a boon. Even though this bust
ness of difference of plaT between the
new and old golf balls is largely mat
Ter OF ;htNJoht and is not apparent as
|,hysical fact. the dutfer nevertheless (
will have as a sop to his injured feei-
ngs the fact that the new Official
sphere will be the same weight as MS
bid and beloved l 50 golf ball. And even
hough 1t pops no out OF the hoie WIN
The same ease as the present official
ball. he will console himself with the
thought that the present ball probably
would have done worse.
There is no doubt the present ball is
\ harder ball to handle in the wind and .
bn the putting greens than the oid
.62xl 50 sphere. But in the hands OF .
he expert it has yielded itself to the
kame efficient scoring as the old sphere.
The duffer counters with the truthful
statement that of all the three or four I
million golfers in this country very
enall percentage OF them are IN the
Expert class. and he will view the an
1ouncement of the new l.62xl.68 ball
hs a victory for him. Which in all fair
hess 1t Is.
Inasmuch as the game Of golf is
democratic institution. in which the
major part Of the PLAYERS arc men who
consider it feat to break 90. the new
1all will be an achievement for John j.
buffer. He has brought it about him
belf by the very volume and insiStence .
BIZ his pleas that something be done to .
help him sore better and get more en-
oyment OFT OF the game for which he
pays-and pays.
Protests DeIuged u. s. G. A.
Since the abortion of the present
.55x1 60 sphere the United States Golf
association has literally been delueed
with pleas for a return to the old ball.
From every quarter these pleas nave
rome-many thousands Of them.
Magazines have organized campaigns
designed to bring about a change and
1ewspa pers have inve!9hed editc"ially
Ind in their news columns about the
public demand for revision OF golf
oall standards.
The new golf ballot the 1.62 weight
Ind the l 68 size is the answer of the
In 6. G. A. to the reiterated pleas
ct us hope that some day soon we
,.iIl be satisfied with the golf bail and
IA standard that is real standard for
sroif balls finally may be adopted.
II clear the mind OF those befuddled
- L. Ii AL