Issue #7 July 2004
Send The Frankly Friends Newsletter To a Friend Visit our Frankly Friends Newsletter Archive 2004 Archive |January| February| March/April|2003 |December|November| September| ___________________________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE: The New Overall Distance Standard: What does it mean for your game? Frog Talk...what Frog Owners are saying about their Frogs Frankly HQ relocates to ChampionsGate, Florida ___________________________________________________________________________ The New ODS...what does it mean for golf?Why put new clothes on my old standard when the USGA has the ability to adopt a new body and leap ahead of the industry once and for all? “With the adoption of the updated test conditions, we will be testing balls like today’s PGA Tour players are hitting balls,” said USGA Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge said. “It’s more accurate than the old test and more relevant to today’s golf.” In describing the new test conditions, this statement implies that today’s PGA Tour players are using drivers with a COR of .820 and on average, launching the ball at 10 degrees with a 2,520 rpm spin rate, which is probably close to being the case, however, only the longest hitters are achieving the 120+ mph head speeds. So this new set up for launch conditions of the test does not truly reflect the launch conditions of the average PGA Tour player. This change to the standard is, however, of little consequence as the distance limit has been increased to accommodate the increased club head speed plus the additional distance derived from using a high COR titanium driver. The new distance limit will be 320 yards just about 23 yards longer than the (now) old standard. Also to avoid conflict; “All golf balls that currently appear on the USGA’s List of Conforming Golf Balls will continue to comply with the Rules….” Yes, the USGA has all the technology needed to make very accurate measurements, of the launch conditions as well as the aerodynamic properties of any golf ball, and to use these to simulate with precision an actual outdoor test, without opening a door to the outside. However, they are using this wonderful technology to replicate an old standard, which I developed in 1975. Therefore this new “updated” standard is nothing more than putting “New clothes on an old body” with inconsequential effect, verified by the fact that the industry is accepting it as a non-event. The stated objective of making these changes is to ‘update the standard to represent the launch conditions of today’s PGA Tour players’. Logically therefore, it follows that when these conditions change in the future so will the standard to keep pace, and then another visit to the tailor will be necessary. Good science tells us that there is a unique set of ‘optimum’ launch conditions for every ball, which, given a particular ball speed will produce the maximum distance for that ball. Would it not be better then to set a “Ball Standard”, which would test each ball at its own unique optimum spin and launch angle, whatever these may be? This would be a standard without fixed launch conditions and around which manufacturers cannot design. Such a standard, which shadows advances in technology, could be in place forever and this is well within the scientific capabilities of the USGA.
Fortunately the Laws of Physics are limiting any further significant increases in distance for the elite golfer. So if the USGA ever decides to formally relinquish its responsibility to control advances in technology to limit distance, we can take comfort in knowing that there are already some reliable checks in place. Send The Frankly Friends Newsletter To a Friend _____________________________________________________________________________ Financial TimesFrank was recently interviewed by the Financial Times, discussing distance and equipment. Click here to read the full text of this article which appeared on 10 June 2004. ____________________________________________FROG NEWSFrog featured in GFW GearThe Frankly Frog was front and center in Golf for Women, featured as a new product in Gear for your Game, Spring Equipment Preview. They said :"This putter boasts perfect balance thanks to its strategically placed backweighting. The Frog's design also makes it easy to line up your putts"
Frog Talk"Frank, your Frankly Frog putter is a dream come true. Putting has always been one of my weakenesses and Froggy has given it new life. The design is outstanding and the balance critical. I just shot below my age and it was with the help from Froggy that made it possible. First the graphite shaft and now Froggy. Thank you." Bill D."
" This is the best putter I have ever had. It's unbelievable. I would recommend The Frankly Frog to anyone who wanted to improve their putting." Travis H. "I am making a lot more putts mostly because
of the forgiveness and the quick to roll feature. I love it."Chuck
S. _________________________________________________________________________ Frankly HQ relocates to ChampionsGate, FL
“It is a very exciting move for us,” said Frank Thomas, President of Frankly. “There are some wonderful things happening in the world of golf in Orlando, specifically at ChampionsGate and we feel our new location will greatly enhance our business activities.” Neighbors were quick to welcome Frankly to their new headquarters. “I was thrilled to hear Frank Thomas has moved his company Frankly Golf to ChampionsGate,” said David Leadbetter, whose world headquarters is located at ChampionsGate. “I have known Frank for many years and his expertise and wealth of knowledge in the golf equipment area is second to none. We are very excited to have Frank here at ChampionsGate as he continues his research and development to help make golf a better game.” "ChampionsGate is quickly becoming a major hub for the U.S. golf industry," said Ron E. Jackson, president and CEO of Meadowbrook Golf, a national golf course ownership and management company also headquartered at ChampionsGate. "We are delighted to welcome Frank and his company to the area and look forward to working with him as he lends his expertise to all of us who work in and love the game of golf.” Find out more about ChampionsGate by visiting www.championsgate.com New contact details for Frankly: Frankly Golf, 8390 ChampionsGate Blvd, Suite 314, ChampionsGate, FL 33896 Tel: 407 396 4004 ; Fax: 407 396 0440 All email addresses remain the same. _____________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, just email us franklyfriends@franklygolf.com and we will remove you from our list.
Contact details: Editor: Valerie Melvin Frankly Golf, 8390 ChampionsGate Blvd, ChampionsGate, FL 33896 Tel: 407 396 4004 Fax: 407 396 0440
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Welcome
to the July Issue of our Frankly Friends Newsletter. Catch
up with the latest news from Frankly...there have been many
new, exciting developments since our last Newsletter.
Frankly
Golf and Frankly Consulting have relocated from New Jersey and opened
their new headquarters in ChampionsGate, Florida.