Significant changes to golf equipment rules, relating to the grooves in club faces, have been announced by the R&A.
The governing body has decided to alter the regulations in order to make playing from the rough "a more challenging prospect" in the future, as it was felt that modern clubs are enabling players to generate more spin and thereby reducing the importance of accuracy.
From January 2010, all clubs used in elite competitions, with the exception of drivers and putters, will be subjected to new limitations on groove volume.
The R&A also intends to phase in the new rules for the "golfing public", although a timescale for this process is yet to be decided.
"We believe that this rule change is necessary to reinforce the importance of accuracy at the highest levels of the game," explained David Rickman, director of rules and equipment standards at the R&A.
The new regulations were devised after an "extensive, collaborative research project" involving the R&A, USGA and several club manufacturers.
Eight-time Major winner Tom Watson recently claimed that modern driver heads should be reduced to put more emphasis on accurate ball-striking.
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