Most golfers that have old or worn clubs will admit that, over time, some of their most trusty clubs have lost their spunk. Luckily, there are a few ways to remedy some of the issues that older clubs have. One of these quick fixes, to help restore your grooves, is called a groove sharpener. There are plenty of benefits to using a groove sharpener, but are they legal to use.
To help you answer this question, I looked into the USGA and R&A’s ruling on grooves to see if using a groove sharpener is legal or not. Below are my findings.
Are groove sharpeners legal? Groove sharpeners are considered legal by both the USGA and R&A. There are no restrictions that prevent players from sharpening their grooves as long as the groove sharpener does not alter the grooves in a way that breaks any of the groove regulations.
In other words, if the groove sharpener does not severely alter the spacing, width, etc. of the grooves in a way that breaks the USGA and R&A’s rules on grooves, then they are totally legal to use.
What Is A Groove Sharpener?
A groove sharpener is essentially a narrow metal wedge that can fit into a golf club’s groove and refine the groove’s metal. By moving the groove sharpener back and forth within the groove, the tool will begin to sharpen the barrier of the groove, allowing it to grip the ball better on impact.
Not only does it help sharpen the club, but it also helps clear out any dirt, mud, or grass that may have accumulated in the groove over time. If used correctly, the grooves should look brand new, as using the groove sharpener will shave off some of that older metal.
What Are The 2010 Groove Rules
In 2010, the USGA released additional rules that tightened the rules on grooves. At this point in time, there were clubs with obscure grooves getting released that allowed players to gain a serious advantage in the rough.
So, to help maintain the challenging nature of hitting out of the rough, the USGA and R&A released these new groove rules. While simple, these rules did change the game in many complex ways.
So, it is important that when using your groove sharpener, that you do not alter your grooves in a way that breaks these rules. Below is a quick breakdown of each rule. It is important to note that this only applies to clubs with 25 or more degrees of loft (putters and drivers are also excluded from these rules.)
- Grooves are straight and parallel
- Grooves have a symmetrical cross section
- Sides do not converge
- Edge of grooves have a radius of at least 0.10 inches
The 4th is arguably boat important as sharpening your clubs could lead to reducing the radius, but most sharpeners have this radius/rounded edge built in.
Other USGA and Randa (R&A) Groove Rules
Aside from the 2010 rules, there are a few more rules that grooves must follow. Again, it is important to know these rules when using your groove sharpener so you know what to look out for.
- Width of groove may not exceed .035 inches
- The space in between groves must be at least 3x the width of each groove. The spacing must also be at least .075 inches
- Depth must not exceed .020 inches
Should I Sharpen My Golf Clubs?
In short, yes you should sharpen the grooves on your golf club as it will help you achieve more spin on your ball. Sharpening your golf clubs is especially important if the grooves on your golf clubs have become worn or caked with dirt.
As mentioned above, sharpening the grooves on your golf clubs will help you achieve more spin on each of your shots. Below are a few ways in which getting more spin can help your golf game.
Impact Of Increased Spin On Your Golf Ball
- More control over your shots
- Higher elevation of ball flight especially on higher numbered long irons
- Less influence by wind
Having more spin on the ball is especially advantageous for higher numbered long irons. More backspin helps you get the ball up higher into the air, which will lead to a lower likelihood that the ball rolls away from your desired location.
More spin also means that the ball will pierce the wind more easily, so you will lose less of your shots to the wind. This is most likely the biggest benefit to more spin in my opinion.
How To Use A Golf Club Groove Sharpener
Most golf club groove sharpeners either come with 5 heads or 6 heads. Regardless of which one you have, they are very simple to use. Below are the steps that will go through how you can use a groove sharpener on your golf clubs.
- Clean out your grooves as much as you can with either a tee or another small tee-like object
- Find the sharpener head that fits best into your grooves
- Move the sharpener back and forth for about 60 to 90 seconds
- Blow out any metal shavings or debris that may be in the groove
- If it is to your liking, move on to the next groove, otherwise continue sharpening that groove
As you can see, it is quite simple to use a groove sharpener. Once you use it a few times, you will get the feel for how your grooves should look.
Final Thoughts: Legality Of Groove Sharpeners
So, if you are looking to spruce up your older clubs, a groove sharpener could be the perfect solution. They offer great benefits to increasing ball spin and they are totally legal to use. Remember that when you use the groove sharpener, you must make sure that the grooves still follow the groove rules.