The game's governing body backs away from earliertough talk on a possible ban of oversize titanium clubs "forthe integrity of the game," avoiding a flurry of industryantitrust lawsuits and a public p.r. nightmare just prior to theU.S. Open.

Instead, the USGA announces it's developing a testprotocol to refine the definition and objectively measure the"spring-like" effect of golf club heads. Nearly allcurrent metalwoods submitted to the USGA should conform to theproposed test. It will be based on the rebound speed of a golfball off a club face but won't begin until Sept. That will givemanufacturers 60 days to submit comments on the ... Log in to view full article.