A Five Star Rating

Filed in archive Golf Equipment on July 5, 2007

I have said it before and I'll say it again: if you haven't bookmarked Frank Thomas's golf site, then do it now.

For those who don't know (or are old and have simply forgotten), Frank Thomas is the former technical director for the USGA, a post he held for 26 years.

Thomas is passionate about golf and holds strong views on many aspects of the game today.

Chief among them, to no surprise, is his intense interest in equipment and the direction it's heading.

As Technical Director, Thomas saw the introduction of the larger head drivers into the game and their surprising increase in distance through what is called the "spring-like effect" of the ball coming off a clubface of stretched titanium.

He realized what impact that would have on the game and pushed the USGA to ban them outright.

He was over-ruled and subsequently left the USGA.

But, of course, he was right; the "spring-like effect" has seen a dramatic and sudden increase in distance off the tee among the professionals.

Now, the USGA is trying to regain control of the game by issuing rules edicts to eliminate square grooves so the pros can't spin the ball so much out of rough.

They are discussing how to limit distances on golf balls. They are even considering two sets of rules in the game governing equipment: one for the pros and one for amateurs.

All of this makes Thomas's blood boil. He does not suffer fools lightly, does Frank, and when an organization like the USGA makes decisions equivalent to those of a Mom and Pop corner store, he goes off.

However, if the game of golf is a life passion of Frank Thomas, ensuring that the average golfer gets the most out of the game has become his life cause.

He offers straight-up advice, clearly written, and cuts through the BS that surrounds much of the golf equipment on the market today.

For example, in this month's newsletter, Frank speaks about shafts and how much they can really help your distance off the tee, what clubs you should carry in your bag and other matters.

And, as I have stated before here, his site is packed with useful information and thought-provoking ideas covering equipment, rules and the game in general.

There are a lot of self-serving golf sites on the internet.

Frankly Golf is not, I repeat, NOT one of them.