How Is Relative Performance Affected by Technological Change?

Todd McFall
Department of Economics, Wake Forest University

Julianne Treme
Department of Economics, University of North Carolina Wilmington

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     Last modified: March 8, 2011
     Presentation date: 03/13/2011 12:00 PM in NH 1140, Session C
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Abstract
Starting in 2010, the United States Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Society, the two major governing bodies of golf, banned the use of U-groove clubs in professional competition. Instead, players were forced to use clubs with shallower grooves that mitigate the effects of hitting shots from longer grass worse than do clubs with U-grooves. The governing bodies stated that the rule change was implemented in order to place a premium on controlling better the ball from the tee.
This paper explores the extent to which players’ behaviors and relative performances changed after the rule was implemented. Were players rewarded for controlling shots played from the tee more in 2010 than they were in 2009? If so, how large was the premium difference across the two seasons? Additionally, we explore the size of the premium differences paid for other golfing skills, like chipping, putting, and striking iron shots.
We conclude that, in aggregate, players did not change their behavior when hitting shots from the tee. However, we note that a premium difference was earned, in terms of lower relative score, for players who controlled their ball while hitting tee shots.