Club Face

a. General

The material and construction of, or any treatment to, the face or clubhead must not have the effect at impact of a spring (test on file), or impart significantly more or less spin to the ball than a standard steel face, or have any other effect which would unduly influence the movement of the ball.

The face of the club must be hard and rigid (some exceptions may be made for putters) and, except for such markings listed below, must be smooth and must not have any degree of concavity.

b. Impact Area Roughness and Material

Except for markings specified in the following paragraphs, the surface roughness within the area where impact is intended (the "impact area") must not exceed that of decorative sandblasting, or of fine milling (see Fig. IX). The whole of the impact area must be of the same material. Exceptions may be made for wooden clubs.

c. Impact Area Markings

Markings in the impact area must not have sharp edges or raised lips as determined by a finger test. Grooves or punch marks in the impact area must meet the following specifications:

(i) Grooves. A series of straight grooves with diverging sides and a symmetrical cross-section may be used (see Fig. X).

. The width and cross-section must be consistent across the face of the club and along the length of the grooves.

. Any rounding of groove edges must be in the form of a radius which does not exceed 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

. The width of the grooves must not exceed 0.035 inches (0.9 mm), using the 30 degree method of measurement on file with the R&A.

. The distance between edges of adjacent grooves must not be less than three times the width of a groove, and not less than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm).

. The depth of a groove must not exceed 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

(ii) Punch Marks. Punch marks may be used.

. The area of any such mark must not exceed 0.0044 square inches (2.84 sq. mm).

. A mark must not be closer to an adjacent mark than 0.168 inches (4.27 mm) measured from centre to centre.

. The depth of a punch mark must not exceed 0.040 inches (1.02 mm).

. If punch marks are used in combination with grooves, a punch mark must not be closer to a groove than 0.168 inches (4.27 mm), measured from centre to centre.

d. Decorative Markings

The centre of the impact area may be indicated by a design within the boundary of a square whose sides are 0.375 inches (9.53 mm) in length. Such a design must not unduly influence the movement of the ball. Decorative markings are permitted outside the impact area.

e. Non-Metallic Club Face Markings

The above specifications apply to clubs on which the impact area of the face is of metal or a material of similar hardness. They do not apply to clubs with faces made of other materials and whose loft angle is 24 degrees or less, but markings which could unduly influence the movement of the ball are prohibited. Clubs with this type of face and a loft angle exceeding 24 degrees may have grooves of maximum width 0.040 inches (1.02 mm) and maximum depth 11/2 times the groove width, but must otherwise conform to the markings specifications above.

f. Putter Face Markings

The specifications above with regard to roughness, material and markings in the impact area do not apply to putters.

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