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‘Now You Can Hit It Out Of The Toe And It Goes Just As Far, Which I Think Is Detrimental To The Good Ball Strikers’ – Former Ryder Cupper Suggests 12-Club Limit And Other Measures To Curb Golf’s Distance Problem

Peter Baker discusses how the game has changed since he turned professional in the 80s and admits the governing bodies have been slow to address the distance issue…

By Elliott Heath · Golf Monthly

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 12:47 PM

Key Things to Know

Peter Baker suggested reducing the maximum club allowance from 14 to 12 to challenge players.
Baker also proposed capping wedge lofts at 56 degrees to emphasize short-game skill.
The former Ryder Cup player argued that modern driver heads are far too forgiving on mishits.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker has suggested reducing the club limit to 12 to address distance issues in professional golf. Speaking to Golf Monthly, the veteran proposed the reduction alongside a maximum 56-degree wedge loft and smaller driver heads to bring more skill back into the sport.

Baker argued that modern drivers and balls are excessively forgiving, which minimizes the penalty for off-center strikes and hurts traditional ball strikers. His suggestions follow ongoing debates involving the USGA and R&A regarding rollback rules and equipment specifications.

Read the full article on Golf Monthly