Dr. Lawrence Rocks has spent his life studying chemistry, energy theory, and baseball physics. But most recently, he's set his mind on something that has humbled golfers for over a century: the slice.

Rocks has patented a golf glove, currently known as the 'Torsion Recoil Glove.' It's built specifically to stop the clubface from twisting at impact.

“Everybody notices that you sometimes slice the ball, or hook it,” Dr. Rocks said after he first came up with the idea just after COVID.

The 92-year-old retired scientist added during his phone call interview at Golf Digest as posted on X:

"The reason for that is a lot of times the clubface is set at an angle when you're trying to hit the ball in one direction, and the face of the club is actually in another direction."

The idea for the glove reportedly first came to mind while looking at slow-motion photography of golf swings.

"I thought, the golfer hits the ball and the ball pushes on the face of the club and it makes it twist. People say a golf glove will correct that, but it doesn't, because skin does not respond quickly to being stretched. So it's that torsion and recoil phenomenon. This glove incorporates rubber that responds quickly," he told the golf outlet.

To actually build it, Rocks brought the concept to Chris Crenshaw, head golf professional at St. George's Golf and Country Club in East Setauket, New York, where Rocks and his son Burton have been members for six years.

With Crenshaw's help, Rocks turned the idea into early prototypes, and Crenshaw has been part of the development and marketing push ever since.

The glove's work is still in progress.

Golf Digest reported that the design uses two elastomer strips, one running through the palm and another from the index finger to the base of the thumb. The strips are intended to prevent the clubhead from twisting at impact, which Rocks believes is the primary cause of a slice.

USGA gives green light, but proof remains elusive amid manufacturing hurdles

The USGA informed Crenshaw that the glove’s design did not appear contrary to the Rules of Golf, though a finished sample is still required before full conformance can be determined.

That is where everything slowed down.

Crenshaw said the club does not have the equipment needed for proper robot testing. So they have mostly relied on early trial hits from local players and professionals. The feedback has been encouraging, but it is still only anecdotal according to GolfDigest.

The manufacturing side has also been tough. Crenshaw reached out to TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist. He said TaylorMade and Callaway did not respond, and Titleist told him it does not take product ideas from account holders like him.

So even with a patent and USGA review, the glove has yet to find a company willing to produce it.

Rocks, though, is hoping a company will take a chance on the glove, even if it is not a traditional golf glove maker.

And if it really does help fight the slice, it could become a huge breakthrough for everyday golfers. What do you think?

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Md Saife Fida

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav