One of the problems in the tech debate in golf is that it's always a binary argument. Either it's always "The ball must be rolled back and big headed drivers must be outlawed!" or "Why should I have to play inferior equipment just because Joe Tour Pro is obsoleting courses!" What we need is a sensible compromise on a BALANCE between balata ball performance, and modern ProV1 class performance, so that we can at least CAP the average championship course yardage in the neighborhood of 7000 yards give or take 300. There shouldn't be any restriction on driver size beyond whats already there, as it helps the average player make decent contact. The first rule of an argument is you must accept the form of the argument. Most arguments on golf tech are framed badly by those holding extreme positions one way or another, eliminating any hope for consensus.
This is precisely why I have been advocating for a lighter ball for several years. There's some evidence that a lighter ball will actually help women and seniors, and there can be no doubt that it would have the effect most luddites seem to yearn for on the longest hitters in the game.
Things it would do:
Curve more, especially into the wind -- just like the balata.
Decelerate at a slightly higher rate -- which means we would see a clubhead speed/distance curve that was closer to balata balls
Sit up slightly better on short grass -- which would help amateurs and have almost no effect on pros
Sit up a bit more in the rough -- not sure what the effect would be.
Now, the USGA tried this once before. In 1931.
Most golfers don't know that before 1921 there weren't any ball standards. In 1921 they said, "The weight of the ball shall not be greater than 1.62 ounces avoirdupois, and the size not less than 1.62 inches in diameter.
The Rules of Golf Committee will take whatever steps it thinks necessary to limit the power of the ball with regard to distance, should any ball of greater power be introduced." (my bolding... if only to note how silly it was to say that.)
Then, feeling that it wasn't enough the USGA changed the ball to 1.68 inches and 1.55 ounces.
And the crap hit the fan. Everyone hated it. But you have to remember that these were vestigial balata balls that were pretty damned hard to keep on the golf course the way they were.
So shortly after they put the weight back to 1.62 ounces, leaving the ball, in America, at 1.68"
I believe that if we lowered the max weight to 1.55 or even 1.58 ounces.
Now, if you want read a nice essay on this read Jon Vander Borght's essay here: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/john-vander-borght-the-balloon-ball/
Personally, I think that if you put it in the context of today's low-spin balls, he actually makes a pretty good case IN FAVOR of a lighter ball.
FWIW, there's even a US Patent issued to some folks who say they have proof that a lighter ball would benefit short hitters
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/47931460/Golf-Ball---Patent-5497996