Forums

Re: Balls In The Bag

• tman485 4 Posts

  Wed, Jul 18 2012 4:28 PM

  Why do you only get to carry one set of balls in your bag?  If you buy 2-3 different type of balls, shouldn't they all be in your bag to use or lose on any course before you get the free ones when and if you run out before you buy new ones.   

• TarheelsRule 5,612 Posts

  Wed, Jul 18 2012 10:08 PM

  WGT uses a modified version of the PGA tour one ball rule.  On the tour and in real golf if you play by the rules, you are required to finish your round with the same brand and type of ball that you started to play with.

  On WGT they use the same theory, the exception is that while playing on WGT if you run out of the balls you started with, they let you default to the standard WGT balls.  On the tour you would be disqualified.

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Thu, Jul 19 2012 2:32 AM

  Nitpicking:

  The One Ball Rule is imposed in high-level tournaments and tourney series like the PGA Tour. It applies at WGT in the way you describe it because they emulate such tour.

  The Rules of Golf only demand to use one ball only during the play of one hole, except when allowed by the rules. You may well take a different ball (same or different type) on the tee of the next hole.

• srellim234 2,077 Posts

  Thu, Jul 19 2012 7:23 AM

  Plenty of low level tourneys in real life impose the rule as well.

  WGT is the Rules Committee for this game. The Rules Committee has imposed this rule. That's the way it is. The best suggestion is to stock your bag with a dozen of your preferred golf ball before you tee off and don't take a chance on running out.

  As a suggestion it's a fair one if it can be applied to only things like practice rounds, maybe rounds between friends, etc. I think it becomes a nightmare if it is allowed into any game played for credits or tournament play. The very low scores will go even lower once the best players are able to substitute different balls from hole to hole. Spin ball on this one, distance on that one, etc.

  Tman, you're a little late to the party with the suggestion. There are already a bunch of threads about this. A new thread wasn't really needed, but understandable since you have very few posts and probably didn't search for the topic.

  After all the previous discussions WGT has not added it to the product suggestion list for consideration.  I don't suspect it will happen soon, if ever.

• DannyPhan 1,013 Posts

  Thu, Jul 19 2012 8:21 AM

  This might help!

  http://www.wgt.com/forums/t/116710.aspx

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Thu, Jul 19 2012 8:24 AM

  I can't tell how many tourneys impose it but I've played a few and never had this rule.

  I can well accept it here since we are virtual professionals playing under professional conditions.

  Alas, I don't care how many balls my avatar carries because there is a mobile vendor available every time I'm on my last ball :)

• TarheelsRule 5,612 Posts

  Sat, Jul 21 2012 9:51 PM

  It isn't a tournament rule it is a rule of golf.  You must play the same ball from tee to green, you are allowed to replace that ball after the hole is completed.

  The one ball rule is in effect for any golfer who takes his game seriously.  Many tournaments, especially 'scrambles' in the states for example do not conform to the rules of golf and allow excess clubs, preferred lies, different balls, etc.

  In any USGA event this rule is in effect.  Every state golf association tournament that I have played in has this same rule in effect.  The PGA has a more strict rule in which the one ball rule follows from first tee to final putt, you are required to use the same exact brand and type of ball.  You can substitute a new ball when your ball becomes unplayable during a hole and after you finish any hole.

  Most serious golfers play the same ball at least during a single round.  In scrambles or tournaments of those types, players will often substitute a distance ball for their tee shots and switch to a spin ball for approach shots.

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sat, Jul 21 2012 9:54 PM

  You get enough reminders these days,there's  no excuse for running out really.

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Sun, Jul 22 2012 12:42 AM

  TarheelsRule:

  It isn't a tournament rule it is a rule of golf.  You must play the same ball from tee to green, you are allowed to replace that ball after the hole is completed.

  This is what I said, except that a player may take another ball (and another brand) through one hole if allowed by the rules, e.g. with a ball lost during play or damaged.

  TarheelsRule:

  The one ball rule is in effect for any golfer who takes his game seriously.  Many tournaments, especially 'scrambles' in the states for example do not conform to the rules of golf and allow excess clubs, preferred lies, different balls, etc.

  Excuse me, now you mix up quite a few things.

  "Serious golfers" will use one type of ball on their own will and not enforced by written rules. IMO, the upper 5 % of amateurs may take notable profit from such habit.

  Tourneys allowing deviations from the Rules, as excess clubs, aren't golf, strictly speaking, it's just a similar pastime.

  Preferred lies are frequent on the Tour, more often than in amateur tourneys IMO.

  Different balls are not a subject of allowance but of restriction by the One Ball Condition/Rule, as named in Appendix 1, Part C of the Rules.

  And if you don't believe me, read this (special regard to the 1st sentence).

  TarheelsRule:

  In any USGA event this rule is in effect.  Every state golf association tournament that I have played in has this same rule in effect.  The PGA has a more strict rule in which the one ball rule follows from first tee to final putt, you are required to use the same exact brand and type of ball.  You can substitute a new ball when your ball becomes unplayable during a hole and after you finish any hole.

  This is what I called high-level tournaments. Maybe the practice is different in the USA, but over here I've not seen it in any tourney organised by a golf club in which I participated (low level).

  TarheelsRule:

  Most serious golfers play the same ball at least during a single round.  In scrambles or tournaments of those types, players will often substitute a distance ball for their tee shots and switch to a spin ball for approach shots.

  Voluntary substitution of a ball is against the Rules - the players are either subject to penalty strokes or DQ, or they don't play golf.