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Re: When do you change tiers?

• tinchoss 18 Posts

  Wed, Mar 9 2016 5:15 PM

  Hi everyone...

  I'm writing you because I've been playing WGT randomly and I thought I had a clear picture on how you were able to change tiers.

  From what I've seen in some older posts, you needed to get your average score to a given value and after you got to that point, as long as you have played a certain number of ranked games, you were able to jump from one to the next one. (see below links for reference).

  http://www.wgt.com/forums/t/244595.aspx

  http://www.wgt.com/forums/p/9085/707139.aspx#707139

  However, something strange happened to me today. I got some new clubs, and was able to improve my play up to 70 while being in Tour Pro. Last week I was lucky enough to get a #2 position in a weekly tournament and because of that good score, I was able to get it down to 69.XX. But this afternoon when I got home, I was still at 69.04, had the award for that second place, but all of a sudden I've jumped to Master tier.

  Strange thing I though as all post seemed to suggest that this only happened after you got below 67 and I haven't even gone below 69 yet.

  Do you have any clues on what's going on? Does tournament result (not the score you get, but the position you end up) change anything? Does the clubs you have change anything as well?

  Thanks in advance

  Martin

   

• keidan 311 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 9:15 AM

  Hi Martin,

  It may very well be that your tournament play/results is a factor.  From the first link that you posted for reference is a quote from WGTadmin that sort of answers your question and probably won't go any deeper than that.

  -Keith

  WGTadmin:

  ...

  Additionally, in response to WGT player feedback about sandbagging (misrepresenting one's true ability to gain advantage by playing at a lower tier from closer tee boxes), WGT is using more than just ranked stroke play scores to determine each player's average score and appropriate tier ranking.

  For obvious reasons, WGT is not sharing exact details of these changes, but they include factoring in scores from players who perform well in tournaments and challenge games for credits. We still encourage the community's feedback on Sandbagging, but believe this is an important step to reducing the practice and keeping the game fair.

  ...

   

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 9:20 AM

  tinchoss:

  Last week I was lucky enough to get a #2 position in a weekly tournament

  That wasn't luck, it was you improving. IIRC, there isn't a huge difference between TP and Master, anyway. The greens are the same and that's where you score. Keep up the good work. : -)

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 10:25 AM

  I beg to differ: Scoring on the greens is difficult if you don't reach them in regulation.

  It's a big difference to start from one tee further back - you can play with Starters or low level clubs as a TP, but most players have to upgrade their clubs as a Master.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 10:56 AM

  Reaching greens in regulation just requires approaches with slightly longer irons. The green speeds are still the same. It isn't a drastic difference that requires one to overhaul their game or equipment. 

• K7JBQ 1,469 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 11:51 AM

  Very true, and the equipment in his bag is certainly strong enough for the slightly longer distance.

  And yes, placing well in tournaments definitely gets you a tier bump faster. As does winning in match play against a higher ranked player.

   

   

  YankeeJim:

  Reaching greens in regulation just requires approaches with slightly longer irons. The green speeds are still the same. It isn't a drastic difference that requires one to overhaul their game or equipment. 

   

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 1:35 PM

  It IS more difficult, especially with low level equipment. You remember? Less distance, lower trajectory, much less spin.

  1) The irons might not be long enough for GIR.

  2) Shots from higher irons roll longer and - after GIR - will frequently lead to longer putts.

  I know it, I played it that way as a Master, while I waited to reach the level of my G20s.

  IMHO, Master tier is one game changer, like Legend. It's more money or less game fun.

• tinchoss 18 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 2:49 PM

  As you probably mentioned, there are two main differences I'm finding. 

  1) Longer holes, makes (for many holes) no more getting to the green in 2 shots, now it's either pushing risky shots or taking 3 for them.

  2) More competitiveness in tournaments. Not that I complain, but I've only gathered 6 top 100 finishes in Tour Pro and now I'm in a new level.

  Not that I'm complaining or anything, I was just wondering what the criteria was. I've seen average score, but was unaware of the post you mentioned from admins that there were more factors to be taken into account...

  Hope to meet you in any tournament (now in Master Tier) :)

  Martin

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Sat, Mar 12 2016 3:24 PM

  One of the "hidden" criteria is winnings. If you win any credits (at least in stroke play tournaments), you will be pushed closer to the new tier or even over the border. AFAIK, it is quite a strong push, and you won't see it in the average. And, it happens when the tourney has been checked by WGT and the prizes have been published. Thus, you might see it when you come back after a break.

  The other criteria is to win Match Play against a higher tier if you are below Legend tier.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, Mar 13 2016 9:50 AM

  tinchoss:

  1) Longer holes, makes (for many holes) no more getting to the green in 2 shots, now it's either pushing risky shots or taking 3 for them.

  I find this very hard to believe. I played those irons as a TM and never had an issue getting GIRs and that was without a 3W! Something isn't right. Your driver is more than enough to get you decent approaches if you hit the fairway. 

  I'm seeing you have the free ball in your bag-that's most of the problem. Invest in a decent ball. I used the Tour-SD with those irons and they don't break the bank. If you want the same ball with a slower meter, go with the GI-SD. You have decent equipment but it's being offset by the lack of a decent ball.