jjscotmanUK:
IMHO I consider WGT removing the option to add b/s to balls for wedge or pitch shots on green is tantamount to them unilaterally tampering with the laws of the real game where such shots are perfectly legal.
I have no idea why they would choose to do this and would be grateful for an explanatory response from one of the WGT staff.
Perhaps also there could be an explanation why b/s on greens is not allowed but artificial aids like PutterPal seem to be perfectly permissible.
Awaiting a response from WGT and many thanks in advance
The Rules of Golf are silent on this issue but I believe most Country Clubs are not. To get real backspin you need to get under the ball which normally takes a divot. That is not good on a green - wouldn't you say?
Things like putter pal and shot are used, just like the meter itself, as a measure of how much power we are using since there is no "feel" through the input device. There are those that don't use PP or SP but have sticky notes or other ways to mark divisions for all sorts of things on the screen. WGT can't prevent that, so their options are part of the game. There is no way for this game to divorce itself from things that do not exist in RL golf - it is a video game at heart.
Interestingly, it seems that the PC version has survived quite well without using B/S on greens - and we can still use any club, otherwise.
There is no right answer for a video game - I think WGT is going to even out the features for both platforms and this was a glaring difference. Will make us better putters, I hope!