Hi,
alosso:I appreciate your statement being clear and coherent. Alas, I beg to differ.
Thank you :D. However, I don't see how your statement discords with mine. The overall significance of your post seems to accord with the overall significance of my previous post, i.e., each person has their own point of view (POV)/perspective which affects their personal value system. Different people can value the same things, such as meter speed and distance, in different ways just like you say you "...don't want extra distance..." and "...dislike an extremely slow meter" because they disturb "...mental distance chart..." and "...shot rhythm" while others may like an extremely slow meter and extra distance. I too don't want extra distance and an extremely slow meter all the time for very similar reasons.
alosso: Zero spin is not the most adorable feature because roll makes shots a tad unpredictable. Furtheron, it's more difficult to stop a ball short behind a hazard. Try a flop with different balls - you'll see it.
Adorableness is relative to the user. Depending on one's intentions, zero spin may not be "the most adorable feature." But, then it may be a very adorable feature, depending on another ones' intentions, preferences, etc. Personal notes for Skill Challenges with the zero-spin unlimited ball can be disrupted with a "better" ball having "more adorable" performance attributes* such as spin.
alosso: Ever since I've been using custom balls, I have put a premium on spin.
I too believe spin is very important. As I recall from the early weeks of playing this game, I personally valued non-consumable products (clubs) more than consumable products (balls) to gain spin because I thought (and still do think) I could get more value for my credits by spending credits on permanent products (relatively speaking, as I know WGT can discontinue any club). So I planned to mainly use the unlimited ball to learn the game, and buy that important spin performance in the form of long-lasting clubs. Therefore, the 64° and 56° MAX Spin Wedges (which I bought in late July and early August, 2013 respectively) looked like a very valuable investment to me and they still do.
(Also, when I first started this game, precision wasn't as important to me as spin. I valued meter speed, forgiveness, and spin over precision and high trajectory and so I bought the 2.5 precision, Med/High Traj. TaylorMade R11 Iron Set (Steel) (L32+) because of my knowledge level and intentions at the time. Now my knowledge and intentions have changed and consequently what I value more has changed too. I still have those irons and don't plan to sell them because I consider them a decent set of irons and that they are an improvement over the WGT Starters.
alosso: …(wonder about the precision of that custom Starter?)
And as of now, I'm tentatively operating as though any suggestion that the free unlimited ball has less precision than other purchasable balls is conjecture. If the free unlimited ball actually is less precise than other purchasable balls, then that indicates to me that balls have a "latent" precision rating and I'd appreciate any factual evidences indicating that this is actually the reality.)
Now that I understand more about the game, I value precision more than I used to and so the high precision (4.5 rating) Cleveland CG16 64° Wedge (L80+) looks more appealing to me than the MAX Spin 64° Wedge (L52+) that I currently have because I now try to hole out many of my short-game shots with the 64° wedge (plus I have the level to buy it now and both the Level 52 MAX Spin 64° and Level 80 CG 64° wedges were similar in spin performance tests that I performed during a free rental period and although I agree that thoroughly re-charting new iron sets is usually advisable and I plan to re-chart the L80 CG 64° wedge, I don't see doing so as imperative as with a less-similar 64° wedge). But, I don't plan to sell the MAX Spin 64° back because I believe it can still be useful for special occasions.
GolfingJMan: In fact, now I'd probably be willing to pay 250-300 credits for a 3-pack of balls with such "bad" attributes as 0.0 rating on spin and distance for special occasions.
Skill Challenges and community organized events with uneven lies would fall into the category of what I consider special occasions. For special occasions, one may have practiced with the unlimited ball and taken lots of mulligans while learning course management. Taking large quantities of mulligans can become expensive with a custom ball (i.e., a ball that costs credits), even on putts. So, using the free ball for practice and then a "slower meter ball" with 3.0 to 5.0 meter speed and zero spin and distance for the actual event might be ideal for some. Again, intentions can have a significant determining affect on the value or adorableness of a product in the eye of the consumer.
alosso: I dislike an extremely slow meter, too because it disturbs my shot rhythm.
The feel** rating can also affect the value or adorableness of a ball in the buyer's eyes. For some, slug-slow meter speed may be ideal, but it may not be for others. The
MAX Slow Meter Balls (Hack+) slow the meter on my wedges (which have a meter speed rating of 3.0) substantially, a luxury I am not exactly fond of for most of my game play, and it is almost too slow (for my current preference) for driving and putting.
alosso: I deem it to be better to learn the faster meter.
And while I too think it is best for me to learn the faster meter, that is my perspective and not necessarily everyone's. The personal value of the slower meter is affected by others' personal judgment considering the circumstances that they are aware of. However, for me, a slug-slow meter on special occasions isn't a problem, but a highly-valued luxury.
alosso: Each custom ball is better than the Starter (wonder about the precision of that custom Starter?). Going through the racks from cheap to expensive will show ev1 his best fitting ball.
I generally agree that each custom ball (i.e., a ball that costs credits) has "better" performance attributes (spin & distance) than the free unlimited ball. But yet again, the differing perspectives of each buyer can impact the "betterness" of an item. Determining which ball is a "better" ball or the overall "best fitting ball" will likely be analyzed not only on ball performance attributes (spin & distance) and meter speed (formerly known as feel), but also on financial sustainability (durability). Financial sustainability is what I believe the ball durability attribute has a direct affect on. What one may consider "best fitting" for his budget may be considered a gouge for another person's budget even though it may be "best fitting" in terms of performance attributes and meter speed.
To reiterate and summarize what I stated in my previous post and this one:
- The value of an item can depend on many circumstances including the different perspectives of the consumers and producers. These perspectives can change over extended periods of time or even in the same day—the same way weather can change drastically in the same day on the same course for different players.
- A wider range of product choices can help a wider range of consumers to fulfill their personal intentions even if other prejudicially inclined consumers emotively and speciously declare those extra product choices' prices to be profligate gouges in their perspective. Goods and/or services may be prejudicially and melodramatically derided as grossly overpriced gouges by some and considered a great bargain value by others.
- Expressing dissatisfaction about current prices or personal desires for increases in the range of product choices can be constructive and eventually effective for gaining new product choices. However, I believe it is very good to leave a lasting example of habitually taking deliberate caution before publishing or saying anything that is, or could be easily perceived as, a character assassination.
Thanks,
JMan
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*When I use the phrase "performance attributes," I'm not referring to durability or meter speed (formerly known as feel). I'm specifically referring to the physical performance of the ball through the physical air and on the physical ground—virtually speaking, of course.
**For balls, the "Meter Speed" rating used to be labeled "Feel" in the specification description in the Pro Shop and in the in-game equipment screen. Currently it is labeled "Meter Speed" in both locations.