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Forfeit by opponent in match play game does not lower my average

• msulaman 452 Posts

  Sun, Jan 25 2015 3:29 PM

  I am at master tier and played a match play game with a tour master today. He forfeited the match on the 5th hole with me 1 up and about to win that hole. All fine, that is his prerogative. However when I checked my average it had not changed as a result of my win.

  If we had completed the match and I won, my average would have dropped as a result of defeating a player from a higher tier. However since the match was not completed I received no benefit. This is clearly wrong (in my humble opinion). A win is a win and should result in the same benefit to the winner whether it came by forfeit or by completing the game.

  I searched the forums and found some discussion about this issue but did not find anyone reporting this as a bug that should be fixed. Opinions welcomed.

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Sun, Jan 25 2015 4:22 PM

  msulaman:

  If we had completed the match and I won, my average would have dropped as a result of defeating a player from a higher tier. However since the match was not completed I received no benefit

  That is the answer ^^^

• msulaman 452 Posts

  Sun, Jan 25 2015 4:44 PM

  My wording is not quite correct here. The match WAS completed. When my opponent forfeited, I won. The match was over. Just because we did not play the remaining four holes doesn't mean the match was incomplete.

• msulaman 452 Posts

  Sun, Jan 25 2015 7:00 PM

  The language I used was not quite correct. The match WAS completed. When my opponent defaulted, the match was over and I won. Just because we didn't play the remaining four holes does not mean the match was incomplete.

• alosso 21,070 Posts

  Sun, Jan 25 2015 11:02 PM

  msulaman:

  He forfeited the match on the 5th hole with me 1 up and about to win that hole.

  Some time ago, this would count as an uncompleted match, dropping your completion %% rather than the average. It was a program weakness (or error?), accepting only the "concede putt" button as a legitimate forfeit by the rules, IIRC.

  Are you shown as a winner in your activities? If not, this glitch is still unsolved. If yes, ther still is no guarantee.

   

  Furtheron, some reports here show that a match win against a higher tier may or may not count towards the average, mainly if no credits wager is involved. There's still thick fog hiding these rules.

• msulaman 452 Posts

  Mon, Jan 26 2015 4:28 PM

  Thanks for your input alosso. I am shown as the winner of this match in my activities. My reason for posting here is to ask wgt to fix this bug. I know that when a player of lower tier defeats a player of higher tier the scoring average of the winner is lowered (usually). I am told that the scoring average of the looser is increased but I don't know this myself.

  As an example, I won a match play game against a tour master earlier this month. My scoring average dropped immediately after the game. So after my win in the match referenced in my first post, I expected to see my average drop further. However my average stayed the same. I got a notice that I had won the match and my activities shows that I won the match but the scoring average stayed the same.

  My guess is that the usual way this is handled is at the completion of the match (all nine holes) the computer algorithm in invoked to decide whether either player's scoring average should be changed and by how much. If all nine holes are not completed this part of the program is never invoked and everyone's score remains the same.

  This makes it convenient for the player who is loosing. When it looks like he is not going to win the match he just forfeits knowing that his scoring average will not be affected.

  Wgt should fix this bug so that the match winner is rewarded just as he would should all nine holes be completed.

  If this is a problem, or if there is a good reason to handle the situation differently, wgt should clarify the rules with respect to the affect of match play games on the player's scoring average.

  Is the winner's scoring average lowered as a result of a match play game? Is his average only lowered if he plays someone in a higher tier? What if he plays someone in his own tier who has a lower scoring average? Is his average lowered more if he wins by four holes than if he won by one hole? Inquiring minds want to know.

• alosso 21,070 Posts

  Tue, Jan 27 2015 11:10 AM

  It's not that transparent.

  The exact rules aren't know in the public, and they seem to change at some times. WGT is quiet as usual, "to protect the intents which is to fight sandbaggers."

  The best chance to come closer to the next tier is winning credits, in matches (only against higher tiers(!)) and tournaments (RGs). But, you never know...

  On the other hand, the defeated player will not be affected. In general, it's not wise to quit any game to "protect" the average - it shows no substantial result.

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Tue, Jan 27 2015 11:37 AM

  Alosso has answered as well as anyone (outside of WGT which will not happen),

  However the underlying nature of the original post is your average did not drop.

  If you really want to drop your average you will need to play more ranked rounds. Whilst match play wins may (or may not) count to changing your average, you will only learn the necessary skill required at the next tier by playing full rounds (unlike m/p or a/s).

  You have a good record in alt shot but your stats will leave you floundering at future levels, in particular legend.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Tue, Jan 27 2015 11:48 AM

  msulaman:

  So after my win in the match referenced in my first post, I expected to see my average drop further.

  I seem to recall something about what happens the first time takes a few more matches to happen again. Or it doesn't happen the 2nd and 3rd time like it did for the first-the average drops but not as much.  Something like that. 

• msulaman 452 Posts

  Tue, Jan 27 2015 11:56 AM

  Thanks to both Alosso and Alanti for their feedback. Much appreciated.

  To add to the sage (for those who are interested) I just finished winning a match play game against a tour master. We finished seven holes and I won by 3 holes. However my scoring average did not change at all. Now I am seriously confused.

  However this is exactly in line with what you two guys just said so the obfuscation about how match play affects scoring average remains intact. Guess I'll just have to go on playing more ranked games in order to move up to the next tier. I WOULD still like to have some clarification by WGT however.