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Equipment availability should be based on tier, not level.

• cadornette 319 Posts

  Wed, Feb 11 2015 9:35 PM

  I completely get you man. It makes a big difference when facing elevated bunkers that protect the hole, and plus, with the wind against you. I think the only clubs that are really needed when playing Tour Master+ are a Driver (to get a decent distance for your second shot) and an average set of irons (+2 spin, high). 

  I have reached to Tour Master a couple of weeks ago (62. 8 avg scored, now 68) with a 280 yard Driver, a 240 yard 3W, and the rest of the equipments just as I started playing this game: with Starters wedges and irons, I even use 10 credits balls because I can't afford them. 

  A good set of irons and decent balls (probably starting from 350 credits Callaways) make your game improve a lot. 

  I hope you can make it through. Greetings from Argentina, Joel

   

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 5:03 AM

  Congratulations Joel!

  Fortunately, the track lengths are the same now!

  Best first buy for most players is two or three wedges, lvl 38 ATV or lvl 76 Clevelands. These Starter wedges are plain crap, especially from the bunkers.

  Have fun!

• SweetiePie 4,925 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 7:30 AM

  cadornette:

  A good set of irons and decent balls (probably starting from 350 credits Callaways) make your game improve a lot. 

  It is true Joe, however, the foundation of a great game comes from the tough grind of knowledge you are gaining by playing with what you have now...the creativity of it and circumstances presented create amazing understanding for the long term.  ~ SP ~  

• lee22sharon 1,419 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 10:18 AM

  The availability of equipment is a long time sore spot for me.  This site seeks to be ''real" golf like, but in doing so has developed "ways and means" of generating revenue and not staying true to "the game".

  Every piece of equipment sold in the pro shop should be available to anyone with the cash to buy it.  Those that can use it should be able to get it.  Those who want to get better as fast as possible will need it, and of course there are those who will never be able to get 100% from their equipment, but have the cash to get it.  Bragging rights are very important to some people.

  From what I see and hear the availability of equipment is only determined by WGT's need for revenue.  If that isn't true let me know what your viewpoint is on this subject.  MY NICKLE !

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 11:48 AM

  lee22sharon:

  The availability of equipment is a long time sore spot for me.  This site seeks to be ''real" golf like, but in doing so has developed "ways and means" of generating revenue and not staying true to "the game".

  Every piece of equipment sold in the pro shop should be available to anyone with the cash to buy it.  Those that can use it should be able to get it.  Those who want to get better as fast as possible will need it, and of course there are those who will never be able to get 100% from their equipment, but have the cash to get it.  Bragging rights are very important to some people.

  From what I see and hear the availability of equipment is only determined by WGT's need for revenue.  If that isn't true let me know what your viewpoint is on this subject.  MY NICKLE !

  I agree in theory, but if that is the case a hack will buy the top driver and clubs and murder the opposition using the starters clubs. As it is Hacks are carding 59's using starters equipment!

  The only way it could work IMO is by limiting the attributes until such a time they tier up - then unlocked more of those attributes. The problem with that from the WGT perspective is it significantly reduces the club sales (unless you then have to pay more to unlock those attributes.

  Yes any player can go into a pro shop and buy any club is valid - but it does not mean they will be able to use it.

  Basically most club players would not be capable of handling the clubs the pros use hence why clubs with large sweet spots are popular and more forgiving.

  Personally the game is unfair in that peers should be able to have access to the same equipment, but this model was dropped a long time ago as it does not generate the same level of revenue. If the R11's irons will improve your game at level 90, then you will buy them and upgrade at 97 to get the Nikes, and probably at 100 for the next set. Tier based clubs and WGT have lost 2 sales - that is why it will not change - financial like it or not.

  The downside for WGT is I wonder how many players just give up....or start again (the latter equals more upgrades, former lost revenue). I have known a couple of players that pulled the pin because they felt that they could not compete (and I do not necessarily buy that either, especially now with the equipment available) or felt it was just too long to wait for a new toy.

   

• lee22sharon 1,419 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 12:08 PM

  I do not see where what you have said is different than my comments.  Different words, but the same understanding of what is going on with the revenue part of it.

  You are correct that there are more players that can buy equipment (mio) than can use it to its potential.  What difference does that make?  Why are we/you concerned that someone who has more cash to spend can beat up others on the course in the same peer group?  It happens a lot if memory serves, and as we have said there are inexperienced players. who just need to learn.  How do they do that without access to the equipment?  Wait until they reach an arbitrary point and then be allowed to enrich WGT?  Thats KRAP!  my nickle

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 12:33 PM

  The big difference (and I alluded to it regarding hacks shooting 59's) is it then becomes a multi accounters/restarters heaven - skin the genuine new players by 1) having the learned skills and experience and 2) by having the best equipment in the game.

  By having clubs available from day dot will just exacerbate this. So my suggested option of limiting the clubs attributes would off set this.

  As it happens once you get to say level 60, the clubs available now mean everyone can compete if they have the skills. In fact this game has become too easy, yet look at the complaints regarding the changes in playing from the rough! It does not bother me what equipment someone I am playing with/against is using - I do not use the top balls in the game so I invariably get outdriven...but does not mean I cannot win.

  I did say the ideal is to have tier based clubs - this should be an incentive for players to tier up, but I will reiterate, this will NOT maximise revenue for the company. WGT is a business after all.

  From the companies perspective, they took the risk in this game, investing their money, they must look at the best way to maximise their revenue stream. This is the business model they adopted, whether or not we like it.

• fatdan 3,379 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 1:07 PM

  lee22sharon:

  Every piece of equipment sold in the pro shop should be available to anyone with the cash to buy it.

  No way!!! Even more of a reason to start over with another account for the ones who want to steal credits and would make things worse than they already are...IMHO and JMO lol

  I'm curious Lee, you could buy everything in the proshop but the Nike lvl 100 driver and irons but haven't, why do you think all clubs should be available to everyone?

  (Curious is all, not confronting him, not trying to get a argument going, just curious as it seems odd)

   

• DrSlick 142 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 2:38 PM

  I am at the point now where I would just be satisfied with opening up the pro shot to TLs - lol. It would make it the ultimate incentive to make it to that level instead of giving up. Have the r11s and the L85 Nikes or any new additions with similar specs be the best clubs you can get until you reach TL - I would be more than happy with that.

• MichaelStroke 2,066 Posts

  Thu, Feb 12 2015 3:22 PM

  IRISHPUNK:

  MichaelStroke:

  JFidanza:

  Don't give up, I've won a couple of challenges against the best using irons 37 levels lower than their's, using a ball @100 creds a sleeve VS their's @500 creds, with a CPU pegging over 90% while streaming. Hang in there and test out what seems to be working.

   

  I think many great players have felt that.  I used to do match back in the day with my good ol' SLDR and balls that were 64 a sleeve - and I could still put up a fight against the really great players.  I was legend a bit early on.  There were times I was using a 6 iron for approaches where my opponents were using wedges.

  I persevered.

  And I'm guessing you're a better player for it because you probably had to learn to hit shots with less than full back spin.  

  I always used full backspin with my irons and most of the time with wedges.  My old balls had 1 dot of spin.  This means that even a 9 iron with my old R11s would never roll back, and only occasionally stop on a dime without at least a yard of roll.

  My initial game with Callies and my Forged irons was bad because I was wondering how a 120 iron with full backspin would actually roll backward.  I thought I was using a wedge for a week into the purchase.