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Ball change during play

• Anterious 4 Posts

  Fri, Mar 13 2015 11:34 AM

  I just wanted to suggest that when a player loses a particular sleeve of balls while playing that he or she should be able to decide which sleeve to use next, rather than defaulting to the starter balls. I'm not wanting to make the game less challenging, but I do know in real life that if I lose an entire sleeve of balls (water, OB, etc), I can choose to use a different sleeve of balls, even if they are a different brand (Appendix I; Part C; Section 1c of the USGA, and since I am not a PGA player, I do not have to play the One Ball Condition of Competition). I have played with players who may start out well on a course, using a particular sleeve of balls, only to watch their score drastically get worse because the entire game changes. I would rather play someone who, even though they may be at a lower, same, or higher tier than me, have the same chance I have to win based on their skill level using the equipment they start with, not against someone who suddenly has their opportunity decline because their equipment changes to lesser quality equipment. I understand that it is skill-based, and I have only played 295 ranked rounds, but I do think it makes the game more interesting and brings a players skill more into play. Then again, I could be wrong as well. If the game is designed to conform to PGA standards, then I rescind my suggestion. Thank you. 

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Sat, Mar 14 2015 8:38 AM

  We can only equip our bag with 1 make/model of ball before we start a game. Once the game has started we have no way to 'equip' our bag with a different make/model of ball.

  I do not know what WGT would have to do to their game program to allow doing what you propose, but I suspect having the code in the game for every ball make/model WGT provides would bloat the program considerably.

  WGT provides a pop up notice when we start using the last ball of the make/model we have our bag equipped with.

  And.

  WGT gives us a chance to buy another sleeve of that make/model of ball right then and there.

  So be it if you choose to not take advantage of that opportunity.

  Most WGT  games are designed/conducted like tournament golf. Many non-PGA tournaments choose to invoke the One Ball Condition.

  Also note that many of the courses we play are US Open venues and the USGA conducts many amateur tournaments where the USGA invokes the One Ball Condition. In the past I have played in local, state and regional tournaments conducted by other tournament committees that chose to invoke the One Ball Condition.

  The One Ball Condition states the same brand and model of ball must be used:

  (i) “One Ball” Condition

  During a stipulated round, the balls a player plays must be of the same brand and model as detailed by a single entry on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls.