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Exceedingly forgiving averages.

• GGO2 27 Posts

  Sat, Mar 26 2011 12:38 PM

   

  As a tour master, I can say without hesitation that my 62.xx average is largely undeserved, due to an exceedingly forgiving calculation of this average.  I have played numerous mediocre games when I was not feeling my best (which, as I age, is all too frequent), but nevertheless trying my best to score well, none of which had the slightest impact on my average, not even by a decimal.  It appears that WGT factors in only the top scores and ignores the rest, thus creating an unfortunate illusion, especially from the point of view of someone like me who cannot handle fast meter clubs and dreads the legend tier – with its far back tees – that calls for them imperatively. In short, I know full well that I do not belong to the legend tier, and yet every time I play a low score game, a number of decimals are shaved off my average and get me closer to this legend tier that I dread.

  So here's my earnest request: please, WGT, even though I understand that you are trying to discourage sandbagging, restore some much needed realism in the calculation of the player’s average, so that no one ends up in a tier that he is undeniably unfit to enter.  To tell the truth, tour masters with mediocre reflexes are the ones who have the most to fear, since only the legend tier is so demanding that slow meter clubs like the K15 and the Raptures cannot be used in full, or require the replacement of the driver with a fast meter one that would exceed their abilities and frustrate them to no end. 

   

• SGTBilko 1,686 Posts

  Sat, Mar 26 2011 3:35 PM

  This has caused numerous debates, unfortunately there is no true way to balance this out.

• GGO2 27 Posts

  Sat, Mar 26 2011 4:38 PM

  That is NOT a satisfying answer, as the status quo is so controversial that it deserves a serious second look. In my humble opinion, this status quo is a band-aid solution for sandbagging that conceals a deeper wound. As it stands, averages are artificially low, and create all manner of absurdities.

• duffer66 700 Posts

  Sat, Mar 26 2011 5:34 PM

  I agree GG, us old dudes need good equipment with slower meter speeds. Maybe WGT can set that equipment up for us with the understanding of age verification such as 65 or 70+ players only. LOL

• GGO2 27 Posts

  Sat, Mar 26 2011 7:01 PM

  Or prematurely old farts like me, with lesser reflexes. We are many.

• ChrisC1977 31 Posts

  Sun, Mar 27 2011 2:01 AM

  I completely agree with the only counting the lower sxores. My solotuion is Wgt allow us to create a do not play list that you can add members to that you choose to play with for whatever the reason may be...Including sandbagging. Sorta like a block list. In short, I would rather have the occaisional sandbagger tick me off than to have an artifical score average.

• Joeyola 1,210 Posts

  Sun, Mar 27 2011 2:23 AM

  GGO2:

  That is NOT a satisfying answer

  This has been a problem for the nearly 2 years I have been here and I suspect long before that.  The Big Change we had back in Sept attempted to fix this problem, but it created another problem in that really exceptional rounds, without the balance of factoring in poor rounds, continues to promote, what some feel, are unrealistic averages.  In the past, the same thing was easy to accomplish by cherry picking the best scores.  Now, its a little harder to do.  But what makes the new system reasonable is we all play by the same rules.  If there is any good news in all this, it takes longer to get an average down...unlike in the past were it could be done in about 10 rounds of strategic cherry picking. 

  Below are things, for those progressing uncomfortably, that can slow your improvement until WGT comes up with a better solution.  None of which I'd considered sandbagging.

  1.  Play all the courses

  2.  Play more 18 hole rounds and fewer 9 hole rounds

  3.  Don't use the hottest balls

  4.  Enter tournaments with harder conditions

  Joey

• GGO2 27 Posts

  Sun, Mar 27 2011 2:48 AM

  Finally an echo to the voice of reason. Maybe there is hope after all. 

  I think the score of the occasional bad game could be largely ignored or not factored in, only affecting the average by a few insignificant decimals, whereas a number of higher scores over time would betray a trend or true skill level, and be appropriately counted in the calculation of the average. 

  As for foolish and unethical sandbaggers, there should be indeed a way of banning them or blocking them, or making an example of them to discourage further sandbagging,

  For now, the solution is grossly inadequate, as it creates a serious problem (described in my initial post), and calls for an overhaul, restoring realism in the calculation of the average. Mine, for instance, should probably be around 64, if not higher, not 62.06! 

  If I ever get artificially sucked in the legend tier, while there is no slow meter master driver, I WILL BE SOME PISSED OFF, with all due respect to WGT, who otherwise deserves considerable praise for creating such an extraordinary game.

• SGTBilko 1,686 Posts

  Sun, Mar 27 2011 3:28 AM

  Joeyola:

  GGO2:

  That is NOT a satisfying answer

  This has been a problem for the nearly 2 years I have been here and I suspect long before that.  The Big Change we had back in Sept attempted to fix this problem, but it created another problem in that really exceptional rounds, without the balance of factoring in poor rounds, continues to promote, what some feel, are unrealistic averages.  In the past, the same thing was easy to accomplish by cherry picking the best scores.  Now, its a little harder to do.  But what makes the new system reasonable is we all play by the same rules.  If there is any good news in all this, it takes longer to get an average down...unlike in the past were it could be done in about 10 rounds of strategic cherry picking. 

  Below are things, for those progressing uncomfortably, that can slow your improvement until WGT comes up with a better solution.  None of which I'd considered sandbagging.

  1.  Play all the courses

  2.  Play more 18 hole rounds and fewer 9 hole rounds

  3.  Don't use the hottest balls

  4.  Enter tournaments with harder conditions

  Joey

  great idea Joe, but you know my argument when people scream this game sucks it is usually because they have pigeon holed themselves into this situation by not following these rules. But to continue to beat a dead horse, averages are less important than your playing percentages such as sand, scrambling, 1 putt and 2 putt just to name a few. As for a slower meter, gents you can slow your meter down some buy looking at the number of feel dots on a ball. If you were to use the rapture woods and irons with a couple of the 3 feel dot balls I am quite sure anyone can hit those. a senior level competition would be nice but again, how would you stop the sandbaggers.

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sun, Mar 27 2011 4:42 AM

  SGTBilko:

  senior level competition would be nice but again, how would you stop the sandbaggers.

   

  By making it free, and giving it a title like the "Best Old Golfer Competition"