mongo441: Although I'm not really affected, I find it ludicrous to make such a drastic change, when so many players will be affected. When you learn your clubs to shoot well then play tourns that cost credits, only to find out that everything is changed that is garbage. I'm sorry, but you dropped the ball big time on this, when a needless change affects such a large number.
I agree that some notification should have been made.
I think the avatar movement change was possibly necessary to streamline the avatar animation like they did. I can not say for sure, but perhaps the movement and animation are directly linked - the avatar movements do control the backswing after all. So perhaps the changes were not 'needless.' They might not have foreseen the effect this would have on peoples games.
So far the change has resulted in smoother game play for me meter and animation wise.
People will adjust to the new movements if they want to use them. We just have to figure them out. :P