Do golf balls perform better when they are warm?

[Herbie]

I have looked this up DCB and you are right to a point.
The way I understand what I have read puts it down to a decision may be made by the committee (people should check this before comps) to use the ONE TYPE ball rule.

But there is a clear indicator that if people do elect to change balls during a round and do not tell anyone, they will leave themselves open to ligitimate queries or complaints in certain circumstances.

Similarily you can lift a ball if you believe it unfit for play but you can only change it in that respect if you notify opponant before lifting and they agree.Similarily if anyone in a round I was in changed their ball without telling me, I would have ligitimate grounds to suggest they may have played the wrong ball from the rough, or indeed cheated.

This is another example of unclear or inadequate rulings.
Simple rule to encapsulate everything would be...'If you wish to change your ball for any reason, your opponants must be in agreement with the change and the ball type.'

Wouldnt that do the job completely?

 

[DCB]

Okay, badly worded reply from me in the first place.

During the play of a hole, you can only change the ball in play, if the ball is "Unfit for Play" Rule 5-3. Your fellow competitor or opponent can challenge this as is their right. In most cases, at our level of golf, it is obvious when the ball has becone "Unfit for Play" so the go ahead to change the ball is usually given by the fellow competitior or opponent. A Lost Ball is dealt with under the appropriate ruling for the area the ball was lost. Different thing all together.

The One Ball is covered in Appendix 1 1-C and is normaly only used on Professional events or at Elite Amateur level. I've never played in a Handicap Open where this is a condition of competition.

Identification marks on your ball are covered in 12-2. I generally play with 8-9 balls in the bag. Same make and model as thats what I'm used to using. I will often change a scuffed ball between holes and out of courtesy tell my partners or opponents what I'm doing. The only time I will state exactly what ball I've got is as I declare a provisional, prior to puting it into play. This one has an additional identifying mark put on it so as to make it different from the initial ball used on that hole. The rest of the balls in the bag are all marked with my mark on them.

 

[Herbie]

Okay, badly worded reply from me in the first place.

During the play of a hole, you can only change the ball in play, if the ball is "Unfit for Play" Rule 5-3. Your fellow competitor or opponent can challenge this as is their right. In most cases, at our level of golf, it is obvious when the ball has becone "Unfit for Play" so the go ahead to change the ball is usually given by the fellow competitior or opponent. A Lost Ball is dealt with under the appropriate ruling for the area the ball was lost. Different thing all together.

The One Ball is covered in Appendix 1 1-C and is normaly only used on Professional events or at Elite Amateur level. I've never played in a Handicap Open where this is a condition of competition.

Identification marks on your ball are covered in 12-2. I generally play with 8-9 balls in the bag. Same make and model as thats what I'm used to using. I will often change a scuffed ball between holes and out of courtesy tell my partners or opponents what I'm doing. The only time I will state exactly what ball I've got is as I declare a provisional, prior to puting it into play. This one has an additional identifying mark put on it so as to make it different from the initial ball used on that hole. The rest of the balls in the bag are all marked with my mark on them.

I do the same as you with my balls..oooer!and am familiar with most of the rules indicated, its the uncertainty of the general idea that people can change a ball make/type without telling anyone and that oversight to me could on occasion lead to problems in play. By having a simply wording as I put would cover all aspects of the game as it would police itself and there would be no reason for query. What do you think?

 

[viscount17]

herb, simple, straightforward wording would be of benefit to most of the rules and 99% of players.

it would, however, put the referees out of a job.

 

[Herbie]

herb, simple, straightforward wording would be of benefit to most of the rules and 99% of players.

it would, however, put the referees out of a job.

 

[SammmeBee]

vis and herb - I think you a reading too much into the Rules and the making them 'simple' as, as far as I can tell, are as simple and straightforward as they can be....

Rule 12-2 states 'The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.' To me that is as simple as it gets - if you read between the lines then you should of course make sure your opponent partner knows what you are playing with at all times but you have to remember the key rule of golf - 'do what is fair' and you cannot assume that everyone is a cheat (as indeed very, very few are). What type, make, number, compression and even the 'one ball' rule for the Pros - who if they run out of balls in their bag cannot even 'borrow' one (of the same type even) and are then DQ'd

If we take your simplyfied rule: 'If you wish to change your ball for any reason, your opponants must be in agreement with the change and the ball type'

Then - what if, as your opponent, I say no? Can you not change the ball, 2 shot penalty, punch you me on the nose, carry on - it may be an illegal ball for all I know?

The rules may seem complicated but vis you have not been playing for that long and it does take a long time to get used to them but I believe they are as fair to as many people as they can be and you have to take the rough with smooth. The rules have to be exact - then there is only one answer/choice/outcome which is then fair for everyone.....

 

[viscount17]

Fair point, I haven't been playing that long but I'm a technical author so possibly read these differently.

You do actually make a case for the prosecution when you say 'if you read between the lines then you should of course make sure your opponent partner knows what you are playing with at all times'. It should not be necessary to read between the lines when a simple and unequivocal statement is all that is needed.

I have been aware of the 'advisability' of doing this from early on, as a point of etiquette as it is not a rule - good teachers - not everyone is that fortunate.

 

[SammmeBee]

I understand what you mean but the rules are long enough as it is and there are as concise as much as they possibily can be - there is a 'Decisions' book as we all know which is much bigger and does give some detail as to 'obscure' situations and rulings....

People tell me on the first tee what there balls are and their names and I invariably have forgotten both by the time I tee off....all the player has to do is too remember what they are playing with and to make sure that it is defo their ball before they hit it...which is quite clearly covered in 12-2.....

 

[USER1999]

When people announce their ball on the first tee, the only reason I pay any attention at all is to make sure it is different to mine. After that, who cares? I expect people to be honest, so if I am looking for a ball, and find one, I ask if it is theirs. The usual, watcha playin' seems to work.

 

[DCB]

Since this thread has gone off at a tangent, I'd recommend everyone, who takes their golf seriously, to get a copy of the "Decisions on the Rules of Golf". It is an excellent book to dip in and out of.

I often work away from home and in the winter months this goes in the bag as theres bound to be something new I see every time I open it.

Well worth the money.