Foursomes, this made me think

[medwayjon]

What happens if one of the pairings in the RC play different balls?

McIlroy plays Prov's and Mcdowell plays callaway.

How do they get around it?

Just something that came to mind.

 

[The_LHC]

You don't get around it, you just play which ball is in play, I'd guess whichever partner is teeing off decides. That's how it's always worked when I've played foursomes.

 

[Robobum]

In one of Monty's interviews he said about when he played with Faldo. A big box of Faldo's balls turned up @ Monty's house to give him time to get used to them.

 

[vig]

The way McIlroy played the last 3 holes in the foursomes yesterday, it wouldn't have made a difference if they'd played with a cricket ball.

I thought they'd switched him for an 18 handicapper.

 

[Smiffy]

In one of Monty's interviews he said about when he played with Faldo. A big box of Faldo's balls turned up @ Monty's house to give him time to get used to them.

I'd have sent a big box of Monty's balls to Faldo's house in reply

 

[jammydodger]

This is another little twist that has to be thought about for a captain. All the times i've ever played foursomes we've just decided on the first tee and its usually me who says it doesnt matter cos i'm the better player and can adapt to any ball

I dont think you can just play whatever ball you want just because you're the one teeing off and change each hole. You'd have to be very careful to always declare which ball you're using each time and that could easily get confusing and would open up all sorts of rules probs

 

[grumpyjock]

The balls would all have to be legal, or does the Ryder cup commitee say what is to be played?

 

[USER1999]

ProV1, the most trusted ball in golf, obviously.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I dont think you can just play whatever ball you want just because you're the one teeing off and change each hole. You'd have to be very careful to always declare which ball you're using each time and that could easily get confusing and would open up all sorts of rules probs

Good point. Wasn't there a kerfuffle some years back when the Americans were using different compression balls or something (just looked it up, it was 1991, "War on the Shore"). Seve spotted it and Azinger was in the American pair so you can imagine it was a bit tense.

I also recall reading there may have been a time when a captain picked a foursome pair on basis that they both played the same (unusual i.e. not titleist) ball. Could be wrong on that though.

 

[Basher]

I noticed Tiger putting out a Nike and Furyk putting out a Srixon. Their chosen choice.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

In one of Monty's interviews he said about when he played with Faldo. A big box of Faldo's balls turned up @ Monty's house to give him time to get used to them.

I'd have sent him three dozen Donnay Platinums with a note that said:

"You've got two weeks to get used to these, you c*@t!"

 

[The_LHC]

I dont think you can just play whatever ball you want just because you're the one teeing off and change each hole. You'd have to be very careful to always declare which ball you're using each time and that could easily get confusing and would open up all sorts of rules probs

No you just need to declare what each player is using at the start of the round, it's not that difficult to keep track of who teed off on each hole and therefore which ball is in play but there's nothing to stop you changing ball after each hole (or deciding you want to ball your partner's ball on a tee shot). You can't change in the middle of the hole of course which is why Fowler and Furyk lost a hole when Fowler dropped his own ball after Furyk found casual water with HIS ball. Fowler didn't realise he couldn't just use his own ball, played it, Furyk realised and called the ref over, hole lost.

 

[doubletripledouble]

I dont think you can just play whatever ball you want just because you're the one teeing off and change each hole. You'd have to be very careful to always declare which ball you're using each time and that could easily get confusing and would open up all sorts of rules probs

Good point. Wasn't there a kerfuffle some years back when the Americans were using different compression balls or something (just looked it up, it was 1991, "War on the Shore"). Seve spotted it and Azinger was in the American pair so you can imagine it was a bit tense.

I also recall reading there may have been a time when a captain picked a foursome pair on basis that they both played the same (unusual i.e. not titleist) ball. Could be wrong on that though.

Close Mashie,
It was Seve and Olazabal playing different balls, but it wasn't due to which player was teeing off, they were using a harder ball into the wind and the softer when playing with the wind. He was a right one that Severiano

 

[Ken_A]

I was asking about this while playing yesterday. For me - we just play our normal brands, thnkfully mu partner does not play Prov1's as I can put them 4 fairways right.

TBH it must be crap trying to putt with a Cally ball if you are used to Prov1's - totally different feel - and I'am pretty sure there is a big spin difference both when shaping the ball and when hitting a green.