Would you ever

Would you ever look for your opponents ball in matchplay

  • Yes, all the time

    Votes: 52 60.5%
  • Yes, if it was a crucial part of the match

    Votes: 6 7.0%
  • No, never

    Votes: 26 30.2%
  • What's matchplay?

    Votes: 2 2.3%

  • Total voters
    86
I wouldn't even give it a cursory glance. The only ball you'll find having a quick look as you walk past is one not buried and likely to be playable.

If he wants to spot me 2 shots then knock yourself out pal ;)
 
Par three, and opponent shanks one into the trees. You miss the green in the deepest bunker on the course, and will struggle to make par. Opponent then plays a provisional and stiffs it. Not looking for his original ball, and he is walking off the tee with a guaranteed four. You will do well to get a three more likely a four, and even possibly a five.

Would you not look for his provisional in the case ?
 
Par three, and opponent shanks one into the trees. You miss the green in the deepest bunker on the course, and will struggle to make par. Opponent then plays a provisional and stiffs it. Not looking for his original ball, and he is walking off the tee with a guaranteed four. You will do well to get a three more likely a four, and even possibly a five.

Would you not look for his provisional in the case ?

With my luck I'd find it and she'd get up and down for a three!

No, if an opponent or FC in strokeplay didn't want to look for their original I'd be happy to go along with that. I can't remember ever helping an opponent look for a ball and thinking it'd be better for me if we found it.

Conversely, if it was me, I'd always declare a reload as a provisional and always look for the first one. I hit three balls into deep trouble on Sunday, found them all and made par each time. Never occurred to me to play my 4th shot with the provisional from the middle of the fairway, that'd just be daft!
 
Par three, and opponent shanks one into the trees. You miss the green in the deepest bunker on the course, and will struggle to make par. Opponent then plays a provisional and stiffs it. Not looking for his original ball, and he is walking off the tee with a guaranteed four. You will do well to get a three more likely a four, and even possibly a five.

Would you not look for his provisional in the case ?

Exactly 👌
 
Par three, and opponent shanks one into the trees. You miss the green in the deepest bunker on the course, and will struggle to make par. Opponent then plays a provisional and stiffs it. Not looking for his original ball, and he is walking off the tee with a guaranteed four. You will do well to get a three more likely a four, and even possibly a five.

Would you not look for his provisional in the case ?

Not for me mate - if he says he doesn't want to look for it then I'll just go and play my ball knowing I have a chance to win the hole - running off to get his ball to make him play it just seems a bit too much to me
 
Would it not sit right within the spirit of the game to go looking after he has said dont worry about it ?

I would be asking myself why he does not want to look for his ball. Especially if it's findable.
normally when a pp says he will hit a provisional just in case. It's not usually on the proviso " if I muller it we will not look for the first one".
So I think the spirit of the game might be a bit stretched by Mr provisional.

PS phil, shouldn't you be at work. Bad man.
 
I would be asking myself why he does not want to look for his ball. Especially if it's findable.
normally when a pp says he will hit a provisional just in case. It's not usually on the proviso " if I muller it we will not look for the first one".
So I think the spirit of the game might be a bit stretched by Mr provisional.

PS phil, shouldn't you be at work. Bad man.

Getting very specific here

I don't think I have ever played with someone who has ignored a "findable" tee shot after a provisional - everyone I have played with has had a look because if it's findable then it's more than likely to be playable and could be just 2 in the fairway or on the green as opposed to 3

The only time I myself and others have ignored the initial tee shot for a provisional is when it's properly gone into the deep deep poop where it's near on impossible to find
 
Not for me mate - if he says he doesn't want to look for it then I'll just go and play my ball knowing I have a chance to win the hole - running off to get his ball to make him play it just seems a bit too much to me
Interesting, because someone could as Tashyboy says, be using the provisional as a free shot. Smack that one in the clag and he looks for the original. Hits a cracker, and he forgets the original. Could work well round a course like Woodhall Spa on their par 3's.:mmm:

Personally I have never looked for a ball, someone said don't bother with, in 40 years. If I thought some one was trying it on though.:mmm:
 
Interesting, because someone could as Tashyboy says, be using the provisional as a free shot. Smack that one in the clag and he looks for the original. Hits a cracker, and he forgets the original. Could work well round a course like Woodhall Spa on their par 3's.:mmm:

Personally I have never looked for a ball, someone said don't bother with, in 40 years. If I thought some one was trying it on though.:mmm:

Well I guess the attitude when hitting the provisional will be determined by where the original goes

If the first is a ball that could be found then the people i play with go and attempt to find it
 
I have been on the receiving end of someone finding my ball, after I said don't bother.

On our fourth when I carved one right short of the pond, and it went into snake country. Played a provisional which hit the green, so looked on for a 6. Had a quick look on the edge of the pond in case it had hit a tree and comeback into play. No sign so called off the hunt. Very keen mate who had gone into the deep stuff suddenly says he has found my ball. Ended up with a nine. A six would have seen me finish in the top three.:(

He thought he was doing me a favour, but I only mention it to him a few times every year.
 
It depends where the initial shot went. Deep into brambles and nettles and forget it. Into heavy rough and I'd probably have a cursory look especially if it's a tight game. I wouldn't bust a gut but you never know!
 
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