A Few General Questions

[Alohaed]

Not sure which category this belongs in so please bear with me. Reading up on and seeing commercials for Rangefinders it states for tournament use, slope settings must be turned off. Here's my question on another issue. I normally play my ProV1s. For a Longest Drive contest, on that hole, would I be allowed to switch to a so called "Distance Ball", such as Volvik?  Part II, for a 63 amateur weekend golfer like myself, would I even see any significant yardage gains using one of these balls? 

Thanks in advance.

Ed

[boogielicious]

43 minutes ago, Alohaed said:

Not sure which category this belongs in so please bear with me. Reading up on and seeing commercials for Rangefinders it states for tournament use, slope settings must be turned off. Here's my question on another issue. I normally play my ProV1s. For a Longest Drive contest, on that hole, would I be allowed to switch to a so called "Distance Ball", such as Volvik?  Part II, for a 63 amateur weekend golfer like myself, would I even see any significant yardage gains using one of these balls? 

Thanks in advance.

Ed

Rule 4.2 covers balls. I thought in previous versions you had to play the same brand, model through out the round, but it doesn't say that here. Perhaps is it the decisions.

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rules-and-interpretations.html#!ruletype=pe&section=rule&rulenum=4

 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

Rule 4.2 covers balls. I thought in previous versions you had to play the same brand, model through out the round, but it doesn't say that here. Perhaps is it the decisions.

That's only if the "One Ball Rule" is in effect.

You can switch balls between holes, and when you're allowed to drop under the new Rules when taking relief, you can substitute out a ball at that point, too, in 2019.

[Fourputt]

2 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Rule 4.2 covers balls. I thought in previous versions you had to play the same brand, model through out the round, but it doesn't say that here. Perhaps is it the decisions.

 

No.  Like Erik said, that was true only if the One Ball local rule was in effect.  That was generally only on the pro tours and very high lever amateur tournaments.  In 30 years of regular amateur tournament play, I've never played a competition where it was required.  

To the OP:  I'd check with the tournament committee and if they don't have the one ball rule invoked, then you're goof for any legal ball.  Caution:  There are several golf ball makers that offer balls which are nonconforming under the Rules of Golf.

[iacas]

17 minutes ago, Fourputt said:

No.  Like Erik said, that was true only if the One Ball local rule was in effect.  That was generally only on the pro tours and very high lever amateur tournaments.  In 30 years of regular amateur tournament play, I've never played a competition where it was required.

In fact, I think the PGA Championship is the only major that retains the One Ball Rule.

While the Rules of Golf require a "conforming ball," some tournaments require that the ball be on the list of conforming balls.

[Alohaed]

51 minutes ago, Fourputt said:

To the OP:  I'd check with the tournament committee and if they don't have the one ball rule invoked, then you're goof for any legal ball.  Caution:  There are several golf ball makers that offer balls which are nonconforming under the Rules of Golf.

True. Each foursome will have one of the club's caddies to ride along. I guess I can run it by him when the time comes.  And I would using either the Titlest Velocity or one of the Volviks. 

Thanks again for all your replies.

[klineka]

11 minutes ago, Alohaed said:

Each foursome will have one of the club's caddies to ride along. I guess I can run it by him when the time comes. 

The tournament committee is separate from the caddie. Ask the committee, not the caddie. The caddie is likely associated with the golf club itself, and the tournament committee may or may not be associated with that course.

If the caddie gives you wrong advice on that or any other rule, you will still be held responsible as the golfer. The caddie is not a rules official.