Which ball?

It's foursomes and Player A is contracted to Titleist and Player B is contracted to Nike. Which ball do they use and why? You are allowed to assume that the rules of the competition permit ball changes between holes.

NOt sure, but I think for consistency they aren't going to keep chopping and changing the make of ball
In tournament strokeplay golf, not sure about matchplay, you have to play the same brand and model throughout your round. If you start with a PRO-V1x, you can't change to a PRO-V1.

They obviously choose one ball. Apparently I read that it could be Rory and Kaymer, and Kaymer was practicing in Germany last week with Nike balls. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen but I would imagine players likely to partner each other would have practiced with the other brand.

I understand prospective partners will practice with their partner's brand to get used to it, and then they'll decide together what to go with. I saw an interview with Monty on sky last night (part of the non-stop 24/7 Ryder cup warm up on SS4, sorry "Sky Sports Ryder Cup Channel") in which he said he got a sent a crate of balls with "Faldo" stamped on them ahead of the 93 Cup, and was told in no uncertain terms that he would have to switch to Faldo's ball.

They agree beforehand which ball to play.

raycastleunited wrote:I understand prospective partners will practice with their partner's brand to get used to it, and then they'll decide together what to go with. I saw an interview with Monty on sky last night (part of the non-stop 24/7 Ryder cup warm up on SS4, sorry "Sky Sports Ryder Cup Channel") in which he said he got a sent a crate of balls with "Faldo" stamped on them ahead of the 93 Cup, and was told in no uncertain terms that he would have to switch to Faldo's ball.

Now, why am I not at all surprised by this story?

As for the balls, I'm not sure it'll make a lot of difference to these guys. I would imagine most of them use the 'X' type of tour balls (i.e. Pro V1x) and, despite what the OEMs would have us believe, they're pretty much of a muchness.
I would imagine a bit of practice with a prospective partner's ball makes sense but other than that, I can't see it being that big a thing.

I was under the impression that they could change balls in foursomes. Wasn't that the cause of the upset at the Belfry between Seve and Azinger (I think). The Americans were alternating depending upon wose drive it was and had accidentally used the wrong ball on a hole and Seve was trying to claim for it a hole later. Or am I hallucinating?

navyblueshorts wrote:As for the balls, I'm not sure it'll make a lot of difference to these guys. I would imagine most of them use the 'X' type of tour balls (i.e. Pro V1x) and, despite what the OEMs would have us believe, they're pretty much of a muchness.
I would imagine a bit of practice with a prospective partner's ball makes sense but other than that, I can't see it being that big a thing.

not so sure - took Rory a while to get used to the nike whateveritis ball

This question has intrigued me for years. I am a bit of a golf anorak.

A few Ryder Cups ago, I can't remember which, I asked this very same question on an on-line forum and the authoritative answer given by a player was:-

On each hole they will generally use the ball of the player who is hitting into the green.

Maybe the Ryder cup is as good a place as any to trial the tournament ball system?

shut up about your bloody tournament ball system Mac, would you rather football went back to lace up balls, or F1 back to cross-ply tyres?

Doesn't the Captains Agreement say that the one-ball rule is not in play for the Foursomes?  I know it is for the Prez Cup.

If that is true, then typically the ball is switched from hole to hole depending on what player is hitting the approach shot to the green.

The one ball rule has been in play at some previous Ryder Cups, hence the dispute between Ballesteros and Azinger at Kiawah. Azinger changed a 90 compression ball for a 100 compression ball. Since it was the same model ball nobody knew whether that infinged the rule or not. By the time the challenge happened Beck and Azinger had been using it for a few holes anyway so nothing was done.

In the previous Ryder Cup at the Belfry Ballesteros had tried to change his ball in mid hole because he said it was scuffed, under rule 5.3. It was buried in the rough as well. Neither Azinger nor the ref allowed him to change so he objected to Azinger's drop on the 18th later in the round.

I don't know if the one ball rule is being used this year but if not then I guess the player hitting the shot to the green in foursomes would be the one to choose the ball as eyetoldyou suggested.

barragan wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:As for the balls, I'm not sure it'll make a lot of difference to these guys. I would imagine most of them use the 'X' type of tour balls (i.e. Pro V1x) and, despite what the OEMs would have us believe, they're pretty much of a muchness.
I would imagine a bit of practice with a prospective partner's ball makes sense but other than that, I can't see it being that big a thing.

not so sure - took Rory a while to get used to the nike whateveritis ball

And Westwood's short game has never been good since he switched to pinnacles

"....A rules change in 2006 partly explains the reduced angst. Instead of having to play one make and model of ball the entire round,teammates now can switch golf balls on each hole, providing a different kind of strategy...."

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2012/09/why-golf-balls-can-play-a-big-role-in-ryder-cup-foursomes-ma.html