PDGA rule changes for 2011

[smitty]

Wedgies no longer count!


http://www.pdga.com/rule-changes-2011

[Schoen-hopper]

What do I think of the rule changes? I'm hoping the rules read better than the summary did. I'm curious if this has the PDGA forum flaring up yet.

*Holing Out. Wedgies no longer count. But "blind wedgies" do! Have you ever seen a disc go into the basket or chains and then wedge itself after that? I never have. It's possible, but the odds are probably 1 i n a million or less. It's not worth the problems that will now come up with the group having to call if they did or didn't see the disc get wedged before entering the basket. How about a blind wedgie ace shot? It would count. Imagine having to deal with that headache if there is ace money involved. Even on a non-blind wedgie ace, wouldn't it be tough to tell someone it doesn't count when if there is a hill in the way, it would count? It's just STUPID. I'm all for wedgies not counting (Omega Super-Soft throwers might disagree), but the rule should be that the group has to see the disc go into the basket and then wedge itself for it to count as a made shot. Not the other way around.

*Drop Zone. No problem here. People should alway understand that drop zones are optional unless specifically addressed otherwise by the TD. You can always re-throw or play from the OB line if the shot went OB. In the situation of a lost upshot on a hole with a designated drop zone, you would not want to go back up the mountain if your previous lie was closer to the hole.

*Optional Rethrow. At the beginning, it suggests that it is merly a renaming from "unplayable lie". Looks like they took away the option to throw on a line 5m back on the line of play. While more punishing, that does simplify the options. Notice the 2nd sentence in the following paragraph:

"Essentially, the Optional Rethrow means players may rethrow from their original lie if their disc lands in any of the disc golf penalty hazards – OB, Missed Mando, above 2m and Lost (which already is handled this way) – and receive a 1-throw penalty. Of course just like the old Unplayable Lie rule, a player may choose this Optional Rethrow penalty without permission from the group no matter where their disc lands whether inbounds or a hazard location."

In other words, just like before, as a player, you can rethrow ANYTIME YOU WISH, with a one throw penalty added. I'm guessing the intention of the rewording of this rule is for the purpose of raising awarness of it. Your disc rolls off a a cliff, or you throw into a jungle so deep it will take 3 shots to get out.... you should consider the option to rethrow.

*Provisional Throws. Confusing wording, but a common sense issue. If you play a provisional throw for a possible lost disc (which is a rethrow situation) and park it, then find out that your disc actually isn't lost, but OB (or unplayable, whatever), and then decide that the provisional throw was an optional rethrow.

*Obstacles & Relief. It says significant changes here. I'm not seeing anything that is a change. It says you have the optional rethrow option, but that has always been an option. Need some help here.

*Discs on a Non-Playing Surface. Reworded to adjust for discs that are in a hole in the ground. Yes, good idea to just play it back from the target on the line of play. Where problems may surface is "what is a non-playing surface". If you can get one foot behind the lie, it is okay? If you can get both feet behind the lie, but can't move to make a throw? If you can get both feet behind the lie, can make a throw, but you are 10 feet underground? I know it might seem like "common sense", but the TD may have to indentify what is a non-playing surface in some situations.

[Schoen-hopper]

And what is this all about?

"Starting in 2011, a player will not have to remove the disc to complete the process of holing out which was required under current rules. Once the group has decided the disc has come to rest, the player has holed out."

If a group sees an ace go in and they get up there and see the disc on the ground, it should count as an ace because the group agreed the hole had been completed? Just one example. This open ended interpretation could cause some unforeseen problems.

[Ruder]

Too confusing for me. I'll just go off my 2k6 rulebook and it will all be just fine. Right?

[pschmidt]

I had a Super Stupid Soft Warlock stick in the outer part of the basket once in league. Only time I've ever seen it happen though...

I like the 2 out of 3 rule (basket-chains-make). Where if you hit the chains and the basket but you don't make the putt, it still counts because you hit 2 of 3.

[disclizard]

2-3 rule.? Thats a joke right? if you throw a disc and it hits the chains and the basket on the way to the ground its still a missed shot. if your disc is on the ground its not holed out. If its not in the basket its not holed out. On top or in the face mask its not holed out.

[pschmidt]

Yes. Just joking. Sorry for the confusion...

[Schoen-hopper]

2 out of 3 ain't good?

[pschmidt]

I wish... one time I had an almost ace that hit basket-chains-basket and then fell out... could have used a 2 of 3 rule then!

[kscustom]

Would that be the same as today I had an ace run going just 2-3 feet short it's kinda the same, still got the magic 2 and 3 !!!

[Schoen-hopper]

http://www.pdga.com/officials-exam-2011

PDGA member's Official status use to be good as long as their membership didn't lapse. Now, everyone must retest in 2011. And it's now only good for 3 years. And you must pay for it! And it's all because of these new rules (which stink).

[smitty]

It is more then just the new rules.

If you play an NT, you have to take the test. It really isn't that big of a deal. The people running our events should know "most" of the rules. The people playing them should know "most" of them also.

If you don't know them, pull out the rules book.

[ronconversjr]

And what is this all about?

"Starting in 2011, a player will not have to remove the disc to complete the process of holing out which was required under current rules. Once the group has decided the disc has come to rest, the player has holed out."

If a group sees an ace go in and they get up there and see the disc on the ground, it should count as an ace because the group agreed the hole had been completed? Just one example. This open ended interpretation could cause some unforeseen problems.

Remember when wedgies counted, you hurried to clear your disc before it popped out...Or you're inconsiderate and leave your disc hanging in the chains Joe slams his putt and knocks yours out. Did it used to count? No, because you didn't remove it from the basket....speaking of stupid rules! If you see the ace sitting in the bottom of the basket, it's done now. If you didn't see it come to rest, just heard it, you're just guessing it was good.

[Schoen-hopper]

The problem I have is blind wedgies counting. Since it's a thousand times more likely that a disc gets wedged on its way in than on its way out. It should not count unless the group sees it go into the basket before becoming wedged. The only time I could see this becoming a problem is on baskets that are not to spec where the disc can almost fall through the bottom because the cage isn't welded right.

[ronconversjr]

Yeah, I think charging players an extra fee to play in NT's and Majors is lame. Basically all traveling pro's just got an additional charge added to their membership fee. It's great that all the players will be officials,(sarcastically) This means we will no longer need a PDGA Marshall at NT's and Majors, thus getting rid of that expensive program....by charging those members playing in large events an extra fee!