Quitting a tournament to save your rating... - Disc Golf

ScottW · #1 October 27th, 2012, 08:25 PM

I am curious to hear player's thoughts on tournament players who quit a tournament early or don't turn in their card after a bad round to protect their round ratings from affecting their PDGA player ratings. I see people do it all the time and it just seems weak! I think players should just man up and take their licks against their player rating if they have a bad round or multiple rounds. I am curious to hear both sides of it because I know there are many out there who do it and I'd like to hear their justification for it. I guess one reason would be to falsely inflate your rating so you appear to be better then you actually are but that doesn't show a true representation of your overall ability as a disc golfer.

I've never done it and won't so it because it doesn't seem ethical or fair to other players that I play against. That said I now some players aren't concerned about that stuff so that's just me. I've had many blow up rounds where I just wanted to explode

but I've never phoned it in intentionally or purposefully bad enough that I knew the round would not count towards my rating.

Discuss...

Mr. Anderson · #2 October 27th, 2012, 11:03 PM

Disc Golfers who choose to quit a tournament or purposefully shoot badly enough so a round does not count towards their rating believe that a made up number is more important to them than the respect of their fellow players.

mine all mine · #3 October 28th, 2012, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Anderson

Disc Golfers who choose to quit a tournament or purposefully shoot badly enough so a round does not count towards their rating believe that a made up number is more important to them than the respect of their fellow players.

Well said Mr. Anderson!

Chuck Kennedy · #4 October 28th, 2012, 06:07 AM

No need to complain, simply report the abuse per the Competition Rule:
3.3 Player Misconduct B(13) Deliberately seeking to manipulate ones player rating through intentional misplay or withdrawal.

Parks · #5 October 28th, 2012, 06:11 AM

I see it as a non-issue.

A good rating doesn't help you in any way. It can only work against you by forcing you to play in higher divisions. And if you have to artificially inflate your rating, then you aren't skilled enough for that higher division.

matt · #6 October 28th, 2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parks

I see it as a non-issue.

A good rating doesn't help you in any way. It can only work against you by forcing you to play in higher divisions.

at that point, it all about bragging rights for them i guess

you would be better off to take the low score, as a form of legit sandbagging, (for lack of a better way to say it)

LJ Jubner · #7 October 28th, 2012, 06:45 AM

This does seem like a contradiction. Since the ratings have a very limited benefit and as a TD I cannot force someone to play in the highest division that their rating would allow seems like a waste of time. What penalty could I possibly administer? The player has already abandoned their entry fee and by reporting them nationally what repercussions (if any) will be taken at future events.

I have said this before Ratings are just away to keep players interested during the long cold winter. Ever wonder why Ball golf has a season (March-Oct) for handicaps?

Chuck Kennedy · #8 October 28th, 2012, 09:15 AM

Snow?

blu666z · #9 October 28th, 2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Anderson

Disc Golfers who choose to quit a tournament or purposefully shoot badly enough so a round does not count towards their rating believe that a made up number is more important to them than the respect of their fellow players.

/endthread

LJ Jubner · #10 October 28th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Kennedy

Snow?

That's my point.

Here is a good question
Are ratings a suggested or formal plateau?

jeffmonty · #11 October 28th, 2012, 12:24 PM

Winners never quit and quitters never win. Yeah, it might sound corny, but it's true. Anyone who would quit their round probably will quit in other aspects of their lives.

NWDiscer · #12 October 28th, 2012, 01:26 PM

ridiculous!!!!!!!!!

Bruce · #13 October 28th, 2012, 02:12 PM

I will fully admit to dropping out of a tournament mid round. I did this 3 years ago at a C-tier at Trojan. I was in 2nd place after the first round, Dion I think it was had me by a stroke. During the second round I threw maybe...6 discs in the water. I was so frustrated at myself, and upset that yes I walked off the course. No it wasn't to save my rating it was because I had just dumped 3 CE discs in the drink. Just one situation and sure some may still frown upon it, but the point where it stopped being fun dropping money in the water.

Yes some people consistently drop out of tournaments mid rounds, or play well below their level just so a rating will not count. Yeah it sucks, but people are going to do what they want, regardless if people approve or not.

General Scales · #14 October 28th, 2012, 03:47 PM

Never have dropped out of a round and unless I break something or I get some other sort of medical emergency, I won't. Ratings mean nothing besides you get a fancy number to compare yourself to other disc golfers with. Bleh I say, I've beaten very high rated golfers and been spanked by some very low rated golfers. It's all relative to how you shoot that day and if you are happy with what you accomplished.

ScottW · #15 October 28th, 2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce

Yes some people consistently drop out of tournaments mid rounds, or play well below their level just so a rating will not count. Yeah it sucks, but people are going to do what they want, regardless if people approve or not.

I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to do anything based on my approval or disapproval. I was just curious to hear what people thought. I've talked about it a number of times with local players. I could see your point on walking away from losing more discs - I guess that's why I don't/won't throw any valuable discs if there is a possibility of losing it/them. I have put my beloved USDCC baby Roc away numerous times out of fear of losing it. That's a good perspective and point though.

Jason Philips · #16 October 28th, 2012, 08:59 PM

I think it is disrespectful to any one person who may have been on a wait list and was ultimately unable to play.

JMan · #17 October 29th, 2012, 06:17 AM

Just another indication that folks value different things in different ways...

emmarose · #18 October 29th, 2012, 10:15 AM

weak. sauce.

your rating (with enough rounds under your belt, anyway) is a pretty darn good indicator of the type of golfer you are in a tournament situation... and that includes when you play like poop... which happens more for some people and less for others.

yes, i am sad that i didn't break 900 this season but it is not because of an unfair rating system it is because in several tournaments i played like poop. and if you can't accept that sometimes you play like poop... well, then... freaking get better...

the slosh finale at Lunchtime was a horribly humiliating experience for me... i didn't want to look at anyone, or talk to anyone or finish the damn tournament... easily the worst golf i have ever played in my life... 804 rated round... i did not drop out to save my rating... i came back (knowing there was no chance for me to win and quite possibly had just screwed my goal for the season of breaking 900 before the season even really started) and pulled myself together and shot a 900+ round because the humiliation of shooting 804 is nothing compared to what a lame-o crybaby i would have felt like if i'd dropped...

and my karmic payback? despite not knowing the "2.5 times your standard deviation below your rating" rule, my round was so terrible it didn't end up counting anyway...

General Scales · #19 October 29th, 2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmarose

weak. sauce.

your rating (with enough rounds under your belt, anyway) is a pretty darn good indicator of the type of golfer you are in a tournament situation... and that includes when you play like poop... which happens more for some people and less for others.

yes, i am sad that i didn't break 900 this season but it is not because of an unfair rating system it is because in several tournaments i played like poop. and if you can't accept that sometimes you play like poop... well, then... freaking get better...

the slosh finale at Lunchtime was a horribly humiliating experience for me... i didn't want to look at anyone, or talk to anyone or finish the damn tournament... easily the worst golf i have ever played in my life... 804 rated round... i did not drop out to save my rating... i came back (knowing there was no chance for me to win and quite possibly had just screwed my goal for the season of breaking 900 before the season even really started) and pulled myself together and shot a 900+ round because the humiliation of shooting 804 is nothing compared to what a lame-o crybaby i would have felt like if i'd dropped...

and my karmic payback? despite not knowing the "2.5 times your standard deviation below your rating" rule, my round was so terrible it didn't end up counting anyway...

That's because you're a disc golf soldier! Droppers make me sad.

Scott · #20 October 29th, 2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMan

Just another indication that folks value different things in different ways...

Thanks J - you summed up my feelings nicely.

I get that people will drop or tank to save their ratings. It's not for me personally, but I can see how/why some would.

The original post mentioned people not turning in a card - now that is some serious weak sauce because it affects other people. Are there instances where this has happened?