133 replies to this topic

[Greensboronclion]

Can you explain what you mean about the differences between PG and Links regarding the BLI. Personally, I'm not aware of them really having any differences and am curious about what I may be missing. Thanks!

Richard as far as break it's pretty much spot on but on left to right putts with a lot of break you have to switch to a driver to see that break as the Ani is in the way and was not in Links. Also on a lot of putts you can't see the ball going to and finishing at the hole as the Ani blocks it which doesn't give you a good read on what you missed reading the putt. You can do a reverse replay to see that but that's extra work you don't need to do. The good news is that it is a minor fix that will be taken care of and it will be fantastic when done. As for the bad news well the good news is that there is no bad news.

[Armand]

I'm fortunate to be able to run the game on ultra high and sliders all at their maximum.  I generally can see the breaks without the BLI or grid - just by looking at the 2D screen.  Yes, it's not quite as it is in real life on a green, but I am quite satisfied with my putting without these aids.  Sometimes the green textures or colours don't lend themselves to be easily read.  I find all/most of MJ's courses to be difficult to read putts without aids, especially in Links.  I find Shadowlands and Crystal Pines in PG a bit easier to read, but I think it also helps using the follow cam (I didn't use that in Links).  My eyes must be deteriorating, because I struggle to see the ball in PG unless I make it larger than life or put on the tracer (of which, I'm not a big fan).

 

One thing I've noticed (and it must be coincidence) is that I have probably 90% breaks going from right to left and maybe 10% the other way.  Has anyone else noticed similar? 

[Richard]

Richard as far as break it's pretty much spot on but on left to right putts with a lot of break you have to switch to a driver to see that break as the Ani is in the way and was not in Links. Also on a lot of putts you can't see the ball going to and finishing at the hole as the Ani blocks it which doesn't give you a good read on what you missed reading the putt. You can do a reverse replay to see that but that's extra work you don't need to do. The good news is that it is a minor fix that will be taken care of and it will be fantastic when done. As for the bad news well the good news is that there is no bad news.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I know and have experienced the same. I view the issue as a 'camera' issue rather than a BLI issue. I've reported it as a 'bug' previously along with screenshots. I'm confident that it will be resolved in future updates. Who knows, maybe even the next one.

[Charles]

I think the GA helps too much. It's almost like setting your putting and approach shots on auto-pilot.  I think a grid and BLI are enough for Perfect Golf.  Anything more (IMHO) is helping the golfer with too much information around the green.

Putting on 'auto-pilot' with the GA?? I don't know about that Crusher. Try it out with RTS-elite and you'll never trust your AP again..

[Mailman]

Can you explain what you mean about the differences between PG and Links regarding the BLI. Personally, I'm not aware of them really having any differences and am curious about what I may be missing. Thanks!

The biggest difference is that the barber pole incorporates a thermometer (yellow) which tells you the severity of the slope whereas PG's version just uses the length of the white/grey line.  You will also notice that the Links white directional line is the same length irrespective of the slope.  The 2 shots from Links show a severe uphill slope (slightly L2R as well) close to the ball and just a slight L2R break by the hole.  The main issue from my perspective is the quality of PG's white line and the fact that you sometimes cannot see just how big the line is as shown in the PG shot.  (Both sets taken from Shadowlands Hole 3)

[Charles]

The biggest difference is that the barber pole incorporates a thermometer (yellow) which tells you the severity of the slope whereas PG's version just uses the length of the white/grey line.  You will also notice that the Links white directional line is the same length irrespective of the slope.  The 2 shots from Links show a severe uphill slope (slightly L2R as well) close to the ball and just a slight L2R break by the hole.  The main issue from my perspective is the quality of PG's white line and the fact that you sometimes cannot see just how big the line is as shown in the PG shot.  (Both sets taken from Shadowlands Hole 3)

Thanks for this very good reply Andy. Well made. The Links BLI is superior in every way I feel. I play with no grid in Links (due to the elite level) and have only the BLI to use during actual play (the GA can be used to study breaks and lines but is not an in-game tool). The Links BLI is a GREAT feature, with the yellow bar indicating slope severeness. PG should just copy it. Period.

[Arsam]

Yes Andy, that is an excellent example of the shortcomings of the PG BLI. I know the development team want to go in new and hopefully better directions, but sometimes it's best not to try to redesign the wheel.

[Crow357]

For me, they're both fine. I can read the greens the same with both meters.

[erwildcat]

Thanks for this very good reply Andy. Well made. The Links BLI is superior in every way I feel. I play with no grid in Links (due to the elite level) and have only the BLI to use during actual play (the GA can be used to study breaks and lines but is not an in-game tool). The Links BLI is a GREAT feature, with the yellow bar indicating slope severeness. PG should just copy it. Period.

Amen! JUST COPY IT-it's a GREAT FEATURE!

[JoeF]

For me, they're both fine. I can read the greens the same with both meters.

Same for me.  

[Mailman]

well i'm sorry - and no i never used the links BLI so what should I know - BUT a vector is just that - it has magnitude and direction, having at first been hugely sceptical of this BLI thing I now love it and the idea of having a fixed length line and temperature bar instead of true vector representation makes me shudder!!! indeed if it is possible to incorporate such a version as an 'option' I have no problem with it but please PG - let's stick to a true vector in the default instance and leave the cartoon version to the non-techies and previous users of the links thing who have past familliarity and fondness for it.

 

thx 

 

You can make the point that both implementations are cartoonish.  After all in IRL you don't see a huge barber pole or a variable vector-thingy (VVT).  The trouble with the VVT is that you cannot always see the length of the thingy as my screenshot showed.

 

But I do agree with your wish for both implementations to be available then everyone will be happy.  ATM I can safely say I'm not but that is just my personal point of view.

[Richard]

Mike just posted this in the Steam discussion group regarding the pending update.

 

http://steamcommunit...958868364195087

[Crusher]

Putting on 'auto-pilot' with the GA?? I don't know about that Crusher. Try it out with RTS-elite and you'll never trust your AP again..

 

Thank goodness PP will not be making a Green Analyzer for PG.  These guys do not believe in handing the ball to the player in such a way that he can practically drop it in the hole from any location on a course.

[Mailman]

Thank goodness PP will not be making a Green Analyzer for PG.  These guys do not believe in handing the ball to the player in such a way that he can practically drop it in the hole from any location on a course.

 

I have little faith that a Green Analyzer will make its way into PG.  But I have to say that there is a small (and talented) band of individuals that play decent enough golf in Links without either BLI or Green Analyzer (GA) or a Grid.  In Links I can use either method (BLI or GA) with the same level of accomplishment  to a reasonable standard but the notion that I (or many others) can 'practically drop it into the hole from any location on a course' when using the Links Green Analyzer does not tally with my experience in Links.

 

I find it curious why the concept of putting with a grid and/or BLI  remains perfectly acceptable but the use of a Green Analyzer (rather than an overlay grid) is somehow seeking an unfair advantage.  With the Links GA I have no means of aiming within that GA view because of the difficulty level I play at in Links.  I cannot either aim in the Topcam view nor aim in the GA view.  Other easier difficulty levels can.    

 

Like I said I have heard nothing from the PG development team to suggest that a Links-style GA will ever be incorporated so the point is moot anyway. 

[Stephen Sullivan]

As a powerstroker, there is no way I can drop it into the hole from anywhere, using the BLI, GA or even divine intervention 

 

I certainly hope that all styles of play will be catered for eventually, but until we see a horizontal motion swing, I will be sticking to Links 

[Armand]

When a 'horizontal' swing arrives in PG (and I assume there will be one sometime in the future), I'll be switching to it.  For now, though, I am really enjoying shaping shots with the 'vertical' swing.  It does seem a tiny bit arcade-like to me, but I find it much more immersive than 3-clicking.   Links is a great game, but I guess I've tired of it - haven't played but a half-dozen rounds in the last four years.  I guess you could think of the present PG similar to Links '97 (when it comes to swing methods only!).

 

I think the mention of the Green Analyzer is being confused with the Putting Assistant in Amateur Mode.  They are not even close to the same thing!

[Mailman]

I think the mention of the Green Analyzer is being confused with the Putting Assistant in Amateur Mode.  They are not even close to the same thing!

 

By jove you may be right.  Yes I remember my wife using it (the putting assistant) when Links first came out - and yes she was able to drop the ball easily into the hole from almost anywhere 

[3199E5kennetharry]

JUST BLOODY WELL WAIT

[Jimmy]

JUST BLOODY WELL WAIT

haha +1 im doin 18 irl this morning while the weathers nice:-)