Measurement Based Handicapping

Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by Medway Maniac Yes, Rick, but who would want to break the news to guys who've been sailing for years that they were 8% (typically 80 PY points or the difference between a Buzz and a 29er) or more slower than the top guys in the club? The humiliation would probably make them give up. For that reason (mainly), I keep the details of the rating system I use for pursuit races very much inside the black box. Are people's egos really that fragile? People who have a 28 handicap in golf play against scratch golfers in the same competitions with no problem at all ... and often a long handicapper will win as they have a good day against the scratch golfer who is more steady. I'd have thought the prospect of actually having the opportunity to win somthing would have seen greater levels of participation.

I think the point being made is how does the golfer feel when their handicap starts to go UP.

Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by Scooby_simon Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by Medway Maniac Yes, Rick, but who would want to break the news to guys who've been sailing for years that they were 8% (typically 80 PY points or the difference between a Buzz and a 29er) or more slower than the top guys in the club? The humiliation would probably make them give up. For that reason (mainly), I keep the details of the rating system I use for pursuit races very much inside the black box. Are people's egos really that fragile? People who have a 28 handicap in golf play against scratch golfers in the same competitions with no problem at all ... and often a long handicapper will win as they have a good day against the scratch golfer who is more steady. I'd have thought the prospect of actually having the opportunity to win somthing would have seen greater levels of participation. I think the point being made is how does the golfer feel when their handicap starts to go UP. .. err they go to the driving range more, see the club pro, play more or just live with it ...

How do they feel, not what do they do...

Or, rather than accept the truth or try to alter the truth, they may walk away
from the sport.

Originally posted by Lukepiewalker Either that or the long handicappers have been cultivating their poor handicap in preparation for capturing a big pot...

Afraid not. I took the data from normal handicap racing.

Actually, I started out thinking 10% should cover the spread, but 20% is already looking too small a differential between second season 'novices' and top clubman. I guess that if Mr Ainslie were to visit I'd need to up it to 40%. Hmm, a novice in my V3k and Mr A. in a Mirror - sounds fair...

From what I've seen in the past, personal handicapping works OK when everyone is sailing the same boat, but not so well when it is combined with PY's as well. The variables just get too great to make much sense of it all, or get a worthy winner who actually feels he/she ougth to have won. I suppose if you imagine golf handicapping where one player is using normal golf clubs and the other the plastic toys you get in ToysRus, plus they are of a different standard, and you then have to make it even - how would you do it? Then add in another 20 people using various other things to hit the golf balls with.