Golf handicap scoring system....?

Arcadian · Improver

RE: Golf handicap scoring system....?

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Interesting concept but I think it would have to be too complex and contrived to use in competition because of the fundamental flaw in that there is no course as a constant to play against. As those who play golf know the handicap system is also a bone of contention, I play with a number of bandits who know well there is a massive difference between a handicap of 15 at Hunstanton v Cray Valley, which essentially means a 15 at the former would hammer a 15 at the later every time so the system only perfect if you are all playing the same course in the same conditions.

If you think laterally you could develop a handicap system to use as a game improvement tool. I would see this as being particularly useful for juniors and beginners indeed I am sure some coaches already have basic systems around technical skills.

So in a group lesson you could have the group play 20 back hands, 20 forehands do 20 serves against the coach. Specific targets can be set as baselines as to determine technical levels to facilitate adjustment to court size with cones ie the better player has a larger court to defend or smaller court to attack depending on the skill you are trying to improve, accuracy, mobility etc ,,, in the games you use to finish the session.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 12th of December 2015 08:04:12 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 12th of December 2015 08:06:56 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

I think k we are agreed that handicap tennis is possible, but is not really suited to tennis.

My major bug bear with tennis is the length of time to complete a tournament I.e 1 week normally.

The pros lack most forms of short money tournaments for individuals (rather than teams)and I was thinking about variant forms of the scoring system to break this mould.
1. Tennis tens has already got the ball rolling with the MTB format - you can run variants of this,first to 20, 30, 40 etc and even throw in the handicaps for novelty purposes.
2. Simple concept win 4 consecutive points, alternate serve. Could be over in two minutes, could take an hour.

Then off course you can throw in the very novelty features - padel is going, with smaller courts and variants on the rules.
You could have a wooden rackets tournament and I'll ever go as far as suggesting a one handed tournament (put your weak are in a sling) serve underarm. This will inhibit the double handed players.
I'm sure there are loads more examples that coaches use.

Arcadian · Improver

Interesting discussions and thank you for all the thoughts and input.

However I think for my good friend who thought up the idea and myself that it's starting to drift away from his original goal of trying to find a more challenging and interesting incentive to keep on playing tennis at a social club and relaxing fun level and not competitive, rather than just winning or losing which for me personally I've always found very dull and boring as it's soon forgotten with nothing to show for it afterwards. This is why I rarely play tennis any more.

Whereas in golf you've always got your own personal yardstick/ progress meter to work on after each game is over regardless of which course you play on, and by contrast I always find myself looking forward and keen to try and improve things in time for the next game.

Just my penn'orth.... smile