Protecting your handicap .......

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Paperboy

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After some advice from people.

At present I'm struggling to play to within ten shots off my handicap. So haven't been entering comps to keep my handicap at 15.

Some of my friends think this is the right thing to do and some others think it's wrong. Am I doing the right thing by not playing in comps or should I just except the 0.1's?
 
I see handicaps as naturally adjusting over time to meet your skill level, with an element of lag. I personally would just enter as many comps as I can and wouldn't worry about handicap. Not too much point in protecting a handicap that's incorrect when compared to current shooting.
 
One of my favourite things about the amateur game is the handicap system; it lets you (usually) compete with people of varying abilities.

It also tells you a lot about your own ability which should help you play realistic golf shots without going for the scratch golfer wonder-shot.

Your handicap is telling you nothing about your game and is holding you back from competing.

Sure, keep your mid teens allowance if you want, it definitely looks better than 25. But you're going to have to prioritise; lower handicap or better competition.

I personally wouldn't fancy going round my course in Net 80 all the time. Waste of sweep money if anything.
 
I think people worry too much about their handicaps..
They are what they are. Play the game, let the handicap take care of itself week to week, month to month.
If you're not playing anywhere near yours then it's inaccurate and needs some 0.1's to get right
Nobody with any sense will think less of you because you play off 20 instead of 15..
 
Surely the idea is to play in competitions to get your handicap down, or at least to ensure you have an accurate handicap.

I play in every qualifier I can, my last 9 changes have all been 0.1s but I wont be able to reverse the trend unless I keep playing in comps.
 
Since I joined Shooters Hill my handicap has gone up nearly 4 full shots from 4.6 to 7.5 at first I was gutted, then I realised it's a reactive system and for whatever reason at the moment I'm playing more like an 8 handicapper than a 5, but I know that when everything kicks in it'll come down again!
 
I put a card in every competitive week for the last 3 years with the shanks, my handicap went up and touched 9.5 from my joining handicap of 6. I still managed a couple of comp wins along the way including a gold letter major in the club. If you dont persevere and be optomistic, why bother as you are only kidding yourself.
If you havent addressed the root problem it wont get any better, I eventually went and got it sorted recently and enjoy my golf again.
 
I don't invite anyone to Hayling if they play off more than 15 ;)
 
You only go up .1 each time and one good performance can get you pulled by a couple of full shots. If you don't have the occasional below par score then you deserve the handicap you get. That's the whole point of the system.
 
Paperboy said:
Have been for my lesson, just think it's going to take a while for that to change to bed in. A couple off weeks ago playing under or around my handicap regularly.
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I've always thought that if you don't make the effort - on the practice range - to bed a change in, then the benefit of making the change is greatly reduced - if not actually counter-productive. Thinking about technique on the course creates tension, which is a killer of a decent swing! My 'philosophy' has always been to practice a change on the range but forget it and just let the swing happen on the course.
 
Protecting handicap:confused: from what?

when do you ever enter a comp again? when you know you can beat 85?:rolleyes:

Just play it's only 0.1 but 0.3 off per stroke..........:mmm:
 
If your protecting your h/c from going down your the lowest of the low and a cheat,if on the other hand your not good enough to play to the h/c you have but vanity stops you entering comps because you will found out and will not be able to tell people your a 15h/c,instead of the 26+ then your just a fool.
 
6inchcup said:
If your protecting your h/c from going down your the lowest of the low and a cheat,if on the other hand your not good enough to play to the h/c you have but vanity stops you entering comps because you will found out and will not be able to tell people your a 15h/c,instead of the 26+ then your just a fool.
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Obviously not read all off my posts. Until a couple off weeks, been playing to or better then my handicap. Recently struggling off the tee.

Had a lesson just need time to work on it. One problem is partially sorted, still needs work. Just not sure whether playing in comps is beneficial to helping solve the problem.

Also not to sure how I can go from 15 to 26+ maybe your the fool. As surely I can only go to 16 :o
 
Paperboy said:
Obviously not read all off my posts. Until a couple off weeks, been playing to or better then my handicap. Recently struggling off the tee.

Had a lesson just need time to work on it. One problem is partially sorted, still needs work. Just not sure whether playing in comps is beneficial to helping solve the problem.
Click to expand...

Don't be a Richard, it's a number. If your happy not getting a decent close game when you play someone, then fair enough. All because you want to protect a number?
 
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