What's the story regarding 3/4 handicap allowances

[JohnnyDee]

We have all played in competitions and matches where the rule is 3/4 our handicap - 3/4 difference taken off the lowest handicapper (better ball) or just 3/4 in 4-man 2 to count comps etc.

Can anyone explain the maths or science behind this as it often sparks the "It suits lower handicappers as they lose less" & "We all have managed handicaps so why can't we be allocated these?" discussions.

I'm guessing there is a reason but can't work it out. Some of my PPs believe it's a fit-up to suit the lower boys.

 

[DCB]

Just nipping out for the popcorn, don't start without me

 

[JohnnyDee]

Just nipping out for the popcorn, don't start without me

You see that's the beauty of forums. New blood like me can be set up by old hands who've been around the block and who can comfortably nod and wink to other old hands at the silliness of the newbies.

i await the outcome of whatever onslaught is about to befall me but would add this caveat.

Perhaps someone can do a sticky with "Topics that have already been done and or topics that will stir up a sh*t storm"

 

[bobmac]

You see that's the beauty of forums. New blood like me can be set up by old hands who've been around the block and who can comfortably nod and wink to other old hands at the silliness of the newbies.

i await the outcome of whatever onslaught is about to befall me but would add this caveat.

Perhaps someone can do a sticky with "Topics that have already been done and or topics that will stir up a sh*t storm"

I don't know about stickies but I think you're about to learn what an infraction is

 

[richart]

You see that's the beauty of forums. New blood like me can be set up by old hands who've been around the block and who can comfortably nod and wink to other old hands at the silliness of the newbies.

i await the outcome of whatever onslaught is about to befall me but would add this caveat.

Perhaps someone can do a sticky with "Topics that have already been done and or topics that will stir up a sh*t storm"

Nearly all topics have been done over the years, but if we didn't start similar threads again, the forum would be a very dull place.

Just off to start a which trolley is best thread.

 

[john0]

It's used to level out the playing field a bit as we all know that all high handicappers are bandits

 

[john0]

Nearly all topics have been done over the years, but if we didn't start similar threads again, the forum would be a very dull place.

And if we want somewhere dull we can always go to the Mizuno forum for that

 

[User20205]

Consider it an incentive to get lower Jonny, you can't chop it around forever

All match play should be 3/4 IMO.

 

[richart]

And if we want somewhere dull we can always go to the Mizuno forum for that

More popcorn required.

 

[Joff]

I'm going to start a thread stating no-one should get more than one shot a hole.

 

[Ethan]

The reason is that every shot counts on stroke but not in match play. Higher handicappers may be x shots worse in an average medal but probably have a worse score, allowing for handicap on 3/4 x holes so the appropriate handicap difference relevrs nbet of worse holes rather than how many shots worse they are. Does that make sense?

 

[richart]

I'm going to start a thread stating no-one should get more than one shot a hole.

I did a no man should get more than one shot a hole thread, but you are really living dangerously with that one.

 

[JohnnyDee]

Nearly all topics have been done over the years, but if we didn't start similar threads again, the forum would be a very dull place.

Just off to start a which trolley is best thread.

Hear hear!

And if we want somewhere dull we can always go to the Mizuno forum for that

Pfft!

Consider it an incentive to get lower Jonny, you can't chop it around forever

i'll have you know I'm playing off twelve and heading for scratch by December

 

[JohnnyDee]

The reason is that every shot counts on stroke but not in match play. Higher handicappers may be x shots worse in an average medal but probably have a worse score, allowing for handicap on 3/4 x holes so the appropriate handicap difference relevrs nbet of worse holes rather than how many shots worse they are. Does that make sense?

It does make sense actually apart from the "relevrs nbet" bit. And thanks for addressing the question too:whoo:

 

[pbrown7582]

And if we want somewhere dull we can always go to the Mizuno forum for that

Didn't think They spoke to newbies. :rofl:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our better ball stableford was won by a mid handicap grouping with the first single figure pair coming in third (with Ads749r and I a gallant 4th - we should have won it truth be told) so off 3/4 handicaps did it make a difference. I think it suits the middle handicappers more who can play to a steady standard and only lose a couple of shots and so it's not such a big hit.

 

[Ethan]

It does make sense actually apart from the "relevrs nbet" bit. And thanks for addressing the question too:whoo:

Mmm, autocorrect on the iPhone dropped the ball there. I meant to say that the 3/4 handicap better reflects the number of holes where the higher handicapper would have a higher score, some by more than one shot.

 

[Hobbit]

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away there was the good golf fairy and the bad golf fairy. All through the eons of time and space they fought over who should have more shots on their day off. The good fairy always played it as it lies but the bad golf fairy was thought to use the odd leather wedge, and manage its handicap... Now the Royal and Ancient Fairy, all knowing and all powerful, with the aid of the slippery, slimy CONGU - don't feed CONGU's on Saturday nights, sat down to try and devise a fair solution.

Many times, over many years, the R&A and the CONGU juggled with the chicken bones and the fairy dust only for the same arguments to arise again several years later.

At present, even though there are dark mutterings in the land of Rough and Hazards, we play off 3/4's... one day we may have to play blindfolded with a stick of wet celery in our left pocket - best just chin up and get on with it before the bad golf fairy sees you struggling and pinches some of your shots.

 

[palindromicbob]

Because it's the way things were and clubs ignore stats and recommendations from CONGU. Good player has a bad day against a higher handicapper on a decent day and they played against a bandit.


http://www.congu.com/Myth 7.pdf

 

[backwoodsman]

I'm going to chuck in a sensible question of a similar vein to the OP. Set aside for now the issue of "why is it not full". But why is it 3/4? Why not 7/8 or 5/7 or 2/3 or even 7/6. So what's the maths of 3/4?