Strong and Weak Handicap

I was looking at the past handicap listing in my golf club. The list contain the submitted scores by each member.

I copy pasted two players from the list. They were listed next to each other

Player A Handicap 16.1
Scores: 90*A, 93*, 104A, 95A, 94*A, 90*, 105, 110A, 91*, 99A, 98A, 89*, 96A, 102A, 91*A, 98A, 100A, 85*, 90*A, 89*A

Player B Handicap 17.2
Scores: 88*A, 90*A, 90A, 91A, 90A, 89*A, 91A, 90*A, 90*A, 90*A, 92A, 91A, 87*A, 88*, 89*, 92A, 94A, 93A, 94A, 90*A

Legend:
A is Away Game (without A is home game)
* means the score is used to calculate handicap

I found the difference between Player B and A so striking. Player B can play so consistently and Player A is very inconsistent. Yet Player A is a very weak 16 (probably bcoz of a fluke round of 85) and Player B is pretty strong 17.

Which one is more like you?

If you are like Player B, how did you become a consistent player?

Are there more "strong" handicappers amongst low handicappers?

I am more of player B and henceforth not suitable for match play.

For me, to o have a game more for match play, I need to improve my FW.

I am a "A" player for sure .. My games is up & down, up & down, up & down .. Holly cow

Both players are a good mix for team matchplay.

However, looking at scores I feel will oni reveal part of the truth behind the player.

Did player A play bad due to:

- being new to the game?
- having a weak mental side?
- find trouble areas he had trouble escaping out of (bunkers, hazards etc)?
- hit more bad shots and weak short game...thus
- hit good shots with still a bad short game? (for his better games)
etc etc etc


player B might have more consistent scores becos:

- he has played the game longer?
- hit it straight to avoid trouble?
- hit it short so the trouble on the course might not be in play?
- better short game?
- better long game but short game might be same std as player A?
etc etc etc

Thats why to track your problem areas, scores are not enough to track progress. You need to track your FIR, GIR, PPR, number of hazards found, sand saves, avg putt per green as a start to know where your weaknesses lie.

Player A's hcp is 16.1....is not because of a fluke round of 85.
Hcp is calculated based on ave of 10 best game. So one good round will not boost his hcp by much. That is also why most players will not play to their handicap....Stats show prob 1 out of 5 rounds, u can play to your handicap.

And if u consistently beat ur handicap, you are a buaya.

Yes Player A is inconsistent.
But did u find out whether he is playing blue or white tee?
There could be a diff of 5 to 6 strokes here.

Player B is consistent.....but he could be playing white tee all the time.
Expose him to blue tee and his score may be diff.

Just my humble opinion.

player B too suspiciously consistent??

I am like Player A

I play from both blue and white tee. I play low 90s from both tees on good days. I also can score 100+ from either tees, if my landscaping instinct decided to take over When the stars were aligned, I broke 90 a few times.

With the little playing time I put in every year, I'm interested to reduce my score dispersion, not necessarily reduce my handicap. I'm following what S70B is preaching: take stats, short game practice, pro lessons, play stakes for my mental strength etc.

Maybe I need to pay a visit to the shrink or some neuro linguistic seminar

what about your story?