What is your Potential?
 

What is your potential for your scoring average? Your handicap is supposed to be your potential best average. I would prefer to think of it, as your total scoring average as a better mark, for your true golfing skills. Potential vs reality = which is a true value?

My true handicap would range between the 85 - 95 range which I believe is better than the national average ...

My handicap is much higher than my potential. I have the potential to break 80 every day. In reality I break 90 4 rounds out of 5 and and low 90s all other times, with the once a month bomber that I am over 100. If i hit the shots I know I'm capable of hitting 9 imes out of 10 instead of 6, I'd be a 5 handicap. But unfortunately, reality is king and for now 82-85 is going to be my scores most of the time at my home course, a little higher at tougher courses.

Good topic OG. I think for some reason most people believe the handicap index is an average of your scores, when in reality it is your scoring potential. I also believe that scoring averages are a better measure, however with course difficulties being so different across the board, it would be hard to make those comparisons so we are stuck with the index that the USGA uses.

Going scoring average is probably the worst way to talk about your ability on a golf forum, since we all play different courses with varying lengths and difficulties. An 80 on my course could be an 88 on another course, or even 100 on a course in Texas.

Your scores on a single course can only be measured against people who are playing the same course, where handicaps help even out across the board. (I said, "help".)

Tadashi shot a 77 at Sawgrass, and I would say that is much better than a 77 at my course. Hell, it would be better than a 70 at my course!

I tend to score low 90s and the occasional-blue moon occasional-high 80s and twice I have scored 80.

So my handicap is much higher than my potential it all depends on how conservative I'm playing that day

My average scores are between 85-95, but I know that I have the potential to shoot in the 70s (especially after today, lol). Hope that today shows me that I can "reach the mountaintop".

Good point however if you were to go on vacation to say Florida or California and shoot a score with a similar slope rating of your home course, it would be somewhat of a good average huh?

I know I have the potential to shoot alot better but the damn trees, sand and water keep getting in the way of my shots!!! http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...lies/alien.png

My handicap index is 7.4;
My course handicap is 8
My average score is 80.2

I think my "potential" is about 74; I would say that is a very good score for me on my home course. (rated 68.2, slope 123)

I agree, but at the same time, I think the way a USGA handicap is determined is misleading as well. My handicap would make you believe I'm a better player than I am. I hit the bar a long way and every now and then I get my driver working for me and hit some fairways I also have the ability to putt pretty well when I am on. I can throw up scores in the low 80's pretty commonly, and have shot 78 a couple times as well. On the other hand, I shoot in the mid 90's with some frequency as well, but because of the way a handicap is determined. I have another friend who doesn't hit the ball near as far, but is a pretty consistent player, shoots in the low 80's often, almost never goes over 90 or under 80, but stays in the 80s. By looking at handicaps, we are pretty equal golfers. But in reality he is simply better than me.

I personally think more of your scores should count. I think its crazy that only your best 50% count. I think it would make more sense to take out your best score and your two worst scores.

Edit: I ranted instead of answering the question. I would say my potential is a 76. My PB is a 78 which I have shot twice, I think it is pretty reasonable that I could throw up a 76 on a good ball striking day when the breaks go my way.

I feel like with some practice and some instruction I could be somewhere around 80ish. I'm routinely in the 90's now, and when I have a reasonable day, I threaten high 80's. Considering how bad my iron game is right now, and with a touch more consistency, I could threaten the mid 70's.

I would say that my potential is between 85-95. Down here I have the opportunity to play some very tough courses and a lot of them have a very difficult rating, but having the opportunity to play them often I have adjusted accordingly and have been able to minimize my penalties and "miss in the right spot" to put up some good scores on some tough courses.

I think my handicap makes me look better than I am because I play 99% of my rounds at the same course and know where not to hit the ball and how to score my home course. I usually shoot in the 80's but when I play a course for the first time I end up in the 90's.

I clicked the wrong one.

My true potential would be 72-75 every time. If I shoot 80 or below I am happy with as much time as I devote to my game. Thats usually 6-7 rounds a month and maybe 5 range sessions.

Edit: My actual index is currently 5.7

A handicap is the potential score for a very important reason, the ability to play with others of differing handicaps. That is why it is the average of the 20 lowest scores. If it was the average score, it would tend to favor the higher handicap player due to the variance in their scores. The idea is to give players of differing ability the chance to have an equal playing field.

I clicked on the wrong one also, My average is probably 88 or so, my handicap is a 10.5. Most of my rounds are played on courses with a rating around 72.

+1 to this. Never really knew how my handicap would "travel" until recently. I can break 80 at my home course, yet shooting mid 80's at an away course I would consider a success and my potential.

Just the opposite.....I play better at away courses than home course (save it JB.....don't do it!) and it's a combo of many things, one being that sometimes not knowing where the danger is on holes is a blessing.

definitely in the 75-85 range. i've always thought of myself as around a 10 hdcp. averaging rounds in and around 80. the best i've ever shot is a 74, but i definitely do not average around that number. i don't have my stats in front of me, as i keep my own (on my work PC) but i've been able to string some good rounds together to lower that index to around an 8 or so.

I'm similar, I tend to play well at new courses the first time I play them. My only thought is because I tend to play conservative.