Good at tennis AND golf? Question for you!

[ryohazuki222]

I've played tennis for several years. I know all about the ratings, skills, equipment.... everything more or less.

I just picked up golf a few months ago. It's a really interesting experience starting up something new after doing nothing but tennis for years. I went from being skilled... to being a complete noob.

Oddly, enough, since tennis it what I know... I try and put everything golf in terms of tennis. What I wonder about atm, is how the levels correlate.

To put it simply, how would you correlate ntrp to handicap(or avg score) based on the skillset for that rating?

Just an example to make sure everyone understands, a fake chart:

ntrp -> handicap

Beginner 2.5 -> +50
intermediate 3.5 -> +25
advanced 4.5 -> +5
Touring pro 7.0 -> -10

 

[Morgan]

ntrp -> handicap

Beginner 2.5 -> +50
intermediate 3.5 -> +25
advanced 4.5 -> +5
Touring pro 7.0 -> -10

Beginner >36 HCP
Advanced Beginner 20-36 HCP
Intermediate 12-19 HCP
Advanced Intermediate 6-11 HCP
Advanced 0-5 HCP
Pro <0 HCP

 

[jmjmkim]

In tennis, it's really hard to make anything below 3.5. In golf, anything above 100 do not really have the fundamentals of the game. Once you start playing under 100 (on par 72 courses) that's when golf starts to get fun. Likewise, in you are below 3.5, the player does not really have a consistent set of strokes to develop a game plan. Winning merely depends on who hits the ball into the net less, or who can dink the ball back into the court one more time than the opponent. Not much strategy going on other than consistency, consistency, consistency.

I would think:

100 or less = 3.5
Low 90's (bogey player) = 4.0
80's (under 14) = 4.5
around 10 = 5.0
5 -9 (avg single digit player) = 5.5
0 - 4 (Low handi) = 6.0
Scratch (no Handi) = 6.5
Professional = 7.0

*Also, we're talking real handicaps now, not just best scores that a golfer ever had. It is far, far harder to achieve a true handicap of 12 from a computer system than just taking your personal best as a handicap. (Also, without muligans, and everything by the book. Lost balls, short putts, hazards, etc........ he he he)

Like in tennis, there is a vast difference from one 6.0 to another 6.0. as is one 7.0 to another 7.0. But unlike tennis, since one does not compete against another player, and the golf score is against the course and not another player, it is easier to tell the difference.

It is a fun thought.

 

[retlod]

Here's my take as far as statistics go:

NTRP >5.0 = Scratch...if you play the game a lot, you know one or have seen one play.
NTRP 5.0 = 1-4 HCP...excellent players that you see once in a while.
NTRP 4.5 = 5-7 HCP...very good players that you see fairly regularly.
NTRP 4.0 = 8-10 HCP...the good players that you see around whenever you play.
NTRP 3.5 = 11-16 HCP...statistically, the most prevalent player.
NTRP 3.0 = 17-25 HCP...recreational players that have flashes of good play.
NTRP 2.5 = >25 HCP...just out there to have fun.

In general, I think there are a lot more "elite" golfers as far as a handicap goes than "elite" NTRP tennis players. For example, I have seen some 5.0's and maybe one or two 5.5's on the best public courts around town, yet have been paired up with dozens of low HCP (0-4) golfers despite golfing far, far less than I play tennis. The stats would support this--about 5% of golfers who have a USGA handicap maintain it under 4, while of all NTRP players, only about 2% have a 5.0 rating or above. Low HCP golfers come out of the woodwork all the time.

 

[pushing_wins]

i think most people plateau at 4.5 in tennis and just above scratch in golf

disclaimer: not an expert in either sport

 

[Morgan]

I shoot mid-80s and am a 3.5 tennis player.

Mediocrity - the story of my life.

I'm curious if anyone that golfs and plays tennis thinks doing both screws up both games.

In other words, should you stick to one or the other?

 

[GS]

Here's the guy who might of been the best at tennis as well as golf---Scott Draper. He won the 2005 Australian Open mixed doubles title, and 2 years later, won a PGA tournament in Australia.
I can chip and putt okay, but I need a swing coach to correct my drives.....

 

[*breaksracquet]

Played D-3 college golf back home (handicap was a 2 during college). I am a 3.5 player....

 

[jhick]

Currently computer rated 5.0 in tennis, though I've been 4.5 for many years. And I play about once a week in general.

For golf, I usually score from 90-100 and I play about 5-8 rounds a year. I think if I played golf more I might be able to improve slightly but not much. Maybe I'd get better if I took some lessons, which I've never done in my life.

If I played tennis 5-8 times a year, there's no way I could maintain my current rating.

 

[richie65]

In tennis, it's really hard to make anything below 3.5. In golf, anything above 100 do not really have the fundamentals of the game. Once you start playing under 100 (on par 72 courses) that's when golf starts to get fun. Likewise, in you are below 3.5, the player does not really have a consistent set of strokes to develop a game plan. Winning merely depends on who hits the ball into the net less, or who can dink the ball back into the court one more time than the opponent. Not much strategy going on other than consistency, consistency, consistency.

I would think:

100 or less = 3.5
Low 90's (bogey player) = 4.0
80's (under 14) = 4.5
around 10 = 5.0
5 -9 (avg single digit player) = 5.5
0 - 4 (Low handi) = 6.0
Scratch (no Handi) = 6.5
Professional = 7.0

*Also, we're talking real handicaps now, not just best scores that a golfer ever had. It is far, far harder to achieve a true handicap of 12 from a computer system than just taking your personal best as a handicap. (Also, without muligans, and everything by the book. Lost balls, short putts, hazards, etc........ he he he)

Like in tennis, there is a vast difference from one 6.0 to another 6.0. as is one 7.0 to another 7.0. But unlike tennis, since one does not compete against another player, and the golf score is against the course and not another player, it is easier to tell the difference.

It is a fun thought.

I think this is the best comparison so far.
I used to play a lot of golf before my kids were born and had a pretty game 5hdcp and would be one of the better players on the course. As a 4.5 tennis player I get kicked around by many, many players.
I often stated I would like to be 5-5.5 tennis player and a 5.5 hdcp golfer and have all the street cred!

 

[adrian10spro]

I've played tennis for over 20 years now, and I am currently a 4.5 player.

I recently started playing golf with my dad. I am able to go to the driving range or play 9 holes about once every 2 to 3 weeks. Not very often considering my busy schedule and heavy involvement in tennis. But, I would say I'm fairly decent in golf. I have pretty good depth on my strokes and I am able to direct it where I want.

 

[Morgan]

Played D-3 college golf back home (handicap was a 2 during college). I am a 3.5 player....

I can see where a tennis and golf techniques can interfer with each other. Both require weight transference, keeping a steady axis (head) - but I think tennis has more weight transference and you also often leave your feet or get on your toes in the swing - few good golfers do this (John Daly, Laura Davies). I think some of my tennis habits are in my golf swing, especially short game shots, and keep me from being any better than a 10 or so HCP. (3.5 tennis player now).

Sometimes I wonder if I should give up one game or the other.

 

[r2473]

Here's my take as far as statistics go:

NTRP >5.0 = Scratch...if you play the game a lot, you know one or have seen one play.
NTRP 5.0 = 1-4 HCP...excellent players that you see once in a while.
NTRP 4.5 = 5-7 HCP...very good players that you see fairly regularly.
NTRP 4.0 = 8-10 HCP...the good players that you see around whenever you play.
NTRP 3.5 = 11-16 HCP...statistically, the most prevalent player.
NTRP 3.0 = 17-25 HCP...recreational players that have flashes of good play.
NTRP 2.5 = >25 HCP...just out there to have fun.

In general, I think there are a lot more "elite" golfers as far as a handicap goes than "elite" NTRP tennis players. For example, I have seen some 5.0's and maybe one or two 5.5's on the best public courts around town, yet have been paired up with dozens of low HCP (0-4) golfers despite golfing far, far less than I play tennis. The stats would support this--about 5% of golfers who have a USGA handicap maintain it under 4, while of all NTRP players, only about 2% have a 5.0 rating or above. Low HCP golfers come out of the woodwork all the time.

I think this greatly depends on what courses you play and how you keep score.

FYI: Most self-described "bogey golfers" (shooting 90 on a standard par 72) couldn't shoot bogey to save their soul if they REALLY kept score in a truthful manner.

I used to play with a kid that grew up "country club". Had an amazing swing and could do pretty much anything with the ball. I think his handicap was in the 7-10 range (established) and he did shoot high 70's to low 80's consistently.

I've played with a lot of "good golfers" that are only good because they cheat like hell.

Curious, what kind of scores are you shooting on Finkbine or Amana or Brown Deer or Bos Landen?

 

[NoMansLandPlayer]

i think most people plateau at 4.5 in tennis and just above scratch in golf

disclaimer: not an expert in either sport

I completely disagree with this, according to statistics MOST people plateau around 95 in golf. Based on my 25 plus years in tennis, MOST players plateau around 3.5. I play with a group of 25+ guys and only 5 or so truely play above 3.5 level. Most have major holes in their games.

The biggest difference is that you can play golf at a high level being realitvely out of shape, just need to be able to turn your body inside a barrel and have a realitvely tactical mind. In tennis, to compete at a high (4.5+) level you must be in good shape and be able to run down a lot of balls.

The reason so few play at a high level in both is that both require a ton of practice, tecnique mastering to get to the "scratch", 5.0+ level. And pro golfers dont play to scratch, they play to a -4 to -8 handicap. The reason the pro's scores on TV are higher is that they set a "tour" course up much more difficult that the everyday country club or muni course.

 

[retlod]

I think this greatly depends on what courses you play and how you keep score.

FYI: Most self-described "bogey golfers" (shooting 90 on a standard par 72) couldn't shoot bogey to save their soul if they REALLY kept score in a truthful manner.

I used to play with a kid that grew up "country club". Had an amazing swing and could do pretty much anything with the ball. I think his handicap was in the 7-10 range (established) and he did shoot high 70's to low 80's consistently.

I've played with a lot of "good golfers" that are only good because they cheat like hell.

Curious, what kind of scores are you shooting on Finkbine or Amana or Brown Deer or Bos Landen?

The USGA handicap system is more complicated than a lot of people realize in that it uses your best ten rounds from your last twenty to crunch the numbers. In addition, your HCP determines the maximum score you can take on any one hole, so even if I score a 9, I can only take a 7. It's as much an anti-sandbagging system as anything. It also means your HCP will almost always be lower than your [mean] average score. If I play regularly and use the white tees like I should, I'm a "bogey golfer," yet my HCP would be around 15.

The system also factors in a course's rating (what a 0 HCP should shoot) and slope (how much harder a course gets the higher your HCP). What's more, each set of tees has its own rating and slope! This takes the difficulty of the courses a golfer plays and the tees he/she uses out of the equation almost entirely. So if I play an easy, 9-hole farm course twice from the white tees and shoot an 85, it's probably no better for my HCP than shooting a 100 on a 74/140 resort course from the blacks.

I've never played any of the courses you mention, but I have played several Golf Digest Top 100 courses. Using Bos Landen as an example, I would be happy with a 90 from the whites, 95 from the blues, and 100 from the blacks. Each score would probably have the same effect on my HCP. And no, I never cheat.

 

[r2473]

I thought you were in Iowa City from your avatar.

 

[retlod]

I thought you were in Iowa City from your avatar.

Went to school there.