Help w/ Betting Tennis vs. Golf

[dak95_00]

I met a kid yesterday who played college tennis just a couple of years ago. I'm easily 11-12 years older than him and have played very few matches over the last 11-12 years. Otherwise, I think when I was 25 or so I could've given this guy a match as he played NCAA D2 tennis.

He brought up playing me for money; as in betting on our match. I told him that I've never bet on tennis before but I liked the idea. However, I have played golf for money and I know I'm a better golfer than him. I said I would play tennis for money if he played me golf for the same money. That's where the problem lies.......

How do we handicap tennis like we handicap golf? For example, he wanted strokes to even the playing field in golf and was willing to offer games to even the tennis match. I don't see how this is fair. The way I see it, tennis points are equivalent to strokes.

Has anyone ever gambled at tennis and golf? How did you do it?

 

[goober]

You can handicap in tennis several ways.

1. Start out each game 30-0

2. Play regular games but you start out with a 3-0 lead for the set.

3. Allow him only one serve.

4. Equipment handicap. He plays with a wooden racquet or something similar.

The exact handicap would depend on a lot. You don't give a clear picture of what level you are currently playing at. If you have played very little in the last 11-12 years, you are going to get schooled big time unless you were playing at a very high level before. IMO somebody who is just out of college tennis and suggesting you play for money is hustling you.

 

[pabletion]

Hmmm, depends on the gap. The best way would be for him to give you points, either starting 15-0 every game, or if he's gonna give ya more, go 15-minus15, that is, you got 15, and if he wins a point, he goes to 0; it would be similar for him to let you start 30-0, but youd only have to win two points to win the game, its more fair to start 15-minus15, instead of 30-0. We play a tournament like that over here, where its open and depending on your category, you give such handicaps to your opponent. Works out great, believe me, its tough to beat someone when your givin them a 15-0 start!

 

[dak95_00]

Thanks. Those are good suggestions. He wanted to spot me games but I think points make more since or serve restrictions as he is clearly more match tough than I am. We sort of agreed to play each sport once for free before we wager to come up with a system.

My level.....
I don't play tennis leagues and I only play a couple of months out of the year these days so I described it to my golf friends like this......He is a scratch tennis player and I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of a 9 handicapper.

Since he wanted strokes in golf, I was also thinking that we could just play some massive tiebreaker where we kept track of points won instead of games. This would be similar to the drop hit game of 21 except with serves. I thought of this because I don't consider games to be the equivalent of strokes, but points are.

Thanks for the ideas.....Keep'em coming please.