The World's Polo Club
Should handicaps start at -4 ?
I think it could be a good idea. The trouble is, we have 90% of the polo playing population on a handicap between -2 and 1 which is only a spread of 4 goals.
While on the upper end of the scale, we have the remaining playing population, (I am guessing here), being less than 2% or 3%, on a handicap between 6 and 10 goals. Therefore we have (the lucky) 2% of us spread out over 4 or 5 goals, and 90% of the population spread out over 4 goals. (I realise these are rough figures, but I am sure you get my point.)
I believe there was some talk of pushing players like Adolfo Cambiaso and Bertie up to 12, and that did not happen. I personally think it’s better we keep the handicap below 10 and have players start on -4.
Also, I keep hearing from many high goal professionals, that the difference in these high goal players is their ponies. They can all play; they can all hit the ball at amazing angles, and as the front page of the Polo Times once wrote (when interviewing A Cambiaso) ‘It’s all about the horses’. I have even heard of one Argentine 7 goaler in the UK asks if he could go down to 6 because in that season he no longer had that same string of ponies. I understand that the horse is 90% of the game, but this may high light my point that there is not a huge amount of difference between a 7, 8 and 9 goaler – it’s only his ponies that give him this handicap from this level up.
Anyway, I think we need to balance it out so that we can spread the level up the top to the extent that we can tell the difference between a 8, 9 and 10 goaler. While at the same time, we will still be able to tell the difference between and -1, 0 and 1 at equal level. However, there are pro's and con's to this idea.
While on the upper end of the scale, we have the remaining playing population, (I am guessing here), being less than 2% or 3%, on a handicap between 6 and 10 goals. Therefore we have (the lucky) 2% of us spread out over 4 or 5 goals, and 90% of the population spread out over 4 goals. (I realise these are rough figures, but I am sure you get my point.)
I believe there was some talk of pushing players like Adolfo Cambiaso and Bertie up to 12, and that did not happen. I personally think it’s better we keep the handicap below 10 and have players start on -4.
Also, I keep hearing from many high goal professionals, that the difference in these high goal players is their ponies. They can all play; they can all hit the ball at amazing angles, and as the front page of the Polo Times once wrote (when interviewing A Cambiaso) ‘It’s all about the horses’. I have even heard of one Argentine 7 goaler in the UK asks if he could go down to 6 because in that season he no longer had that same string of ponies. I understand that the horse is 90% of the game, but this may high light my point that there is not a huge amount of difference between a 7, 8 and 9 goaler – it’s only his ponies that give him this handicap from this level up.
Anyway, I think we need to balance it out so that we can spread the level up the top to the extent that we can tell the difference between a 8, 9 and 10 goaler. While at the same time, we will still be able to tell the difference between and -1, 0 and 1 at equal level. However, there are pro's and con's to this idea.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Petschek on -
I agree, also there is a wide discrepency between all the -2's. This would sharpen out the classes stronger.
And furthermore it would allow reay beginers and players not quite so naturally talented to have a go at tournaments targeted at -3 to 0
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Permalink Reply by Peter Abisheganaden on -
In Malaysia we start players at -4, but once they play a tournament they are automatically rated at least as -3's, Frankly there isn't much difference in their play. I sit on the handicapping committee and we look at 150 active players handicaps. I'm not sure starting players at -2 makes sense.
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Permalink Reply by Deb Fuller on -
If the ponies are the difference, sounds like there needs to be a handicapping system for ponies as well.
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Permalink Reply by James Wayland on -
It is an interesting point ... and it is amazing how some ponies cost £3,000 while some others can cost £35,000 ...
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Petschek on
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Maybe one sure way to go up the handicapping system is like in ski school. Each player simply has to perform a certain number of tasks.
From basic horse hygiene. to bandaging , saddling . tieing up head collars to posts.
Penalty strikes.
And a number of off . near and back shots at various paces, walk, canter, gallop. infront of the handicapping committee. etc
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Permalink Reply by James Wayland on
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Sounds like a good idea - but it would not work.
There are a large number of polo players out there (usually with large amounts of money) that are not interested in learning how to put on bandages, saddles etc - they pay people to do it for them. And there is nothing necessarily wrong with that (it brings in lots of jobs).
And in regard to testing a player - I know a lot of players who (when it came to the test) would pretend to fail at the tasks to keep their handicap low.
But worth a thought ...
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Petschek on
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HI,
Its not about having the money or not, Its about throurough knoweldge at basic level for ones own safety when playing.Seeing if somehting is not right, and not haveing to depend very often on an ignorant groom.
As to failing then tough luck, They will not be able to play in tournaments !
Anyhow there are still tasks that should be done such as penalty scoring etc that has nothing to do with grooming .
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Permalink Reply by Sam on -
I think on this point, whilst I would like to see everyone know more about their horses and how to tack up etc you would not be asked during a driving test to change the oil or a tyre. The idea for a patron to come in and pay to play and get on with it is more appealing than getting up early, getting the ponies ready blah blah blah. I think there it will always be like that, and as mentioned it creates a job. Although I see the safety side of things too, but then thats what the rule test is about the safety aspects of playing the game.
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Permalink Reply by bruce cowley on -
at the risk of incurring considerable wrath... I don't know a single player who is involved in preparing his/her horses, in anything other than a supervisory capacity.
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Permalink Reply by mauricio sordelli on -
advice:
Iinvolved yourself seriously in the preparation of your horses and you´ll drastically improve your polo
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Permalink Reply by bruce cowley on
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Mauricio, I will always to be honored to follow your advice.
However, due to the complete lack of infrastructure here, I have been completely involved in making every one the few playing ponies we have here - from the first time they've seen a stick to re-schooling for polo.
But I do not tack them up myself, nor do I wash them afterwards.
I showed our grooms how to use polo tack, right down to bandaging - and I checked everything the first dozen or so times. Now there is absolutely no need for me to get involved.
What would drastically improve my polo is playing more - with more competitive players - which brings me neatly to the fact that I'm planning to come over for the Open and play a bit while I'm there.... can you give me some advice on this, please? -
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Permalink Reply by Deb Fuller on
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I'd say the majority of people in my club don't have grooms and care for their horses themselves. At my polo school, we learned how to groom, tack up and bandage as well and got our horses ready before each lesson. Not sure how typical that is in other places though.
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