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Weekly Quiz!

To see the correct answer, click the “CONTINUE” button at the bottom of the next page.

Good luck! 😀 

What’s Your Anti-Cap?

We all have those days when nothing seems to go right on the course. Even scratch players! But have you ever wondered just how much worse your bad rounds are compared to your normal play? That’s where anti-cap comes in.

Off to the Arccos database we go! (Use code DATALOU15 to save 15%).

What is Anti-Cap?

Your anti-cap is the reverse of your handicap index. Instead of using your best 8 of your last 20 rounds, it uses your worst 8 of 20. Think of it as a measure of how you perform on your "off days."

For example:

• The typical scratch player has a median anti-cap of 5.9, meaning their bad days are around 6 strokes worse than their typical play.

• The typical 20-index player, however, has a median anti-cap of 28.6, reflecting the greater variability in their game.

Key Insights from the Data

1. Consistency Changes with Skill: Lower index players tend to have tighter performance ranges, while higher-handicap golfers see wider swings between their best and worst days.

2. Course Difficulty Impacts Anti-Cap: Across all skill levels, golfers who play tougher courses (higher slope ratings) tend to have slightly lower anti-caps. Harder courses seem to reduce variability!

3. Picking a Partner?: If you’re heading into team event, consider choosing a partner who plays most of their rounds on higher-sloped courses. They’re likely to be more consistent.

The tables below look at median anti-caps and how course difficulty impacts anti-cap.

The numbers across the column headers represent the median slope rating of a player’s last 20 rounds.

Final Thought

Bad days happen to everyone, but understanding your anti-cap can help you manage expectations, improve consistency, and even pick the right teammate!

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

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