Male vs Female Skill Levels

[Cgkdisc]

In the podcast discussing women's issues, I asked the women about the option to adjust their ratings upward 70 points so their ranges would more closely match the men's ranges. They flatly killed that concept feeling the ratings were fair and they preferred to be measured on the same scale even if it showed them lower.

I did a study using the 2001 Pro Worlds stats from our Oakwood course which is about 50/50 mostly open versus mostly wooded holes. I compared stats for the same size pools of 950 average Open players with 950 average women, master & GM men. Both groups had the same overall scoring average on the course. However, the Open men shot about 2 throws better on the open holes and the women/M/GM group shot about 2 throws better on the wooded holes.

The results aren't really surprising since ratings measure aggregate skill levels whereas individuals within that skill level exhibit different mixes of strengths and weaknesses. But the study did at least indicate group differences.

 

[Monkeypaws]

It would be interesting to see what an athlete like Serena Wiliams could do with disc gofl if she applied herself to it.

 

[Pwingles]

I think Mark Ellis said something similar to this on DGR, lemme see if i can recall it somewhat...


In general, women have less of a competetive 'need'. They are less worried about winning, and more worried about making friends.


I would agree. Obviously this isn't just a disc golf statement either, I think it would apply to any physically competetive activity. Likewise there are exceptions, but I think that the ratio of fiercly competetive women in atheletics compared to above average participants is fairly evident in a lot of sports. The "talent" difference within FPO is so polarized because of this. What you're seeing is still the 1% or the cream, but these are the ladies who would be above average anyway because thats their personality, and they would be competing at something at a high level, disc golf or otherwise. As opposed to someone who plays their whole life and tops out their potential very quickly, or improves slowly from lacking effort or motivation.

 

[apparition]

In general, women have less of a competetive 'need'. They are less worried about winning, and more worried about making friends.

Wow... Are you serious? :doh: :gross:

 

[DangeRuss]

At the top, they are very competative.

I've caddied for both PP and Catrina and I was pretty surprised at how competative they were.

As far as everything else goes...all it is is wide open long holes, that is where they lose their strokes. If you put val, catrina, PP, or sarah on a tighter wooded course, they gap between fpo and mpo would be alot less.

 

[scarpfish]

As far as everything else goes...all it is is wide open long holes, that is where they lose their strokes. If you put val, catrina, PP, or sarah on a tighter wooded course, they gap between fpo and mpo would be alot less.

This is again where I'd like to see a field test comparison between the top gals versus men with similar player ratings. Not just to see who would win, but to see how both groups would go about attacking various types of holes.

 

[Toro71]

It would be interesting to see what an athlete like Serena Wiliams could do with disc gofl if she applied herself to it.

Dude, I bet Serena could play middle linebacker if she wanted to.

 

[Bultx1215]

...


In general, women have less of a competetive 'need'. They are less worried about winning, and more worried about making friends.

Maybe close to right in a general aspect. BUT...after playing with Cat and Paige, I have yet to see any women more driven and serious. Cat even more so than PP. Go for it every shot was what she said to me. If that isn't competitive, I must not know what it is. We have a couple of women here locally that are aspiring pros....don't really want to play them for money either. They are scary good....just can't drive 500'.

 

[Bultx1215]

This is again where I'd like to see a field test comparison between the top gals versus men with similar player ratings. Not just to see who would win, but to see how both groups would go about attacking various types of holes.

The attack mode was what I found the most interesting when I was watching the pros play. Its interesting how differently they all approached the same shots.

 

[The Hammer]

This is again where I'd like to see a field test comparison between the top gals versus men with similar player ratings. Not just to see who would win, but to see how both groups would go about attacking various types of holes.

I can tell you from my experience, the only time I pick up strokes on Cat is on long holes that she can't reach as easily as me. I will beat her on long courses 9/10 times. When courses are shorter and tighter, she will beat me 9/10 times. I know thats not what you are looking for, but it is something I guess.

Basically, I would say that despite my higher rating, Cat is more skilled. The differentiating factor is distance.

 

[Bultx1215]

Hammer, how long is long? I watched her semi park on a 450'...PP did park it. Twas a cool thing to watch.

 

[The Hammer]

Hammer, how long is long? I watched her semi park on a 450'...PP did park it. Twas a cool thing to watch.

I would say my advantage comes into play around 375'-400'. I know she can throw that far, but for me it is much easier. She has to throw a flex shot where I can throw it perfectly straight or on a hyzer line. Those options make for a more consistent and predictable shot.

Playing against her is a lot of fun. We always have a running bet of $1-5/round.

 

[Halcón]

PP can throw far, but how often does she? Is she regularly throwing 400 feet?

 

[Bultx1215]

Hmm....ouside my arm range. Guess she's gonna kick my ass again should I ever get to play her again....like that was even in doubt.

 

[Pwingles]

Wow... Are you serious? :doh: :gross:

Please dont take that out of context. I have a ton of respect for lady golfers, and women in general. But what else would you attribute the skill/rating polarization to? And dont say their physicality because its probably one of the lesser factors, imo.

Maybe close to right in a general aspect. BUT...after playing with Cat and Paige, I have yet to see any women more driven and serious. Cat even more so than PP. Go for it every shot was what she said to me. If that isn't competitive, I must not know what it is. We have a couple of women here locally that are aspiring pros....don't really want to play them for money either. They are scary good....just can't drive 500'.

Yeah, you're taking two of the top 4 FPO players, they arent applicable to what i was saying.
These are exceptions. They are both very very talented and work very hard to continually get better...they have a competetive need to keep up. Most women dont, in regard to physical competition, at least to that degree. The ones that do, are easy to spot.

 

[Halcón]

If there were as many women as men playing DG, we'd see 1000 rated women as well.

 

[The Hammer]

If there were as many women as men playing DG, we'd see 1000 rated women as well.

Possibly, but I doubt it. The long courses would make it tough on them. Cat is the most athletic female I have ever met......by FAR.

 

[Halcón]

Just because some courses are long doesn't mean you can't be 1000 rated. It depends on where you play.

 

[Cgkdisc]

One need only look at the skill sets of the oldest players with ratings that match/exceed the elite women to see where they could improve. Randomly select 4 of the top 40 men over age 59 (ranging from 950 to 1002 rating) and they would beat the best four MPO women regardless of the course most of the time. As an aside, these guys are more interesting to watch from a spectating (for skill reasons) standpoint with their wider array of shots.

One of the reasons I believe we've seen improvement among both men and women at the top in the past 5-6 years is the addition of powerful forehand drives in the arsenal of the top players. At this point, we still don't see many attempts or high level skill among women throwing rollers or thumbers plus other trick shots like grenades that you'll see top level older men throw. Developing these throws still may not get them to where they match men's ratings but will likely get them closer.

 

[apparition]

Please dont take that out of context. I have a ton of respect for lady golfers, and women in general. But what else would you attribute the skill/rating polarization to? And dont say their physicality because its probably one of the lesser factors, imo.

Please re-craft a simple statement so that we have both the context and the conclusion you're trying to make so I can better understand what you're saying. To me, it sounds like you're saying women aren't better at sports because they'd rather make friends than win.