Brilliance or steadiness? A suggestion of an alternative model to Hardy's model concerning golf (1945). Issue 551 (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Jeehoon
• Is Part Of: Mathematical gazette. Volume 101:Issue 551(2017)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Mathematics -- Periodicals; Mathématique; Mathematik; Mathematics; Periodicals; Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Zeitschrift; Online-Publikation; 510
• DOI: 10.1017/mag.2017.64
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5572

Abstract

Abstract : There have been numerous attempts to model the governing dynamics between the two ostensibly competing concepts of brilliance and mechanical steadiness. One interesting study is given by the English mathematician G. H. Hardy in his model [1] describing two characteristically different golfers playing a match against each other. The model challenges the apparently accepted doctrine of the 'Brilliant player' having the advantage over the 'Steady player' in a long series of golf matches by holes. Hardy defines 'brilliance' as the capacity to produce ingenious results as well as the capacity to make mistakes, compared to 'steadiness' being completely mechanical producing the same average result all the time. The two players in his model are equal in performance on average, only the brilliant player has a higher standard deviation whereas the consistent player has a standard deviation of 0.