Are sports handicapping services worth the cost, or should I do it myself?
Sports bet handicapping is like extreme couponing. It can be supremely valuable, but only if hours upon hours of hard work goes into it. That’s why most of us don’t use more than a few coupons a week, if that. Likewise, most of us pick one or two games to win, based on the same basic knowledge we hear on sports radio or television shows.
Those who are more serious about their sports betting often ask the question…
Are Sports Handicapping Services Worth the Cost?
Handicapping services can be very expensive; often $500 and up for a single month subscription. Think about how much you’d need to wager, and win, for that price to pay off? And what if the handicapper has a bad week, or month. You could lose some serious cash!
Then again, if you choose an honest, upright service that does all the right grunt work, and posts genuine long-term results, it could really pay off. Unfortunately, those types of services can be very, very hard to find. A needle in the haystack, if you will.
The truth is, most services aren’t honest. They claim to have multiple employees, when it’s really just one or two guys throwing darts at season schedules. They boast great results, but are actually cooking the past results to make it look like they know what they’re doing.
It’s also worth noting that cheap handicappers are among the worst. If you go with a cheap service, expect a cheap product, much like the ones described above. It’s true when they say you get what you pay for.
So, if you’ve got a hefty bankroll, and are willing to pay for it, and put enough initial research into choosing the best sports bet handicapping service, then I say yes. It is worth paying for. Then again, there’s always one other option…
Should I Do My Own Handicapping?
If you’re an avid fan of sports, or even a particular sports—enough that you find all the data collection enjoyable—you might as well do it yourself. You’ll save a lot of time by only handicapping the sports or contests you’re interested in. But you can’t be lazy about it. Take lots of notes, record all your picks, wins and losses, and see how effective your handicapping is. Week by week, month by month, your results should improve.
Don’t worry about a few bad-luck hiccups—everyone experiences those. A pitcher flopped, the QB broke his thumb, a thunderstorm interrupted momentum, or the star right wing simply had an off day. Whatever the reason, you must remember, you can’t win them all. The important thing is that you eventually develop a positive overall record in your handicapping.
Some paid handicappers boast averages near 80%, but that’s mostly hype and distortion. Your goal is to average above 50%. Hit 60% or more, over the long term, and you’ve achieved success. And, if you’ve been recording all your data like I told you to—picks, wins and losses over all that time—who knows… maybe next time someone asks if sports handicapping services are worth it, they’ll be looking to buy them from you.
