Dunning Kruger would have us think so.
Also, most people who are good at something let their actions speak.
Also, most people who are good at something let their actions speak.
The difference between good and mediocre is significant. To the point that I cannot return a good tennis player’s serves. The difference between mediocre and post beginner is just as significant.
Two nice things about golf - the handicap system let's two players of different level engage in fun competition. (Yes, handicaps can be manipulated, but for the most part aren't. )
Second a very good player can play with a bad player, and both can have fun. The social factor is more important to the fun, and I've enjoyed tight games with people with hugely disparate handicaps.
With tennis I always want to play either someone just a little bit better than me. Someone who can help me get a bit better all the time. My enjoyment of the game depends a lot on their performance.
Both are enjoyable in their own right.
I only experienced something like this once, late 90s. We thought of ourselves as pretty ok StarCraft players until we got some visitor to a lan party who basically demolished everyone. This was pre-ladder iirc so you only played a handful of games online.
Tennis of course is harder. You can only be as good as the people you are playing with.
That’s the appeal of Dunning-Krueger. It’s become a blanket label for every moment of ignorance or confident stupidity someone sees in others.