Been playing around with a few different ways of staking this season on the footy and racing, and ngl most of the fancy stuff looks way better on paper than it feels once real money is on. I gave the doubling-up style a crack for a bit, also had a run with fibonacci and one of those percentage-of-bankroll approaches. The doubling one especially did my head in... looks easy till you hit a rough patch and suddenly you're chasing with bets way bigger than you wanted.
The one I keep ending up back on is just boring flat stakes. Same amount each bet, no drama, no massive swings, easier to track whether I'm actually picking well or just getting lucky for a week. Bit less exciting maybe, but I reckon it stops me doing dumb stuff in the arvo after a couple of losses when I'm trying to get square before the last game.
I don't mind the bankroll percentage idea either, but even that can get a bit fiddly if you're constantly adjusting and second guessing yourself. Kelly stuff seems smart if you've got a proper edge and solid numbers, but for most of us mug punters having a punt on NRL or AFL, full Kelly feels bloody aggressive. Half Kelly maybe, if you're disciplined enough.
Curious what everyone here actually uses and whether any of the more structured approaches have genuinely held up for you long term. Not the usual "I won 4 bets on the weekend so it's a ripper" stuff lol, I mean over a decent stretch. Keen to hear what you've stuck with and what you binned fast.