Low Tide:
Sorry for the delayed response as I stepped away for a few hours. I always try to get back to my thread and respond to any questions that a fellow poster might ask.
Yes, it is true I use a rated system of 1 to 5 units which is equivalent to 1% to 5% of my overall bankroll. I did not start out this way as it has taken me all of 30+ years to be comfortable with a varied method. When I first began, I used a flat 1 unit or 1% per play. As my experience increased, I began to vary between 1 and 2 unit plays followed by 1 to 3 unit plays and then finally the current 1 to 5 units which I have been using for approximately the last 15 years. I am a firm believer that to be successful over the long haul a player must establish a bankroll, preferably separate from all other living expenses. Once the bankroll is established, using a flat percentage or a varied percentage maintains discipline and protects the bankroll from being depleted. The tighter the percentage used, the more the bankroll and player are protected. As the bankroll grows, the percentage can remain the same but the amount wagered would increase. Likewise, if the bankroll shrinks, the percentage can remain the same but the amount wagered would decrease.
Your observation regarding the various units that posters present is astute. There is no way that any of us know how much the actual dollar amount one is wagering per unit. For instance a 1 unit play for one poster might be a dime while a 10 unit play for another poster may also be a dime as their base unit value may be a dollar. That is why the amount of units won or lost can be misleading to the reader. I could easily use 10 units as my base play and it would appear that I am currently ahead 219 units. Clearly, that would attract more readers and make my results look better. One thing I am certain of is that there is a wide variation in these forums as to the actual value of any single posters unit. It is of value to look at a poster's win percentage as this provides even better insight. A poster that can win at a rate between 55%-60% over the course of a season has done an excellent job and with proper money management made a nice profit. So, the reader should view the units won or lost with caution but rather look at the percentage won or lost to know how well a poster is performing. I try to show the reader both as this is exactly how I wager. When I show 1 unit, it is 1% of my current bankroll and when I show the percentage, it is the actual overall percentage too date. You may also notice that I have only released one 5 unit play. These are truly rare for me as I only release approximately a half dozen of these over an entire year. The 3 unit plays are strong plays for me and you will notice that I have released only 12 out of 141 plays too date. The remainder are 1 unit plays. It has taken me years to become comfortable knowing when I feel a strong or rare play is warranted. Realize that a 5 unit play is 5 times the dollar amount of a 1 unit play, so caution is in order here. Likewise, a 3 unit play is 3 times the value of a 1 unit play.
As to my recommendation. If you are making a lot of plays and find that you may be making inferior plays, then you might want to consider a flat 1% wager to protect your bankroll. If you have discipline and are comfortable and confident enough to vary your plays and feel that you can tell the difference between a strong play and a regular play, you might consider dropping back a bit and using 1 to 3 units as your variation. Remember, there is nothing wrong with erroring on the conservative side. But, if you haven't establish your bankroll, please try your best to do so. You won't regret doing it and I promise you that it will help you be more successful over the long haul.
I hope that I have provided some answers to your questions and apologize for the delayed response. Please feel free to inquire any time you have a question and I will try my best to share my experience with you and help however I can. I wish you much success as you work through your money management. The mere fact that you realize that it is needed is a huge step in the right direction. Good luck to you in the future.
