Written Score Keeping vs Digital (PlyCounter)

I currently use a PlyCounter to keep my rated game scores/notation during the game.  However, I recently experienced a 2 year slump and over 220 point US rating drop.  So I am looking at all things in my play to recoup my former performance ability on the Chess board.  I am doing other things to improve my game and I am currently on a comeback.  I just started wondering if I should go back to the written score keeping to slow me down and improve my playing time.

Before I got my PlyCounter I used an eNotate system which was also US Chess approved.  I also had a chance a few years ago to work with and use a Monroi device.

There are some definite benefits to digital score keeping.  These include:

1. There are no score keeping errors like skipping moves or writing the wrong thing down or not being able to read the writing.

2. After the game, it is really nice to use the device in going over the game with my opponent and others.  IF we go off on a variation tangent, I still have the last position on the screen to quickly put the pieces back where they were before the variation.

3. When I get home, it literally takes less than 5 minutes to upload the pgn of the game into my database and even send an email attachment of the game score to my opponent or other interested people.

I am thinking the reason to go back to the written score is mainly because it will slow me down in my thinking process before I move.  While it is legal to write the move down before making it, I do not know if I would do this after all the time of using the digital, but perhaps.

What do you all think about this?

I don't know if it's legal  to write down the move before making it according to uscf rules, but in fide rules it is not allowed since some years back.

I always make at least one mistake in my written score every game I play, usually mixing up the d and e files, or g and h files.

Thanks for the game by the way.

 I am interested to hear how this goes for you. Good luck!

I will also offer to buy your plycounter

Electronics are nice, and they make things easier.  And that is also precisely the problem with them.  They make things easier.  We get lazy in our thinking, we get lazy in how we do things.  "Theres an app for that"  

Nothing replaces hard work, and effort.  I have used pen and paper for almost 40 years, and will continue to.  

During your game, do both...kill two birds with one stone....that would also serve as a double check on the recorded move...

I know this is an old thread, however this topic is in need of re-addressing.

I was considering buying one of the newest entry to electronic score keeping. In my research i found this thread.
While it is a nice device and works awesomely.  I have to probably agree with IMBACON22. These devices are nice and make things easier, but can make us lazy. 

I thought about it,and the mistakes people make in recording their games, are because they do not know algebraic notation at all or well enough.  My very first game I may have made mistakes, but instantly corrected them. At the end, I was able to reconstruct our game perfectly because I took care to accurately record the moves. I've gotten better since. I hope. The only thing is neatness.Which again, takes practice. 

It's my opinion, most who lack the ability to keep score accurately, don't do it enough.
They don't write out their own variations, or analysis of their games. They don't practice recording games of others as they watch the play, or put a game on, and watch it play out and record the game at a slow to moderate rate. Either on a computer or video. They probably don't drill themselves on the notation of the board from either perspective. One way to do this is to play over classic games, or any game from a book. Do it from both sides of the board. From what I've seen, too many players rely on boards with the notation on the sides. Stop using boards with any kind of notation on the boarders. If you find keeping score 'distracting' or 'breaking your concentration', you may not be cut out for higher level chess, or, again, simply don't know your chess notation. I feel the same way with people who get upset with books written in Descriptive notation. It isn't THAT hard, if at all, to learn and practice.

I've never seen anyone at the level of Magnus Carlsen or Fabiano Caruana using one of these devices.
They use pen and paper. Of course the people putting on the tournament record the games using DGT devices and such but the players have a score sheet. Nor have I ever heard anyone at that level or grand masters stating that keeping score is distracting. They KNOW the chessboard.

So for most of us who are able bodied,(don't have some type of physical challenge) don't need electronic devices to keep score. Pen and Paper, or until you get really good, pencil/eraser, and paper will suffice. It's a lot cheaper as well.