Entering stableford game into englandgolf app for handicap

Apologies for bringing this thread back in from the cold but I am still not quite understanding what score I should be inputting to England Golf at the end of my round. I am currently playing off 28.7 which then becomes 29 which then becomes 32 (course handicap). I am similar to the OP where it is sometimes easier to pick up if the hole is already lost but I also sometimes continue to take a shot or two for practice and, when I have time, i.e. no other 2-4 balls behind us. However......

As an example, S.I. 6, Par 5, the hole is won by a playing partner. If I have taken 8 shots and still need to putt that would 9 strokes or more (8 shots would get me 1 point, 8-2 (HC) = 6). For my scorecard, I have been inputting 9 strokes, i.e. the first score available on that par 5 where I cannot score however, there is the odd occasion I just pick up the ball out of frustration and, I am also reading about inputting the score of net double bogey - that would then be 7 strokes.

The reason I am asking this is because my handicap is not shifting despite me having birdies and pars on every round and driving the fairway 250 yards. There are always one or two holes when I am inputting a large stroke score because I have picked up or mucked it up. My mates are frustrated. Two of them play off 12 and 14 respectively so on Stableford they input a lower score when they cannot score - S.I. 15, par 4 - they would input a 5 (zero points) but I would input an 8 (zero points). If that happens a few times over a round it means a lot of extra strokes on my card.

Confused as hell. Any help appreciated/welcomed on how to score correctly. Or confirmation I am scoring correctly and it is what it is.