Handicap Calculations

Understand how Tournament Doctor calculates handicaps for fair competition.

Handicap Formula

The standard handicap formula is:

Handicap = (Base - Average) × Percentage

Common Settings

  • 80% of 200: Handicap = (200 - Average) × 0.80
  • 90% of 210: Handicap = (210 - Average) × 0.90
  • 100% of 220: Handicap = (220 - Average) × 1.00

Example Calculation

For a bowler with 175 average using 80% of 200:

  • Base (200) - Average (175) = 25
  • 25 × 0.80 = 20 pins handicap per game

Maximum Handicap

You can set a maximum handicap cap to prevent excessive handicaps for very low-average bowlers. Common caps include:

  • 50 pins per game
  • 60 pins per game
  • No cap (use calculated value)

Handicap Score Calculation

A bowler's handicap score for each game is:

Handicap Score = Scratch Score + Handicap

Negative Handicap

When a bowler's average exceeds the handicap base, they would have a negative handicap. Tournament Doctor can be configured to:

  • Use negative handicap (reduces their score)
  • Use zero handicap (scratch)