If you’ve ever been to a bowling alley like Main Event, you’ve probably witnessed the mix of excitement and friendly competition that fills the air. People of all ages and skill levels come together to enjoy this beloved sport.
However, with varying levels of experience and talent, it’s not always easy to create a fair playing field. That’s where handicap bowling comes in.
It’s a means to level out the playing field, allowing players of different calibers to play and compete against each other in a challenging way.
How Does Handicap Work In Bowling?
Handicap scoring in bowling is designed to give each player a fair chance of winning, regardless of their skill level. When you are assigned a handicap score, it’s like receiving bonus points at the end of each game. The higher your handicap score, the more extra points you can add to your final score.
For instance, let’s say your handicap in bowling is 45 points. If you play a game and score 130, you would add those 45 points to your final result, giving you a final score of 175 points.
Keep in mind that every league or tournament will have its own bowling handicap system, so the numbers may vary. Nonetheless, the idea remains the same—to provide an opportunity for amateur bowlers or beginners to have a fair chance at winning, even if they are playing against more experienced opponents.
Why Calculate Bowling Handicap?
The handicapping system in bowling is generally seen as a positive way to introduce amateurs and beginners to the game. It allows bowlers of varying skills to play a fun and challenging game against one another.
But some critics argue that the handicapping system dilutes the game for skilled players and enables undeserving wins for others. Despite the differing opinions, calculating your bowling handicap can be a valuable tool if you’re an amateur looking to participate in leagues and tournaments.
Bowling Handicap Calculation Made Simple
Calculating your bowling handicap may seem daunting at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward. The bowling handicap is essentially a percentage of the difference between your average score and a basis average.
To calculate your bowling handicap, follow these steps:
- Determine the Basis Score. The basis average is a score set intentionally higher than any individual bowler’s average. Leagues usually take the average score of their best bowler and increase it to establish the basis score. For example, if the league’s best player has an average score of 203 points, the basis score might be set at 220 or 230—higher than the best bowler’s average.
- Calculate Your Average Score. Your average score is the average of all the games you’ve played in the league, divided by the number of games. For example, if you played five games and scored 135, 138, 142, 145, and 150, your average score would be (135 + 138 + 142 + 145 + 150) divided by 5, resulting in an average score of 142. Remember to drop any fractions from your average calculation.
- Determine the Percentage Factor. The percentage factor is a percentage assigned to you by the league, which is used to calculate your handicap. This factor can vary, with different bowlers assigned different percentages.
- Calculate Your Handicap. Now that you have the necessary numbers, it’s time to figure out your bowling handicap using the formula: (Basis Score – Average Score) X Percentage Factor.
Let’s say the basis score is 200, your average score is 142, and the percentage factor is 80%.
Applying the formula, you would calculate (200 – 142) = 58, then multiply 58 by 80% to get 46.4. Since we drop the fraction, your bowling handicap would be 46 pins per game.
This means that for every game you play, you would add 46 pins to your final score. If you played a game and scored 150, your total score would be 196 points (150 + 46).
Remember the key components:
- The Basis Score is a number assigned by the league or tournament, typically higher than any individual bowler’s average.
- The Average Score is your total average for all the games you’ve played.
- The Percentage Factor is the percentage assigned to you by the league.
By following these steps, you can easily determine your bowling handicap and add an element of fair competition to your games.
Still a little confused? This video about how to calculate a bowling handicap could help: