Hi all,

I just started winter league yesterday and there was a debate in the beginning regarding the team cap. They said there was a team cap of 735 and there was a team coming in with a cap of 743. First they asked if people were comfortable raising the team cap which came out dead even a few times, but they finally did decided to do it. Then they asked about raising the handicap from 80% to 90%. I know how to calculate basic handicap per bowler, but I don't understand how they can get a team handicap (wouldn't it just be the sum of each bowler's handicap?) with only the percentage.

I overheard some people complain that with the raise of the handicap percentage, that it would be the same 8 pins and nothing was changed... I have no idea what where that came from or even what that means and I hope someone can clarify that for me.

Thanks,

-- Sam

Team handicap would be the difference of 2 teams averages times the handicap %. So if they average 743, your team is at 643 and the % is 90, you would get 90 pins handicap. I was in leagues in college that used this method and I think that it works out fairly well.

You can do handicap for a team a couple of different ways. You can either take the handicap of each bowler and add them together or you can take the handicap of everyones averages added together. You will more than likely end up with different numbers.

This is because when you calculate handicaps and averages, you truncate the remainder. When you calculate these numbers as a team, all of the individual remainders may add up to be enough to get to the next whole number.. or maybe even several whole numbers.

For example, if you handicap was 10.6 and mine was 10.9, individually we'd each get 10 pins. Now if you calculated our handicaps based on our combined averages, we'd get 21.5 pins. That would be truncated to 21. With a 5 man team, you could end up several points over what you'd be individually.

Is that the standard way of doing handicaps? I thought it would just be easier to add up the handicaps of each bowler since they display each individual bowler's stats as well as the teams. And with the different ways of doing the handicaps, if I add up all the handicaps in my team, would it be different than the team handicap?

It depends on how your league does its handicapping. Some leagues use the difference of the teams combined averages.

For example: Team 1-Bowler 1- 118
Bowler 2- 145
Bowler 3- 165
Team Average- 428

Team 2- Bowler 1- 135
Bowler 2- 166
Bowler 3- 185
Team Average- 486

Now lets say it's 90% difference of the teams average 486-428=58. Then 58x.9=52.2 which becomes 52 pins given to team 1.

Then there is handicap for the team based off of a preset number of the team average. Using the same numbers above but 90% of the difference between 500 and the team average. Team 1 is 500-428=72, 72x.9=64.8 which becomes 64 pins. Team 2 is 500-486=14, 14x.9=12.6 which is 12 pins of handicap. That translates to Team 1 getting 52 more pins.

You could also do team handicap based off the difference of the individuals average and a preselected number such as 200. So we will use 90% again.

Team 1-Bowler 1- 200-118=82x.9=73.8 or 73
Bowler 2- 200-145=55x.9=49.5 or 49
Bowler 3- 200-165=35x.9=31.5 or 31
Team 154.8/154 or153

Team 2-Bowler 1- 200-135=65x.9=58.5 or 58
Bowler 2- 200-166=34x.9=30.6 or 30
Bowler 3- 200-185=15x.9=14.1 or 14
Team 103.2/103 or102

In either instance we come away with Team 1 getting 51 pins more in handicap, which is similar to the 52 in the previous examples.

A different percentage will come up with different numbers and also a different gap.

You will see a bigger difference in the calculation when you have bowlers over the handicap base number. For example...

Handicap based on 90% of 220 individually...
1 - 180 gets 36 pins
2 - 190 gets 27 pins
3 - 225 gets 0 pins
4 - 235 gets 0 pins
----------------------
Total Handicap is 63 pins

Now if its based on team total average of 220...
220 * 4 = 880
880 - 180 - 190 - 225 - 235 = 50
50 * .9 = 45
-----------------------
Team handicap is 45 pins

Obviously if a league has many bowlers over the cap, they will want to calculate using the second method to eliminate the "free" pins the high average bowlers get.

Right bryhardt......this is something to really look out for no matter how handicap is calculated. If you do not handicap to cover the top average/s then you are giving those high level bowlers EXTRA pins from which they can miss their average and not get a penalty.

Most times I see fair handicap systems but the league has failed to set the limits to make it fair for every one. And when it fails everyone blames the high level bowler. Its not really their fault, they are just taking advantage of a system that is not properly maintained and understood by the rest of the league. Not their fault. Bowlers have to start getting a clue. They have to learn about basic percentages and math and how that can impact them within the game of bowling. Its really not that difficult. But most just don't care, unless the high level bowlers beat them, then they cry "foul". After all, the league votes on the league rules each year and that includes the handicap system.

The worst I have seen is a number of years ago, a league we joined had a cap on their 4 man team; 750. But the team with the Secretary and the Tresurer on it, had two 220+ bowlers on their team, plus two 130 bowlers on the team. (so this team had actually three league officers on it out of the 4 man team; secretary, treasurer and team captain). Yet the league handicap was determined on individual handicap (added up) based on 200. So of course this team won year after year. When we joined the league we saw this loop hole immediately but it took us two years to explain the handicap issue and get the league to change the rules as pertained to handicap. Since then that team has changed roster and not won the league.

Erin

Interesting, so I guess the team cap is good for a mix league with bowlers having 100 averages all the way to 220+ averages.

Thank you all!

The other option is to go negative pins on handicap. #3 in your list would get -4 pins handicap. Some people balk at that, but it's no different than setting the number to base it off of higher.

I disagree with this (respectfully). If you over handicap bowlers either with team caps or percentages of handicap (negative or positive) then there is no insentive for improvement. If you give the lower average bowlers all kinds of handicap to make them equal then there is no encouragement for excellent performance from the higher level bowlers.

Unfortunately today's league environment is basically a huge social party with a wide variety of skill levels. They are all mixed in like this because the house manager wants a full house and they know if they have restrictive leagues (based on skill level) they'll have less participation and less bowlers and less money coming into the center.

You also have most people wanting to bowl with friends and relatives which of course are going to have a variety of skill levels. Especially spouses. Its uncommon to find spouses that are of equal skill level.

Erin