Calculation Results
How Is Bowling Handicap Calculated?
In competitive bowling leagues, a handicap system is used to level the playing field, allowing bowlers of different skill levels to compete fairly against one another. The handicap essentially gives less experienced bowlers a "head start" in points.
The standard formula for calculating a bowling handicap is relatively simple, but it relies on two specific numbers set by your league secretary or commissioner: the Basis Score and the Percentage Factor.
The Bowling Handicap Formula
The universal formula used by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and most local leagues is:
Note: If the result is a decimal, it is typically rounded down (truncated) to the nearest whole number.
Understanding the Variables
- Basis Score: This is a high score set by the league, typically 200, 210, or 220. It is usually chosen to be higher than the highest individual average in the league to ensure no one has a negative handicap.
- Percentage Factor: Most leagues do not give 100% of the difference back to the bowler. Common percentages are 80%, 90%, or 100%. A 90% factor means the handicap covers 90% of the gap between the bowler's average and the basis score.
- Bowler's Average: This is the total number of pins knocked down divided by the total number of games played.
Real-World Calculation Example
Let's say you joined a league with the following rules and your stats:
- League Basis: 220
- Percentage: 90% (0.90)
- Your Average: 150
Step 1: Find the difference between the Basis and your Average.
220 – 150 = 70
Step 2: Multiply the difference by the Percentage Factor.
70 × 0.90 = 63
Result: Your handicap is 63 pins per game. If you bowl a 150 (your average), your adjusted score would be 150 + 63 = 213.
Why Use Handicaps?
Handicaps prevent the highest-scoring players from winning every game automatically. By adding pins to lower-average bowlers, the winner of a match becomes the person who bowls the most pins above their own average, rather than just the person with the highest raw score.
FAQ: Negative Handicaps
If a bowler's average exceeds the Basis Score, they technically have a negative handicap. However, most leagues cap the handicap at zero (scratch), meaning the bowler receives no extra pins, but points are not subtracted.