This page explains when and how the handicapping system operates.
Players' handicaps are used to adjust their 'raw' scores in the Millennium Trophy and the Summer Competition. It is designed to create a 'level playing field' where all members, regardless of experience, skill etc., have equal chances of succeeding.
Each member's handicap is calculated on a rolling 12 month period. This means that your handicap at any timepoint is calculated from the average of your 'raw' % scores in ALL sessions over the preceding 12 month period. This average 'raw' score is subtracted from 50%. Players scoring highly (i.e above an average of 50%) will therefore receive -ve (negative) handicaps. Those players scoring less than 50% (on average) will receive +ve (positive) handicaps.
When handicaps are used to adjust scores (for the Millennium Trophy and Summer Competition), handicaps** are added to the unadjusted scores. Players used to high scores over the preceding year (-ve handicaps) will therefore have their 'raw' scores reduced. Players used to scoring less well over the preceding year (+ve handicaps) will therefore have their 'raw' scores increased. This is how a 'level playing field' is achieved.
**note that the handicap used to modify the unadjusted (raw) score is actually the average of the handicaps of both members making up the partnership. For example if a pairing A and B score 52% in a handicapped event and their individual handicaps are -5.00 and +3.00, respectively, their average handicap is calculated by adding -5 and +3 = -2. This is divided by 2 to calculate a partnership handicap of -1. The raw score of 52% is added to this partnership handicap to give a net score of 52 - 1 = 51%
You can view your handicap (updated monthly) by choosing the Millenium Trophy in the Competitions section of the website and selecting the 'Handicap' tab, or (during the summer) by looking under the Summer Competition. This will give you a record of your handicap (updated monthly) and a history of your handicap over the previous months
Note that the handicap that you receive is a function of both your own merit and that of your partner(s) too.
Note also that the handicaps shown under summer competition cease being updated after the close of that competion at the end of August
Finally, note that new members are awarded a handicap of -5.00 when they join. A more representative handicap will be calculated after 5 events.
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