How to Calculate Bowling Handicap (and Keep League Standings)

Handicap is what lets a 140 bowler and a 210 bowler compete in the same league and both have a real chance of winning on the night. It is simple arithmetic once you know your league’s two numbers, the basis and the percentage. Here is the formula, a table of common systems, a calculator, and how to turn it all into league standings.

The bowling handicap formula

Handicap = (Basis − Your average) × Percentage

• Basis is a score set by the league, usually between 200 and 230. It is meant to sit above almost everyone’s average.
• Percentage is how much of the gap the league gives back, usually 80%, 90% or 100%. The lower it is, the more the better bowlers are favoured.
• Drop the fractions. Averages and handicaps are rounded down to a whole pin, never up.
• A bowler whose average is at or above the basis gets 0. Handicap is never negative.

Your handicap is added to every game you bowl. A bowler with a 30-pin handicap who rolls a 155 has a handicap score of 185 for that game.

A worked example

Three weeks into the season, a bowler has knocked down 1,458 pins in 9 games. The league uses 90% of 220.

1. Average: 1,458 ÷ 9 = 162.
2. Gap to the basis: 220 − 162 = 58.
3. 90% of 58 is 52.2, which drops to a handicap of 52 pins per game.

Over a three-game series that is 156 pins added to the bowler’s scratch total.

Handicap table for common systems

Handicap per game for a range of averages under the systems leagues use most:

The higher the basis and percentage, the closer the field. 100% of 210 nearly erases the gap between bowlers; 80% of 220 still leaves the stronger bowler a clear edge.

What leagues have to decide

The formula is the easy part. These are the rules that cause arguments when they are not written down:

• Bowlers with no average yet. Common approaches are to use last season’s final average, or to have the bowler bowl their first night (often three games) and use that as their average, sometimes applied back to that first night too.
• When averages update. Most leagues recalculate after every week, so handicaps move a few pins as the season goes. Use the average from before tonight, not one that includes tonight’s games.
• Absent bowlers. A team short a bowler usually gets a “blind” score for that spot: the absent bowler’s average minus a set penalty, commonly 10 pins.
• Team handicap. Usually the sum of each bowler’s handicap. Some leagues instead compare team averages against a team basis; either way, say which.

If your league is sanctioned, the association’s rules and your league rules sheet decide these, and the bowling centre’s scoring system may already apply them.

Turning games into league standings

Bowling standings are usually points, not wins and losses. A typical three-game night is worth 4 points: 1 for each game won on handicap score, and 1 for the higher total series. Some leagues double the game points for a 7-point night. A split game gives each team half a point.

Keep a second table for the bowlers themselves (games, pins, average, handicap and high game). That is the one people actually check every week.

For the bowlers

Lane oil comes off on the ball every frame, and a ball that is cleaned regularly hooks more predictably. Two cheap things most league bowlers keep in the bag:

Check your league’s rules before using any cleaner during competition: sanctioned play limits what you can do to the ball surface mid-session.