Corning Area Tavern League
Handicap and Payout Systems
To all league members:
The primary goal of our league is to play pool and have fun doing it. We have secondary goals of rewarding performance as well as encouraging newer players to improve their skills and provide all teams with the opportunity to win (leveling of the playing field).
These goals conflict with each other because it is impossible to satisfy the interests of all the different groups. With any handicapping and payout system there are bound to be inconsistencies as well as some level of unfairness to one group or another. There is no system that is entirely fair, and we recognize that, but we worked very hard to try to come up with an improved (not perfect!) system that should provide some relief to all the different groups and interests. Lastly, a little give and take or compromise must be done by everyone.
The system we use in our league is unique and comprised of two parts . . . the Handicapping System and the Payout System. We’ve been using this system for at least 15 years without major complaints. Most of us know how it basically works and have just taken the system for granted. I realize that our league has had some turnover with several newer teams and players that may not know exactly how the system works. So, I’ll review how the system works:
Handicapping System
Each week your team’s handicap will be based on your average number of racks won in each of the previous 7 weeks, after throwing out the highest and lowest racks won results. Say what? ! ? !
Here are some examples:
Example #1:
In the last 7 weeks of play a team had scratch scores of 9, 10, 7, 8, 8, 11, &12. The high score of 12 and the low score of 7 would be dropped, leaving an average of 9.2 for the remaining 5 weeks. This value, rounded to the nearest half point would equal a 9.0 average.
Our baseline target for teams is 8. This number represents one-half of the total possible number of racks a team can win in a match. Since this team’s average is 9.0 and the target is 8, then 8 minus 9.0 equals -1. This team has a handicap of -1 (minus 1).
Another team had scratch scores of 4, 2, 6, 3, 2, 4 & 3. The high of 6 and low of 2 are dropped, leaving an average of 3.2, which is rounded to 3; 8-3=5; This team has a handicap of +5.
Rounding:
During the first 6 weeks of play, calculated handicaps may have 2 (or more) decimal places. In that case, round to the nearest hundredth (ex: 3.3333 = 3.33). Then, according to our system, the handicap would be rounded to a 3.5 handicap.
Numbers from 3.00 to 3.24 would be rounded to 3.0
Numbers from 3.25 to 3.49 would be rounded to 3.5
Numbers from 3.50 to 3.74 would be rounded to 3.5
Numbers from 3.75 to 3.99 would be rounded to 4.0
On week #7 and thereafter, averaged handicaps will not exceed a single decimal place so it can easily be determined that 3.3 rounded to the nearest half point would be 3.5 handicap.
Of course, this system does not work until there have been 8 weeks of play and we recognize the need to get handicaps into play as soon as possible . . . for everyone’s benefit. Until the 8 weeks are reached, the handicap system will be blended in as follows:
Week 1 - no handicap applied
Week 2 - no handicap applied
Week 3 – no handicap applied
Week 4 - handicap will be the average of weeks 1 & 2 & 3
Week 5 - the low and high from the previous 4 weeks will be dropped and the remaining 2 weeks will be averaged.
Week 6 - the low and high from the previous 5 weeks will be dropped and the remaining 3 weeks will be averaged
Week 7 - the low and high from the previous 6 weeks will be dropped and the remaining 4 weeks will be averaged
Week 8 and all subsequent weeks - the low and high from the previous 7 weeks will be dropped and the remaining 5 weeks will be averaged
This system rewards performance while equalizing the field.
Payout System
There will be two payouts . . . there will be one payout based on where a team placed under the handicapping system and there will be a separate payout based on where a team placed based on scratch play. This is how it will work:
The total amount of money targeted for payouts will be divided by 2. One half of the money will be for the handicapping payout and one half of the money will be for the scratch payout.
Each week your team will receive two rankings, your handicapped ranking and your scratch ranking. At the end of the season your team will receive its payout based on where you placed in each of the two rankings.
For example . . . if your team finished in 4th place in the handicapping system and finished in 7th place in the scratch system then you would receive the sum of 4th place, handicapping and 7th place, scratch monies.
We will be glad to answer any questions regarding any understanding or interpretation of these systems. This system was implemented by a team of league players familiar with other league handicapping systems. The goal was to form a league that was unique, fair and eliminated “sandbagging”. For the most part, I think that objective was met. We cannot defend the systems, other than for the reasons and goals already stated above. Suggestions with solutions will be accepted and considered for possible future implementation.