Typically, the average and handicap are recalculated after every session of a Bowling league. For tournament leagues (such as the Amateur Bowlers Tour), averages and handicaps are recalculated after every tournament.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBowling Green Handicap was created in 1975.
There are three variables that affect a bowler's handicap: 1) Their current average, 2) the handicap basis, and 3) the percent of the difference between their average and the handicap basis that is used for the handicap. For example, a typical league may calculate handicap as 80% of 200, meaning that a bowler with a 150 average would have a 40-pin handicap (80% of the 50-pin difference between their 150 average and the 200 basis). With a 40-pin handicap, the highest handicap game this bowler could roll would be 340. Theoretically, you could have a 600 handicap game: A bowler with a 0 average bowling in a league with handicap based on 100% of 300 would get 300 pins of handicap, making a perfect game worth 600 pins. In reality, I don't think I've seen many handicap games over 330.
Each league votes on the handicap system. Common rules is to assign each bowler a handicap based on 90% of the difference between the bowlers average and 200. Team handicap commonly is calculated by summing each bowlers handicap on a team. There is software that does this for you, such as Bowling League Secretary by CDE Software, which the majority of centers in the US use.