Handicapping can be applied to any event played on a day that permits handicapping. The initial strategy is to look at 12 month history of the pair on that day. If sufficient history is not available(less than 4 times) then the scope is widened to include performances on that day over their full history. If this still provides too little history then the scope is widened again to include performaces on ANY day - looking first at 12 month stats then full stats. If still too little history then the handicap must be assessed by the Scorer. The Scorer is shown all stats related to the pair and the 2 individuals. TBA in the Handicap movement report equates to "To Be Assessed".

N.B.There can be quite large changes in handicap if a partnership, formerly playing at least 4 times a year suddenly fail that criteria when next they play. Their handicap suddenly reverts to their lifetime average for the day in question and these can be markedly different. See the handicap movements reports for large shifts in handicaps.

An event is associated with a particular competition by the scorer. Results from the event contribute to the appropriate competition. Each competition will have 11 or 12 entries, one per month. At the conclusion of the competition the Average Score for each qualifying pair(having played the requisite number of times(N)) is calculated based on their BEST N results and then the Handicap is applied to determine the winner.

The handicaps are based mainly on the performances of the pairs in the previous year's competition and once set are generally STATIC for the remainder of the year. New pairs to the competition or those with very little history involve the scorer in determining the competition handicap. Adjustments can be made later in the year if the initial assessments for new pairs(now playing regularly) has shown to be woefully inadequate.
N.B. These handicaps are not applied to an event. The normal pair handicaps apply for the day in question.

A pair is allocated a skill band (A-J) judged on all performances by that pair. Pairs allocated band A get zero additional imps, band B 8 imps, C 16 imps etc, each band increasing by a further 8 imps to a maximum of 72 imps for pairs averaging below 40% (band J).

We count the number of times a pair has made a score in a particular range. These ranges equate to the ten bands. Range A is for scores 60%+, range B 57.5%+, C 55%+ …etc down to range J for scores below 40%. We pick the highest band where the scores in that band together with the scores in all higher bands first exceeds 50% of the times played. For example Potts and Nattress are recorded as playing 121 times currently. They have scored 37 times in band A; 43 times in band B; 41 times in lower bands. They are thus allocated band B. (Currently there are no pairs attaining band A This would require scoring above 60% in at least half the events they play in).

1)Pairs playing together for the first time will be placed in a band calculated from their combined life-time average scores i.e. (Avg player 1 + Avg player 2) / 2 gives a score which is then converted to the appropriate band.
2)Pairs having only played together a few times may have a distorted band, either too generous or too severe. We also calculate for every pair what the band would be based on their individual averages as in 1) above. If the two bands (one from the pairs performance) and that from their average score are distinctly different. i.e 2 bands apart or more (e.g. band A from pairs performance BUT band C from individual averages say) then a middling band will be chosen instead, band B in this example. An actual example of this is Prue Dowson playing with Jane Ridyard. They are recorded as playing 6 times together and were assessed as band E but their individual scores assessed them as band C. They have been placed in band D.
3)For brand new pairs at the club with not enough history of any sort, then the scorer can assess their band as he/she sees fit.
4)All handicap bands can be altered at the discretion of the scorer. Maybe health problems cause an individual to perform way below their historic average.