A bowling handicap is a number of bonus pins added to a bowler’s actual (scratch) score each game, calculated from their average so that bowlers of differing abilities can compete fairly. The standard formula is (basis − average) × handicap percentage, where the basis is a target figure (commonly 200 or 220) and the percentage is set by the league (often 80-100%). A lower-average bowler receives more handicap pins, narrowing the gap with stronger players. Handicap leagues are hugely popular precisely because they let friends and family of any ability enjoy genuinely competitive games together.
Key points
- Bonus pins added to scratch score
- Formula: (basis − average) × percentage
- Lower averages get more pins
- Enables fair mixed-ability competition
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