Definition - A handicap is a predetermined number of bonus points given to a player in addition to the actual "scratch" score pitched in a game. It may be applied in either of two ways. (1) Both players may have handicaps added to their scratch scores; a low average player havi'ng a high handicap; a high average player having a small handicap. (2) the lower average player receives bonus points based on the difference between the two players' averages. Handicap systems have been devised for both methods of application.
Percentage of Handicap - Theoretically, players of differing abilities will be made equal by using 100% handicap; that is, give the lower average player bonus points equal to the difference in their respective averages. In practice, this can unfairly penalize a very good pitcher (over 60% average) because he mathematically has less room for improvement in a particular game. Since the purpose of handicap play is to provide close competition regardless of the averages, many leagues use either 80% or 90% of full handicap.
This means that the lower average pitcher receives only a fraction of the full handicap. The full handicap is multiplied by a factor of 0.8 for 80% handicap or 0.9 for 90% handicap. A very few leagues use 75% of handicap, but this will almost guarantee that the best players or the strongest team will win. In this author's view the purpose of handicap play is to make every game so even that no winner can be predicted in advance.
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