Bowling Handicap Calculator
Use our bowling handicap calculator to calculate handicap from your average, a league base score, and handicap percentage. Includes bowling handicap explained, the bowling handicap formula, how bowling handicap is calculated, and quick notes on whether a high handicap is good or bad.
Bowling Handicap Explained
In bowling leagues, handicap is a system that helps bowlers of different skill levels compete more evenly. A lower-average bowler receives extra pins (handicap) added to their score, while a higher-average bowler receives fewer or none.
Handicap is typically based on the difference between a league “base score” (also called a handicap base) and your bowling average, multiplied by a handicap percentage set by the league.
Because leagues can choose different base scores, percentages, and rules, handicap values can vary. This calculator follows the common league-style handicap formula.
Bowling Handicap Formula
Most leagues calculate handicap using a base score and a percentage. Handicap is usually rounded to a whole number of pins.
If your average is higher than the base score, handicap is typically set to 0.
Rounding rules depend on the league (often rounded to nearest whole pin).
How to Figure Out Bowling Handicap
- 1
Enter your bowling average.
- 2
Enter the league base score (handicap base).
- 3
Enter the handicap percentage (for example, 90% or 100%).
- 4
The calculator computes handicap = (base − average) × percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bowling handicap is extra pins awarded to help balance competition between bowlers with different averages. It’s calculated from your average compared to a league base score.
Your handicap is added to your actual game score to produce a handicap score. This helps a lower-average bowler compete against a higher-average bowler more fairly.
A common method is: handicap = (base score − your average) × handicap percentage, then rounded to whole pins. If your average is above the base, handicap is often 0.
Rules vary by league. Leagues choose the base score, the percentage, rounding method, and how to handle new bowlers or averages above the base score.
Neither by itself. A high handicap usually means your average is farther below the league base score, so you receive more pins. It’s not a “reward,” just an equalizer.
There isn’t a universal “good” handicap because it depends on league settings. Many bowlers focus more on improving average; handicap will naturally decrease as average increases.