Proper handicap allocation for 2v2 net combined score match play

[hollabachgt]

How should handicap strokes be properly allocated for the following match?

The format is 2 vs 2 match play, with the net combined score of each player in the pairing being the teams score. Handicap allocation is 100%.

 

Team A has a player with a 5 handicap and a 24 handicap, and Team B has a player with a 14 handicap and a 16 handicap.

 

Regardless if you baseline everyone's handicap off of the low player's handicap, or you allow everyone their full handicap strokes, the number of hole advantage is the same (Team A has a 1 shot advantage on 7 holes, Team B has a 1 shot advantage on 8 holes).

But where the advantage comes up in the round will be different:

• If you baseline, Team B will have the advantage on the 2-9th handicap holes, and Team A will have the advantage on the 12-18th handicap holes.
• If you don't baseline, Team A will have the advantage on the 1-5th & 17-18th handicap holes, and Team B will have the advantage on the 7-14th handicap holes.

 

So what is the proper way to setup this match? do you still baseline off of the low players handicap, or do you give everyone their full strokes?

[st1800e]

Go off the lowest handicap.  That’s explained somewhere by the USGA.  

[hollabachgt]

4 minutes ago, st1800e said:

Go off the lowest handicap.  That’s explained somewhere by the USGA.  

The explanations I've read seemed to be based on a 2 man best ball format. not a combined score format.

Another thought I had, is should the handicaps of the 2 teams be combined, Such that Team A's team handicap is a 29 and Team B's team handicap is a 30. Giving one stroke to Team B for the match?

[rogolf]

Are you following the Rules of match play or stroke play?  Will concessions of next stroke etc be permitted?

[hollabachgt]

2 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Are you following the Rules of match play or stroke play?  Will concessions of next stroke etc be permitted?

I believe match play, permitting concessions, but I'm not 100% sure.

Could you walk me through the implications for either in relationship to the original question?

[rogolf]

6 minutes ago, hollabachgt said:

I believe match play, permitting concessions, but I'm not 100% sure.

Could you walk me through the implications for either in relationship to the original question?

The handicap allowances are different for match play and stroke play.

Regardless, your game is not a recognized format of play and its up to you to make the "rules".

Edited March 21, 2024 by rogolf

[hollabachgt]

1 minute ago, rogolf said:

The handicap allowances are different for match play and stroke play.

Regardless, your game is not a recognized format of play.

Sadly it's not my game, just one I have to play under. So I'm trying to get a better understanding of how it "should" be played before going back to the TD.

Under Appendix C Handicap Allowances, there is a "Total score of 2 match play" type under Other, that I'm presuming is the basis of this format. But I can't find anything more than that comment

[rogolf]

11 minutes ago, hollabachgt said:

Sadly it's not my game, just one I have to play under. So I'm trying to get a better understanding of how it "should" be played before going back to the TD.

Under Appendix C Handicap Allowances, there is a "Total score of 2 match play" type under Other, that I'm presuming is the basis of this format. But I can't find anything more than that comment

It's really up to the TD to determine the conditions of the competition, which would include how to deal with/apply the handicaps.

[Augster]

24 minutes ago, hollabachgt said:

Sadly it's not my game, just one I have to play under. So I'm trying to get a better understanding of how it "should" be played before going back to the TD.

Under Appendix C Handicap Allowances, there is a "Total score of 2 match play" type under Other, that I'm presuming is the basis of this format. But I can't find anything more than that comment

Total score of 2 match play is played at 100% as you know. 
 

Because it’s a match between two teams, I would say subtract out the low guy. 
 

If it was a competition with many teams, then I’d say everyone gets all their shots. 
 

Generally, rule of thumb, competitions should use as few shots as possible. I.e. playing as close to a scratch competition as one can. 
 

Up to the TD of course. 

[srsbeans]

I'd advocate for just using 100% and the 14/16 get 1 stroke on the 1 handicap hole. 

[hollabachgt]

1 hour ago, Augster said:

Total score of 2 match play is played at 100% as you know. 
 

Because it’s a match between two teams, I would say subtract out the low guy. 
 

If it was a competition with many teams, then I’d say everyone gets all their shots. 
 

Generally, rule of thumb, competitions should use as few shots as possible. I.e. playing as close to a scratch competition as one can. 
 

Up to the TD of course. 

Previously I would have agreed with you, as all that makes sense based on other format situations.

 

But after looking at the handicap stroke distribution and how on handicap holes 2-5 the advantage switch from one team to another gave me a moment of pause.

 

It seems like the best decision would be a handicap difference based on combined team handicaps.

[Imp]

7 hours ago, hollabachgt said:

How should handicap strokes be properly allocated for the following match?

The format is 2 vs 2 match play, with the net combined score of each player in the pairing being the teams score. Handicap allocation is 100%.

This is why many in my TNGL (including myself when I joined) pressured the board to switch away from your above format and to a 1v1 format. 1 low vs 2 low and 1 high vs 2 high in the foursome, then add the points from the teams for score. Using your example, the 4 would play the 14 (10 strokes), the 16 vs 24 (8 strokes), vs 20 strokes to the partner, and 10/12 to the other team. 

 

Especially since, the 4 isn't playing AGAINST the 24, so the 24 really shouldn't be getting 20 strokes.  Luckily, we also have flights, where a 24 wouldn't be playing with, or against, a 4. 

Edited March 21, 2024 by Imp

[davep043]

I'd just look at Appendix G in the Handicap Rules.  Total Scores of 2 Match Play is 100% of Course Handicap.  For all Match Play, they recommend playing off the low handicapper.  You can do what you like, and justify it however you like, but that recommendation is based on evaluation of millions of rounds of golf.

[hollabachgt]

2 hours ago, davep043 said:

I'd just look at Appendix G in the Handicap Rules.  Total Scores of 2 Match Play is 100% of Course Handicap.  For all Match Play, they recommend playing off the low handicapper.  You can do what you like, and justify it however you like, but that recommendation is based on evaluation of millions of rounds of golf.

Thanks Dave, I've read that, but the explanation of playing off the low handicap in Appendix G reads to me as applying for formats where a single low team score is used, not a combined total team score.

 

Considering Total Scores of 2 Match Play is reference in the Other format section, it seems unclear if this format falls outside of their "In General" qualification for the handicap adjustment based on the low player. 

 

Do you know any other reference than Appendix G that might cover the Other formats more?

[Augster]

“In general, after handicap allowances have been applied in match-play formats, the player with the lowest Playing Handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other player(s). The other player(s) receive(s) the difference between their own Playing Handicap and that of the player with the lowest Playing Handicap.”

 

The comp is match play, correct? Seems pretty cut and dried to me. 

[davep043]

11 hours ago, hollabachgt said:

Thanks Dave, I've read that, but the explanation of playing off the low handicap in Appendix G reads to me as applying for formats where a single low team score is used, not a combined total team score.

 

Considering Total Scores of 2 Match Play is reference in the Other format section, it seems unclear if this format falls outside of their "In General" qualification for the handicap adjustment based on the low player. 

 

Do you know any other reference than Appendix G that might cover the Other formats more?

Its just my interpretation, but recommendations for assigning handicap strokes in Match Play competitions applies to a format called "Total score of 2 match play".  But I don't think it makes a lot of difference in most cases.  You're essentially choosing to give (or not give) each player 5 more strokes over the course of the match.  From everything I've read, that decision doesn't necessarily give an advantage to one team or another for the match.  While there ARE general trends, golfers tend to be pretty random in where their good or bad holes fall during any specific round.  There's no question that the choice COULD impact the result of the match, but that's due more to the randomness of golfers than it is to some inherent advantage.