You may have noticed a few changes in the way handicaps are calculated in LMS. You may also have noticed a few changes with the online BCA Pool League Handicap Calculator. We'd like to explain these changes to you by using the scenario below. After thoroughly reading this all the way through, we are confident that everything will be clear.
Scenario
|
FORMAT
3-Player Teams 2 games played per round 3 rounds of play 17-point scoring system Handicapped by FargoRate |
STR8 SHOOTERS (TEAM ONE)
Bob (459) Henry (384) Cathy (409) Total (1,252) Avg (417) |
POCKETEERS (TEAM TWO)
Lisa (406) Derek (346) John (588) Total (1,340) Avg (447) |
Legacy Mode
The legacy mode is the older method of calculating handicaps based on Fargo ratings. It uses the team averages to calculate handicaps which isn't perfectly accurate but is a very close approximation. The screen shot below shows the legacy mode handicap result for our example scenario: STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) vs POCKETEERS (Team Two).
Let's examine how this handicap is calculated. In this mode, the calculator uses the team averages of 417 & 447. It assumes that every game is played between a player rated 417 and 447. In each game, there is a probability of each player winning, a probability of each player losing, an expected score when winning and an expected score when losing. When three match-ups occur, STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 24.042 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 26.958 points; a difference of 2.916 points. In other words, POCKETEERS is expected to score 2.916 points more than STR8 SHOOTERS over three games. This figure is rounded down to 2.0 points (the nearest whole number) and then multiplied by 2 because 2 games are played in each match-up. This yields a handicap of 4 points per round for all rounds.
First Round Mode (NEW)
With the new score sheet builder in LMS, we can now calculate more accurate handicaps based on the actual match-ups and Fargo ratings of the players of each game rather than estimating it with team averages. The First Round mode calculates handicaps the same way that LMS now calculates them. The screen shot below shows the first round mode handicap result for all three rounds of our example scenario: STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) vs POCKETEERS (Team Two).
Round 1
After entering the correct format info, player ratings and the correct order of players for the first round, the calculator yields a 5-point handicap. Notice that this is slightly different than the 4-point handicap result by using the Legacy Mode. This is not a software glitch. The 5-point handicap is based on the specific match-ups and Fargo ratings of the specific players in every game. It is more accurate than the Legacy Mode calculation.
Round 2
In most league formats, the match-ups change in each round and because the match-ups are different, the handicap may also be different. Therefore, we need to calculate the handicap for the second round based on the actual match-ups that will take place. The "Rotate Players" button will rotate the order of Team Two players based on a normal round robin rotation. If your team has a different rotation or if your team is using a substitute player in the second round that did not play in the first round, you must manually enter the player ratings in the fields. In our example, the calculator indicates a 5-point handicap for round 2.
Round 3
The order is once again rotated for round 3 and the calculator now indicates a 6-point handicap. Not only is this different than the 4-point handicap indicated by the Legacy Mode, it's also different than the handicap given for round 1 and 2. How can that be? This must be a problem, right? Actually, no. The 6-point handicap given for round 3 is absolutely correct.
At this point, you may be saying "How can the handicap points be different in one or more of the rounds? It's the same two teams with the same players so shouldn't the handicap points be the same in every round?" The answer is no.
Let's take a look at how these handicaps are calculated. In this mode, the calculator uses the actual match-ups of every single game, not just the team averages of 417 & 447. In each game, there is a probability of each player winning, a probability of each player losing, an expected score when winning and an expected score when losing. These probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing.
When all of these probabilities and expected scores are calculated for each and every game in round 1, STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 48.079 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 53.921 points; a difference of 5.843 points. In other words, POCKETEERS is expected to score 5.843 points more than STR8 SHOOTERS in round 1. This figure is rounded down to 5.0 points (the nearest whole number).
This is repeated for round 2. Again, the probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing. STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 48.200 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 53.800 points; a difference of 5.599 points. This figure is rounded down to 5.0 points (the nearest whole number).
This is repeated for round 3. Again, the probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing. STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 47.737 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 54.263 points; a difference of 6.526 points. This figure is rounded down to 6.0 points (the nearest whole number).
Let's take a look at how these handicaps are calculated. In this mode, the calculator uses the actual match-ups of every single game, not just the team averages of 417 & 447. In each game, there is a probability of each player winning, a probability of each player losing, an expected score when winning and an expected score when losing. These probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing.
When all of these probabilities and expected scores are calculated for each and every game in round 1, STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 48.079 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 53.921 points; a difference of 5.843 points. In other words, POCKETEERS is expected to score 5.843 points more than STR8 SHOOTERS in round 1. This figure is rounded down to 5.0 points (the nearest whole number).
This is repeated for round 2. Again, the probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing. STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 48.200 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 53.800 points; a difference of 5.599 points. This figure is rounded down to 5.0 points (the nearest whole number).
This is repeated for round 3. Again, the probabilities and expected scores change for every match-up based on the Fargo ratings of the two people playing. STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) is expected to score 47.737 points while POCKETEERS (Team Two) is expected to score 54.263 points; a difference of 6.526 points. This figure is rounded down to 6.0 points (the nearest whole number).
Hopefully, it is now clear why the handicaps may be different for different rounds.
Full Match Mode
The Full Match Mode is a faster way to get the result explained by the First Round Mode above. The user specifies which league and division they are in and the enters the Fargo ratings of the players and the correct order of players for the first round. Because the exact league and division are specified, it knows the exact rotation of players in LMS so there is no need to rotate them and recalculate the handicap for every round. The screen shot below shows the Full Match Mode handicap result for our example scenario: STR8 SHOOTERS (Team One) vs POCKETEERS (Team Two).
Notice that it provides the handicap for every round because it already knows the exact rotation of the players for each round.
WARNING
If a different (substitute) player enters the lineup after the first round, you must recalculate the handicap based on the new player ratings for that round or use the First Round Mode explained above.
WARNING
If a different (substitute) player enters the lineup after the first round, you must recalculate the handicap based on the new player ratings for that round or use the First Round Mode explained above.
Summary
We understand that this may be a little hard to grasp at first. However, this change was necessary to accommodate the impending release of the BCA Pool League Scoring App and to provide more accurate handicaps for your league. We are confident that you will love the improvements after getting familiar with them.
If you have any questions or concerns about LMS, the League Handicap Calculator or the upcoming BCA Pool League Scoring App, please contact LMS Support at [email protected].
If you have any questions or concerns about LMS, the League Handicap Calculator or the upcoming BCA Pool League Scoring App, please contact LMS Support at [email protected].
