Average Charts



HOW LIGBT SPORT SHOT AVERAGES ARE DETERMINED
(UPDATED APRIL 15, 2023)   

INITIAL AVERAGE: First time bowlers will be issued an average by taking their highest 2-year composite average minus 20 pins. New members must notify the LIGBT if they have been re-rated by another tournament the past 10 years, or if their current average is 10+ pins higher than their highest composite average from the past 2 years. New members that do not have a sanctioned league average the past 2 years, but are currently bowling in a league, may participate as long as they bring proof of their average and have a minimum of 21 games bowled in the league. Bowlers that cannot prove their actual average may still bowl at the discretion of the tournament director.

Minimum Average/Maximum Handicap for New Members: Male bowlers joining the LIGBT cannot receive more than 63 pins per game (140 average) in sport shot events. Female bowlers joining the LIGBT cannot receive more than 72 pins per game (130 average) in sport shot events. Once a member has 9 eligible sport shot games the minimum average rule is waived.

If a new member, with less than 9 eligible games makes the finals, their handicap will be adjusted based on the qualifying series they advanced with plus eligible games already bowled with the LIGBT MINUS 20 PINS. New members may not earn byes or the wildcard bonus until they have 9 eligible games registered. 

DETERMINING A NEW BOWLER’S AVERAGE UNTIL THEY HAVE 9 ELIGIBLE GAMES: All bowlers that have less than 9 eligible sport shot games will have their average determined by taking their incoming average minus 20 and multiplying the number by 9. Take that total and add the eligible games bowled and divide by the total # of games. This will be the new bowler’s average for handicapping purposes until they have 9 eligible games in the club. This average cannot fall below the initial incoming average minus 20 pins.

ELIGIBLE GAMES: Games that are 30% or more below your tournament average, or any series less than 75% of your tournament average, will not count.

CURRENT MEMBERS WITH 9 OR MORE GAMES: Once a member has 9 eligible sport shot games, they will be handicapped based on the games bowled in sport shot events. Your average cannot drop more than 20 pins from your incoming average until you reach 9 eligible sport shot games. Once you have 24 or more eligible sport shot your average will be based on your last 24 eligible sport shot games you bowled. All qualifying games, after you make the finals in a tournament, will not count when determining average. 

AVERAGE CONFIRMATION: It is the bowler’s responsibility to know the average rules and make sure they have been issued a proper average for that day’s event. If a bowler is issued an incorrect average, and it is discovered during competition, the average and handicap will be corrected for standings and all side action.

AUTOMATIC AVERAGE ADJUSTMENTS: All average adjustments are done by LIGBT’s software using the following formula: When a bowler fails to cash in 20% or less of their last 5 sport shot events (cashing in 1 or no events), their tournament average will automatically drop 5 pins. If a bowler is cashing 20% or less in their last 10 sport shot events (2 or less), their average will drop another 5 pins per game (10 pins total.) The maximum adjustment allowed is 10 pins. You lose your adjustment once your last 5 sport shot events cashing percentage is above 20%.  The LIGBT will still manually re-rate a bowler if a bowler has an unfair advantage, is deliberately not shooting their best score, or for medical reasons. 

AVERAGES USED IN FINALS: Any bowler that used an "adjusted" average in qualifying will use the same average in the finals. Any new bowler, that has fewer than 9 LIGBT eligible sport shot games, will have their handicap adjusted for the finals based on the games bowled thus far in LIGBT sport shot events including that day's event MINUS 20 PINS. 

BONUS PINS: To keep a competitive balance in sport shot events, the LIGBT will award 1 bonus pins per game (extra handicap) when a bowler fails to cash. 

  1. You earn 1 bonus pin per game when you fail to make the finals and do not cash on an entry.
  2. You can earn up to 2 bonus pins per game per event (when you re-enter & do not cash on either entry.) 
  3. In tournaments with more than 2 squads the maximum bonus you can earn during that event is 2 pins per game.
  4. If you advance in a tournament, you will not earn bonus pins from your non-cashing squads in that event.
  5. If you cash in a tournament (1 in 4) for your entry fee you will not lose any bonus pins from that entry.
  6. You lose 6 bonus pins per game when you advance to the finals & all of your bonus pins if you advance to Round 2. 
  7. The maximum number of bonus pins you can earn is 12 per game (36 total.)
  8. Bonus pins are used in qualifying only and not in finals or side action.