cliveb
Head Pro
Had a discussion about how the strokes in a foursomes match play should be calculated: what exactly does "half combined difference" mean?
My understanding is that you take the combined handicaps of the two players in each pair, take the difference between the pairs, then divide by 2. Someone else was adamant that you find half the combined handicaps for each pair then take the difference.
Here's an example where it would be important which way it's done:
Pair A have handicaps of 10 and 11; pair B are both 12.
Using one method, we have ((12+12)-(10+11))/2 = 1.5, thus 2 shots to pair B.
The other method gives (12+12)/2 [12] - (10+11)/2 [10.5 rounded to 11], thus 1 shot to pair B.
Which is correct? I believe it's the way that gives 2 shots to pair B. That said, in stroke play it's effectively the other method that is used (ie. pair B would only get one more shot than pair A in a stroke play comp), so there does seem to be some sort of conflict.
My understanding is that you take the combined handicaps of the two players in each pair, take the difference between the pairs, then divide by 2. Someone else was adamant that you find half the combined handicaps for each pair then take the difference.
Here's an example where it would be important which way it's done:
Pair A have handicaps of 10 and 11; pair B are both 12.
Using one method, we have ((12+12)-(10+11))/2 = 1.5, thus 2 shots to pair B.
The other method gives (12+12)/2 [12] - (10+11)/2 [10.5 rounded to 11], thus 1 shot to pair B.
Which is correct? I believe it's the way that gives 2 shots to pair B. That said, in stroke play it's effectively the other method that is used (ie. pair B would only get one more shot than pair A in a stroke play comp), so there does seem to be some sort of conflict.
