Editing Handicapping (section)

==Competition handicapping==
In a 'result adjustment' style handicap event, the outcome may be adjusted by some factor determined by the handicap.  Some forms of car or yacht racing feature this type of handicapping.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the PY|publisher=Royal Yachting Association|url=http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/technical/Web%20Documents/py-general/RYA_G01_Panel_15_2000x1500_07.pdf|access-date=23 June 2013}}</ref> In this case, the winner, on elapsed time, may differ from the fastest competitor when the times have been adjusted for the different competitors' handicaps.

In a 'pursuit' style handicap race, all participants are clocked in a time trial before the race. When this takes place at the same event as the main race, it is known as the handicap. In the race itself, the participants do not all start at the same "Go"; the starts are staggered, based on the handicaps. The slowest swimmer, or cyclist, for example, starts first and the fastest starts last, making the end of the race (hopefully) close. An ideal handicap race is one in which all participants finish at the same time.<ref>[http://www.ukhorseracing.co.uk/newtoracing/HandicappingExplained.asp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131234651/http://www.ukhorseracing.co.uk/newtoracing/HandicappingExplained.asp|date=2011-01-31}} UK Horse Racing. Accessed 5 February 2011.</ref> The winner is the person who beats his or her own time.

Similarly, physically staggered starting positions can be used, for example, in greyhound racing a handicap race is where greyhounds (based on their ability) start from different [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom#Racing Jacket Colours and Starting Traps|starting traps]] set at different measurements from the finish line, and in human foot racing, for example, the [[Stawell Gift]].

Some motorsport events, especially in [[sports car racing]], demand teams to stop the vehicle in the pitbox a fixed period of time depending on the drivers' classification, thus giving advantage to less skilled drivers. An example of a championship using this system is the [[International GT Open]]. The advantage of this system over [[ballast weight]] systems is that vehicles have the normal performance on track, so better drivers will be able to recover time and overtake slower drivers.

Contrarily, horse race handicapping is implemented using extra weight.

===Horse racing===
{{main|Handicap (horse racing)}}
A handicap race in horse racing is a race in which horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper. A better horse will carry a heavier weight, to give him or her a disadvantage when racing against slower horses. The handicapper's goal in assigning handicap weights is to enable all the horses to finish together (in a dead heat).

The skill in betting on a handicap horse race is in determining which horse can overcome its handicap.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/whatwedo/handicapping.asp |title=What we do: Handicapping |access-date=2011-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031095844/http://britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/whatwedo/handicapping.asp |archive-date=2010-10-31 }} British Horseracing Authority. Accessed 5 February 2011.</ref>

In addition to the ''[[Daily Racing Form]]'', other data sources include Brisnet, Equibase, The Ragozin Sheets, and Thoro-Graph.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://equineinfoexchange.com/index.php/horse-racing/wagering | title=Horse Racing Wagering |date=1 January 2020 |work=Equine Info Exchange}}</ref>

===Rugby===

In rugby, one of the teams will start with a points advantage, and one will start with a deficit to make up in the match. If a team starts with the advantage, as long as they finish above the points different covered in the handicap, then your selection will win. The points handicap will be greater due to higher point scoring nature of rugby.<ref name="handicap-betting-explained"/>

===Basketball===

With a basketball handicap, you will be backing a team to start with a points advantage or deficit to make up in the match. Basketball handicapping is often seen in matches that are predicted to be one-sided.<ref name="handicap-betting-explained">{{cite web |url=https://mybettingsites.co.uk/learn/handicap-betting-explained/ |title=Handicap Betting Explained |website=mybettingsites.co.uk |date=21 January 2020 |access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Casinos Online |url=https://www.casinosonline.com/ |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>

===Golf===
{{main|Handicap (golf)}}
Handicapping in the sport of golf enables players and teams of varying abilities to compete against one another. A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential or "average best". Better players are those with the lowest handicaps.

===Chess===
{{main|Handicap (chess)}}
Types of chess handicaps include:
* the stronger player surrenders a certain piece or pieces
* the weaker player has extra moves at the beginning of the game
* the weaker player has extra time on the chess clock
* the odds-giver to deliver checkmate with a specified piece

===Go===
{{main|Handicap (go)}}
Handicapping in go includes the weaker player being given an advantage by placing a number of stones before the stronger player commences, and by final points adjustment.

===Shogi===
{{main|Handicap (shogi)}}
Handicapping in shogi is achieved by removing one or more pieces from the stronger player's side.  Shogi (Japanese chess) and many of its variants have [[Shogi#Player ranking and handicaps|handicaps]].

===Gliding===
{{main|Glider (sailplane)}}

===Polo===
{{main|Handicap (polo)}}
The polo handicap is an estimation of the player's worth to his or her team. It is an overall rating of a player's horsemanship, team play, knowledge of the game, strategy and horses.  The difference between the total of the polo handicaps for the players on each team is then used to determine the minimum score difference for the better team to score to enable them to win.

In polo, every player is awarded an individual handicap depending on performance. Handicap commissions of the national associations meet several times a year to decide players’ handicaps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.poloplus10.com/the-polo-handicap-53889/ | title=The Polo Handicap |work=Polo Plus Ten | date=17 July 2015}}</ref><br />
Argentina: 0 to 10<br />
USA: C (-2), B (-1), B+ (-0.5), A (0), A+ (0.5), 1.0, 1.5, 2 to 10<br />
England: -2 to 10

===Sailing===
{{main|Handicap (sailing)}}
Handicaps for sailing vessels in sailing races have varied throughout history, and they also vary by country, and by sailing organisation. Sailing handicap standards exist internationally, nationally, and within individual sailing clubs.

Sailing race handicaps may be based on vessel capability and-or crew experience, and today typically adjust the time a vessel takes to reach the finish point of the race.

===Tennis===
{{main|Handicap (tennis)}}

The ATP, WTA, Challenger, and ITF events have plenty of matches which can be one-sided, which results in short odds being offered with various betting sites.

Therefore, there is not ever much value in backing a specific player to win, which is why handicap betting is often popular. Handicap betting in tennis often means that you are wagering funds on a player to start a certain number of games ahead or behind in the match.<ref name="handicap-betting-explained"/>

===Motorcycle speedway===

{{main|Calculated match average}}

The calculated match average is a handicap calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.

===Cycling===

Handicapping in competitive cycling is most commonly used in [[track cycling]] and [[road bicycle racing|road racing]] in Australia and New Zealand.  Handicap events are rare outside these two countries.

In track cycling, distance-based handicaps are typically used.  The highest-profile example of this racing format is the [[Melbourne Cup on Wheels]].

In road cycling, pursuit-style handicaps are most common, and are mostly restricted to grassroots amateur events.  In the past, higher-profile national events such as the [[Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic]] were run as handicaps, but with larger entry numbers and a preference for scratch racing among elite-level national competitors, these are no longer run as handicaps.

Because of the importance of drafting in cycling events, riders are usually grouped into a limited number of "bunches" based on previous results, with the bunches containing the weakest riders leaving first.  Prizes are typically awarded to the first finishers, first female finisher (in mixed events), and fastest time recorded (who may not have crossed the line first due to the handicapping).