The “Croquet Calculator” is available as a free app downloadable from the Apple App Store. For support please contact: app.support@cherrydown.org
If it is thought that the calculator is incorrect in any calculation please first check that the game length is set to the correct value.
If it appears that a pairing swap is being made available or not being made available contrary to Rule 19.3, please see if any of the following applies.
Rule 19.3 is not a complete statement on how to calculate the extra turns to be received by the various players in a GC doubles game. The calculator uses a variation of Rule 19.3 as the basis of its calculations which results in a pairing swaps being offered when outside wording of this Rule.
“If two players share the lowest handicap, either may be identified for this purpose because it will not affect the allocation of extra strokes.”
It can also be the case that three or all four players share the same lowest handicap. In these instances, too, it makes no difference to the extra strokes calculation which one is selected as “the” lowest handicap player”. So, for example, if the player handicaps on teams A and B are A1 0, A2 2, B1 0, B2 0, then A2 will be paired with a scratch player and receive 1 extra stroke whichever of A1, B1 or B2 is identified as “the” lowest handicapped player.
“If two players on the same side have the same handicap and both will receive extra strokes, they are to announce before the game starts which of them will receive extra strokes based on the lowest handicap.”
Consider the following three situations.
1) 13 point game, A1 0 & A2 4 playing B1 2 & B2 2
A1 is the sole lowest handicap player and may be paired with either B1 or B2. If A1 is paired with B1 then A2 and B1 will each receive one extra stroke and if A1 is paired with B2 then A2 and B2 will each receive one extra stroke.
It is clear that B1 and B2 should be allowed to elect who is paired with A1 and so receive the one extra stroke available to team B. However, this situation does not fall within Rule 19.3.2(a) as B1 and B2 have the same handicap but only one of them will receive any extra strokes.
That is, Rule 19.3.2(a) is not a necessary condition for a pairing swap to be made available.
Accordingly, the calculator offers a pairing swap in situations such as this even though they do not satisfy Rule 19.3.2(a).
2) 13 point game. A1 3 & A2 3 playing B1 6 & B2 6
Either of A1 and A2 may identified as the lowest handicap player and may be paired with either B1 or B2.
This situation satisfies Rule 19.3.2(a) but swapping the pairing over has no effect on who on team B receives how many extra strokes because A1 and A2 have the same handicap.
That is, Rule 19.3.2(a) is not a sufficient condition for a pairing swap to necessary.
Accordingly, the calculator does not offer a pairing swap in situations such as this even though they do satisfy Rule 19.3.2(a).
3) 13 point game. A1 3 & A2 4 playing B1 11 & B2 11
Here A1 is the sole lowest handicap player and may be paired with either B1 or B2.
Even though this situation satisfies Rule Rule 19.3.2(a) and team having the “lowest handicap player” do not have the same handicaps, swapping the pairing has no effect on who receives how many extra strokes even though on a casual inspection it might appear should.
In these situations the calculator indicates a pairing swap is available even though it has no effect on the extra strokes received by any player.so the user can make the swap to confirm that the pairing change makes no difference.
“If both players of a side will receive one or more extra strokes based on a half handicap difference that is not an integer before rounding upwards, 0.5 is to be deducted from the half handicap difference of one player of the side. They are to announce before the game starts which of them will be affected by the deduction.”
The calculator implements Rule 19.3.6 as if it were worded as follows.
“If both players of a side will receive one or more extra strokes for a given game length based on a half handicap difference as calculated for a 13 point game that is not an integer before rounding upwards, 0.5 is to be deducted from the 13 point game half handicap difference of one player of the side and the extra strokes for the given game length recalculated. They are to announce before the game starts which of them will be affected by the deduction.
Consider the following situation.
1) 19 point game. A1 0 & A2 1 playing B1 7 & B2 4
A1 is paired with B1. The half handicap differences for B1 and B2 are 3.5 and 1.5 and the extra strokes they receive are 5 and 2, respectively. As both B1 and B2 receive extra strokes based on their 13 point half handicap differences which are both non-integers, B1 and B2 are asked to elect whose 13 point game half handicap difference is to be reduced by 0.5. If B1 takes the hit, the 13 point half handicap differences for B1 and B2 become 3 and 1.5 and the adjusted extra strokes received for the 19 point gamer become 4 and 2.
It is to be noted that the extra strokes for a given half handicap difference in a non-13 point game given by Table 2 of Appendix of the Rules of Golf Croquet (2018) are calculated by first adjusting the half handicap difference for the game length and then rounding the result up or down to the nearest integer. In the 19 point game example just discussed, the 13 point half handicap differences are adjusted from 3.5 and 1.5 to 5.12 and 2.19 and then both rounded to the nearest integer (both rounded down in this case) to give 5 and 2 extra turns as shown in the adjustment table.