Handicaps are used to great effect in real tennis and enable two players of differing abilities to have a competitive match. The basic principle behind the system is that a player with a higher handicap is given a points advantage. This might mean that the weaker player starts each game on 15 or 30 points, or that the stronger player starts on minus 15 or 30 points (called “owe 15” and “owe 30”), or a combination of both. In extreme circumstances, the better player might have shot restrictions too (e.g. not being allowed a second serve). 

For example, Sarah is playing Emily. Sarah’s handicap is 40, and Emily’s is 44. The difference is four, and so you can use the handicap calculator to work out that the stronger player must “owe 15” in every game. So Sarah will have to win five points to win each game and Emily will only have to win four. And because a handicap is being used there is no deuce. Instead, the term 40-all is used, and the winner of that point will win the game.  

The results of handicap matches can be entered into real tennis online a globally used system which tracks the handicap of everyone. Each time a result is entered, the handicaps of the players will be adjusted to reflect the result of the match. It is also possible to see the “world ranking” of everyone according to their handicap. 

There are six basic outcomes to a tennis match: Big Win (W!), Win (W), Draw (D), No Result (N), Loss (L), Big Loss (L!). The degree to which a handicap changes after a match depends on a variety of factors:

Court familiarity – Home advantage often makes a significant difference. If two people on paper have the same handicap, the effect of playing on an unfamiliar court roughly adds two points to your handicap. As a result, the handicap computer views your handicap as higher than your opponent’s, even if it is in theory the same

Tournament vs social play – tournament play is considered to be a better test of your ability as most people take it more seriously. The resulting adjustment to your handicap will be twice as large in tournament play, all other things being equal

Number of games and sets completed – the more games and sets that are completed, the better the handicap calculator can adjust your handicap. For example, if Player A wins one set 6/5, that is a fairly close match and the change to the handicap will probably not be very much. But if Player A wins 6/5, 6/0, 6/2, that is a much more comprehensive victory, and the handicap will probably receive a greater adjustment as a result. (Of course, it all depends on using the correct handicap, and the full explanation of how calculations are made can be seen here. )

Using the correct handicap – when the wrong handicap is used (for example, during a “level” tournament), there can be three results. A shock victory for the weaker player, a very close match between the two, or a victory for the stronger player in line with how much lower their handicap is. Although the third scenario aligns with how the handicap system works, the first two results are surprising and suggest that the two players’ handicaps are not correct. This can have an impact on the way the handicaps will be adjusted.

New players are given a provisional handicap which fluctuates much more than a normal handicap. This allows their handicap to adjust to their true ability more quickly than normal handicaps which normally only receive small adjustments.

If no results are recorded in the space of 12 months, your handicap will have one or two points added to it to reflect that you are no longer playing. This will happen every 12 months until a result is entered.