Home
Back
Handicap Differential Formula:
| From: | To: |
The Golf Score Handicap Differential measures a golfer's performance relative to the difficulty of a golf course. It's used to calculate a player's handicap index by comparing their adjusted gross score to the course rating and slope rating.
The calculator uses the handicap differential formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula adjusts the difference between the player's score and the course rating by the relative difficulty of the course as measured by the slope rating.
Details: Score differentials are essential for establishing and maintaining an accurate golf handicap. They allow for fair competition between players of different skill levels by normalizing scores across various course difficulties.
Tips: Enter your adjusted gross score (total strokes after handicap adjustments), the course rating (expected score for a scratch golfer), and the slope rating (measure of course difficulty). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is an Adjusted Gross Score (AGS)?
A: AGS is your total score after applying equitable stroke control, which limits the maximum number of strokes you can take on any hole based on your course handicap.
Q2: What do Course Rating and Slope Rating represent?
A: Course Rating indicates the difficulty for a scratch golfer, while Slope Rating measures relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer.
Q3: Why is 113 used in the formula?
A: 113 is the standard slope rating, representing a course of average difficulty. It serves as the baseline for calculating differentials.
Q4: How many differentials are needed for a handicap index?
A: Typically, the best 8 of your most recent 20 score differentials are used to calculate your handicap index.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for official handicap purposes?
A: While this calculator provides accurate differential calculations, official handicaps should be maintained through authorized golf associations using verified score postings.