How Handicaps Are Calculated: Inside the Rating Process

Polo's [handicap](/glossary/handicap) system is one of the sport's most distinctive features — and one of its most debated. Unlike golf, where handicaps are calculated mathematically from scores, polo handicaps are determined by committee assessment. This human element makes the system both flexible and controversial.

The Basics

Polo handicaps range from **-2** (a novice) to **10** (the best in the world). Only a handful of players at any time hold a 10-[goal](/glossary/goal) rating. As of 2026, there are approximately 12–15 ten-goalers worldwide, the majority Argentine.

The handicap is not a measure of goals scored. Rather, it's an overall assessment of a player's value to their team. A 10-goal player doesn't necessarily score 10 goals per match — they contribute 10 goals' worth of value through scoring, defence, horsemanship, teamwork, and game sense.

Who Decides?

Each national polo association has a **handicap committee** responsible for rating players registered with that association. The key associations include:

These committees consist of experienced polo figures — former high-goal players, respected coaches, and association officials. Membership is typically by invitation, and committee members serve for defined terms.

Assessment Criteria

Handicap committees evaluate several dimensions:

1. Playing Ability

The most obvious factor. How well does the player strike the ball? What's their accuracy at various distances? Can they execute the full range of shots — [nearside](/glossary/nearside), [offside](/glossary/offside), backhand, under the neck?

2. Horsemanship

Polo is a horse sport. A player who rides exceptionally — controlling pace, positioning their mount optimally, and maximising their horse's performance — will receive a higher rating than an equally skilled striker who rides poorly.

3. Game Sense

Reading the game, anticipating play, understanding positioning, and making smart decisions under pressure. This is often what separates good players from great ones. A player with exceptional game sense can elevate an entire team.

4. Team Contribution

Polo is a team sport. A player's handicap reflects not just individual ability but how much they contribute to team success. A brilliant individual who doesn't play well within a team structure may receive a lower rating than a slightly less talented player who makes their teammates better.

5. Horse Power

Controversially, the quality of a player's horses affects their handicap. A player mounted on exceptional horses will perform better — and be rated higher — than the same player on inferior horses. This means handicaps partly reflect wealth (better horses = higher rating), which is a persistent source of debate.

6. Consistency

Committees look at performance over a season, not a single match. A player who performs brilliantly in one game but inconsistently overall will be rated lower than one who delivers reliable performances across the season.

The Process

Handicap reviews typically occur **twice per year** — at the end of the summer and winter seasons. The process varies by association, but generally follows this pattern:

1. **Performance monitoring**: Committee members attend matches throughout the season, making notes on player performance

2. **Video review**: Increasingly, committees review video footage, particularly for consequential rating changes

3. **Discussion**: The committee meets to discuss each player being considered for a rating change

4. **Vote**: Rating changes are decided by majority vote

5. **Notification**: Players are informed of their new ratings, which take effect for the following season

The Argentine Standard

Argentina produces the overwhelming majority of high-goal players (6 goals and above), and the AAP's handicap committee is considered the gold standard for rating the world's best. A 10-goal rating from the AAP carries the most weight in the global polo community.

The Argentine handicap system is also the most demanding at the top end. Earning a 10-goal rating from the AAP requires sustained excellence across multiple Argentine Open seasons — the tournament widely regarded as the toughest in the world.

Cross-Border Challenges

One of the ongoing challenges in polo handicapping is **harmonising ratings across countries**. A 4-goal player in England may not be equivalent to a 4-goal player in the US or a 4-goal player in Argentina. Different playing standards, different committee standards, and different competitive contexts create discrepancies.

The FIP (Fédération Internationale de Polo) has attempted to create a universal handicap framework, but in practice, national associations retain significant autonomy over their ratings. When players compete in foreign tournaments, their handicaps are sometimes adjusted by the host association.

Controversy and Criticism

The handicap system attracts regular criticism:

**Subjectivity**: Unlike golf or tennis rankings, polo handicaps are opinions, not calculations. Committees can be influenced by politics, personal relationships, and biases.

**Horse factor**: Rating players partly based on horse quality penalises talented but less wealthy players and rewards those who can afford the best horses.

**Regional inconsistency**: A 6-goal player in one country may be a 4-goal player in another, creating confusion in international competition.

**Pace of change**: Committees typically adjust handicaps gradually, which means rapidly improving young players may be under-rated and declining veterans over-rated.

Why It Matters

Handicaps serve two critical functions:

1. **Tournament organisation**: Tournaments are classified by total team handicap (e.g., "16–20 goal"), ensuring competitive balance. Without handicaps, the best teams would dominate every event.

2. **Team composition**: Patrons (the wealthy players who fund teams) use handicaps to assemble balanced teams. A patron rated at 0 goals might hire three professionals rated at 7, 6, and 5 goals to compete in an 18-goal tournament.

Despite its imperfections, the handicap system is fundamental to polo's structure. It creates competitive balance, enables mixed-ability play, and provides a universal language for assessing player quality across the global polo community.