A HANDICAP is an advantage or disadvantage imposed in sport to make competition more balanced. It is usually based on the skill level of the competitors, and can be used to even out the playing field. Handicaps are often used in golf, where players with higher skill levels are given a certain number of strokes to make up for their greater ability. In other sports, such as tennis, a HANDICAP may be used to give a weaker player a better chance of winning.