The PAPA Advanced Rating System, or PARS, employs the
statistically sophisticated Glicko algorithm
(details here)
to rate pinball players. As the frequency of matches increases, the
accuracy of the ratings improves. Therefore, this system is a natural fit
with our goals of encouraging competitive pinball play.
Player ratings and all ranked lists are recalculated whenever there is new data, or at least weekly otherwise (this is important because RD values decay over time).
All competitive results between consenting players yield viable data for PARS, not just tournament play. Naturally, tournaments are a great opportunity for competitive play, and we encourage players to play matches, even outside the official tournament structure, at such events, and to submit the results to us.
If you have questions about the system, please consult our F.A.Q. or contact us.