I was looking at last year score sheets (I need to get into judge mode, it will be my first time) and I noticed something that needs to be fixed this year. I want to first point out that there is not one absolute "correct" way of scoring. Other methods are valid, such as assigning the highest score 3 points, the second one 2 points, etc. as pointed out by Mike.
The way the scores are added between judges is by first normalizing the scores of each judge so his/her highest is 100 points and the rest of the scores of that judge are adjusted proportionally. This sounds a fair and logical way of doing it.
This normalization was done last year, except that for the first time there were two divisions, bearing and fixed tip, and the scores were normalized per judge just once, with respect to the highest score given in either division. The end result was that he scores in one division influenced the scores in the other. If all the judges score the players in the same order there is no problem but when the players change positions between judges that is not anymore the case.
Last year the bearing podium positions could have changed due to the (higher) fixed tip scores. By pure chance this did not happen by about a 1 point difference!
In conclusion, the scores have to be normalized independently for each division, to declare the division winners. As far as the overall winner, I am not completely sure which normalization would be better
There is probably no perfect way of doing it. So for simplicity we should probably just add the independently normalized scores.
Mike: you are correct that by your method we would have tied for the overall title if there had been one. But I would have won by these rules (with either normalization). I need to make myself a trophy
