The two dials
A match format is two choices: how many games (Single game, Best 2 of 3, Best 3 of 5) and how long each game is — in GC a 13 point game (first to 7) or 19 point game (first to 10); in AC a 26, 22, 18 or 14 point game.
Block play takes one format per competition, set on Format (and mirrored on Scoring settings). Knockouts take a format per round — so early rounds can be single games while the final is a best-of-3 — set in the knockout wizard and adjustable any time in Scoring settings.
Format is a scheduling decision
Every extra game is lawn time. The schedule reserves a Game slot per match, so a best-of-3 needs a bigger slot than a single game — the knockout ladder budgets its rounds from the per-round best-of the same way. Set format before generating a schedule; changing it afterwards means regenerating.
Knockout ladders face the same question with a twist: rounds are budgeted by Round length assumes — every match going the distance (safe) or a typical length (tight).
Best-of and standings
Best-of formats add game-based tiebreakers (game wins, net games) above hoop-based ones, and scoring takes each game of the match in turn on the Scoring section.
Related
- Choosing a format — the games-budget arithmetic.