When the mean averages of entire leagues are at 190 or better I would say that softer conditions are certainly helping more than a minority of bowlers...
I participate in 2 leagues where this is a reality. The league average last season was 200.26 for 36 weeks. The other was 191.44 for the entire season. One league had 50 bowlers the other had 150.
Anyone that thinks softer conditions haven't hurt the game are out of touch with reality.
Why are there no Classic/Major Leagues any longer? Because no one can find four/five averages that fit together to fit under CAP restrictions.
skullpants: "If you are talking about recreational bowlers the great majority get little benefit from easy lane condtions but the scratch bowlers that bowl in recreational leagues do." -DonGates I would say that by making the above statement that he at least understands the concept.
"If you are talking about recreational bowlers the great majority get little benefit from easy lane condtions but the scratch bowlers that bowl in recreational leagues do." -DonGates
I would say that by making the above statement that he at least understands the concept.
Now let's assume I am an average golfer, say 17 handicap, by the way that is the national average for men. If I have to compete against the scratch golfer, the way the handicaps are figured, the match would be fairly equitable over a variety of conditions. Can bowling say that, I don't think so.
Let's say I bowl in a handicapped sport tournament, where scratch is defined as 210, remember the definition of a scratch bowler is arbitrary, and at the whim of the league, or tournament. Now my average is set on a house shot and is 210, and I am bowling the the first game of matchplay against a 200 average sport bowler, handicap is 100% of 210. Who would you put your money on.
By comparison if I played the scratch golfer on a par 72 course with a slope of 125, and a scoring index of 72, but my handicap was set on a par 72 with a slope of 117, and a scoring index of 69.7, my handicap would be adjusted upward to accommodate the harder playing conditions. It would further be adjusted as to what color tees we were hitting from. NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
Also if that 17 handicap golfer goes to the TPC at Sawgrass, and scores a hole in one, on the world famous 17th hole, he most likely did it under the same conditions as Tiger Woods, or any of the greats, of course it is going to cost him $315 to have that opportunity, bowling is still cheaper than golf.
Golf might seem more expensive than bowling, but I think that the costs are comparable. I have many times seen 180 average bowlers who have more invested in their arsenals than the cost of a high quality set of clubs. A round of golf is more expensive than a line of bowling, but look at it this way. Eighteen holes of golf will take how long for a scratch golfer to complete? As a scratch bowler I can complete a line of bowling on a soft condition in about seven minutes at a cost of around $4.00. That equates to a little over $34 per hour of cost for lineage.
The once per lifetime award system is a novel concept. If the rings or watches are made of gold and actual gemstones it makes much more sense. Will USBC reduce the sanction fee? A $70 ring once per lifetime hardly justifies a $15 to $20 annual sanction fee. The bulk rate on patches, pins and plaques are negligible with the size of the organization. Are USBC's finances in such dire straits? I have been part of organizing many leagues, and the biggest selling point to sanction the league is awards. I can understand the plaque for the 299 and 298 games, they are inexpensive, but tangible awards. The same should be offered for 100 pins over "legitimate" average and 150 over series awards. These are true accomplishments. The "Perfect Game" and 800 and 900 series are mere dreams for 95% of league bowlers. No matter how easy or difficult the lane conditions are there is an element of luck involved.
I bowl in a competitive league where the lane conditions vary from week to week. If you go in with just a strike ball and a spare ball, even the best bowlers struggle. The bowlers who score consistently carry at least 3 bowling balls to meet the conditions, and out of 88 regular league bowlers, there are 8 honor scores (298-299-300-800) and 2 bowlers count for half of them.
No matter how the lanes are dressed, experiences bowlers will adjust and score and less experienced bowlers will struggle. The science of the game has made thes goals more attainable for "good bowlers," but not automatic on an annual basis. Eliminating awards is a bad idea. It will definitely hinder growth of the organization. I am a bowler, I always will be, but I have seen too many centers close and too many league fold to alienate members of USBC. There has to be a better way, it is up to USBC to find it.
Draconas,
In your opinion, bowlers can afford $300-400 for balls but are objecting to an annual fee of $20.00? And I thought most bowlers were cheapskates. Also, where are you going to get watches and rings made of gold and actual gemstones for $70? I want to live in that fantsy land.
ABC/WIBC/USBC gave us the awards. They have the right to take them away.
... and bowlers and leagues have the right to go away (apart from USBC), too.
Draconas:Whiteoak, The current price to purchase the 298-299-11 in a row award rings is about $70. I was merely stating that if the awards are going to be once in a lifetime, perhaps USBC should upgrade the awards. An upgrade is not going to get you a gold or gemstone award for anything close to $70. As for $300-$400 bowling balls, I do not see them in use in league play and only occasionally in tournaments. I didn't say a single ball cost $300-400. You were talking about bowlers using multiple balls and I said anyone who can afford that is a cheapskate if he doesn't want to pay $20 per year to get USBC services even without awards. Have you ever tried to organize a summer or recreational league? There are many who would rather not sanction. The main selling point to sanction the league is for recognition and awards, no matter if the majority of the bowlers can realistically expect an honor score. As a matter of fact I have. Seven years ago I started the first sport league in the state of Maryland, a summer, singles, handicap league. The first year we had 28 bowlers. Over the next few years we fluctuated between 30 and 40 bowlers. Last summer we made it a PBX sport league and grew to 84 bowlers to start and finished with 74. Over the life of this league, seven years, we have had 2 honor scores, both were 11 in-a-row awards. And despite the dearth of awards many of our bowlers are lower average, handicappers who bowl in order to improve and they come back every year. It sure ain't for awards. Does this mean that I think the majority of bowlers don't care about awards? No. But then you can't speak for "the majority" of bowlers and say they bowl for awards. I enjoy bowling year round, and I avoid bowling in non sanctioned leagues. I have concerns about the award cuts because it will alienate many recreational bowlers. I am fortunate that the 2 local associations I bowl in are financially stable. Portage County did not charge local fees this year, and Greater Summit County BA has an annual awards dinner for bowlers who attain honor scores. These perks go a long way towards growing the organizations. Rewards are a great way to grow an organization. It seems a shame to eliminate them. If your local assns. are financially stable as you say, why can't they pick up the cost of awards since you believe that is the big attraction for bowlers in your area? I bet I know why they won't. It would probably be because to do so would probably either bankrupt them quickly or force them to increase local dues thereby causing even more complaining.
An upgrade is not going to get you a gold or gemstone award for anything close to $70.
As for $300-$400 bowling balls, I do not see them in use in league play and only occasionally in tournaments.
I didn't say a single ball cost $300-400. You were talking about bowlers using multiple balls and I said anyone who can afford that is a cheapskate if he doesn't want to pay $20 per year to get USBC services even without awards.
Have you ever tried to organize a summer or recreational league? There are many who would rather not sanction. The main selling point to sanction the league is for recognition and awards, no matter if the majority of the bowlers can realistically expect an honor score.
As a matter of fact I have. Seven years ago I started the first sport league in the state of Maryland, a summer, singles, handicap league. The first year we had 28 bowlers. Over the next few years we fluctuated between 30 and 40 bowlers. Last summer we made it a PBX sport league and grew to 84 bowlers to start and finished with 74. Over the life of this league, seven years, we have had 2 honor scores, both were 11 in-a-row awards. And despite the dearth of awards many of our bowlers are lower average, handicappers who bowl in order to improve and they come back every year. It sure ain't for awards. Does this mean that I think the majority of bowlers don't care about awards? No. But then you can't speak for "the majority" of bowlers and say they bowl for awards.
I enjoy bowling year round, and I avoid bowling in non sanctioned leagues. I have concerns about the award cuts because it will alienate many recreational bowlers. I am fortunate that the 2 local associations I bowl in are financially stable. Portage County did not charge local fees this year, and Greater Summit County BA has an annual awards dinner for bowlers who attain honor scores. These perks go a long way towards growing the organizations. Rewards are a great way to grow an organization. It seems a shame to eliminate them.
If your local assns. are financially stable as you say, why can't they pick up the cost of awards since you believe that is the big attraction for bowlers in your area? I bet I know why they won't. It would probably be because to do so would probably either bankrupt them quickly or force them to increase local dues thereby causing even more complaining.
The whole award situation is dumb. After next year the dumb part will be the "lifetime" awards. It's so dumb. Your gunna see alot of people not start to sanction then. It's so dumb. As a junior bowler I already have a 300 and trying to get an 800 so i can get an award still. After next year I probably won't sanction because I won't see a need for it because It's not like I'm gunna shoot 900. It's so dumb. I don't know why they did it. Because all you get is a cheap cilidium piece of crap. It's so bogus. And as for the 11 in a row plaques. I was ashamed of getting one and also giving it out to a friend who shot a 290.
you're right dream. it's stupid.
usbc should just get rid of the awards program.
dream121402: The whole award situation is dumb. After next year the dumb part will be the "lifetime" awards. It's so dumb. Your gunna see alot of people not start to sanction then. It's so dumb. As a junior bowler I already have a 300 and trying to get an 800 so i can get an award still. After next year I probably won't sanction because I won't see a need for it because It's not like I'm gunna shoot 900. It's so dumb. I don't know why they did it. Because all you get is a cheap cilidium piece of crap. It's so bogus. And as for the 11 in a row plaques. I was ashamed of getting one and also giving it out to a friend who shot a 290.
This above post is dumb. You're already talking about not sanctioning next year and babbling about some 900 that you're not gonna' shoot. What about the 800 you, as of yet, do not have? Dont worry about some "cheap salidium" piece of crap. Upgrade to gold for your 1st one. Everyone you get after that you can do something that's noble like donating the value of the award(s) to a charity on the award application sheet.
Some of you people are amazing. You complain about everything you're not getting for the measly $10 you pay to USBC National per year. Like you should be adorned with a ton of expensive jewelry for your $10............LOL!!!!!!
Dont sanction, then when you shoot that 1st 800 and get absolutely NOTHING for it, you can whine about that too.
I've already shot 800's in practice. Ok so I shoot 800 in league. Then what? Why would I want to keep sanctioning and contributing $10 every year?!?!? As much money as USBC makes from sanctioning alone. Where do they go with all of it. It's not like they have a good budget or anything like that. Most bowlers throughout the year will only get one award or maybe two if there lucky. So really they are walking away with lots of money year in and year out from your average bowler!!! Need I remind you that your average bowler is a HANDICAP bowler not a scratch bowler. If you compared averaged in a local bowling center. I bet you have no more than 10% of the total that bowl there over a 200 average. I do think USBC should somewhat reward those who are excellent bowlers but not everyone wants to go out on the PBA!!!
