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Author Topic: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open  (Read 7990 times)

Mighty Fish

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Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« on: July 18, 2014, 01:22:10 PM »
Every year, some people claim that USBC Open scores are far too high, given the number of honor scores and the scores needed to win or place high in the standings.

However, even though the overall scores were a bit higher than those in recent years, only very few -- outside of the best players and shotmakers -- scored at high levels in the tournament.

This year, the entire field averaged 171.79 -- with a total pinfall of 68,401,949 over 398,179 games -- as compared to 168.3 over 461,357 games in 2013.

The Classified division -- including bowlers with entering averages of 180 or under -- averaged a composite 149.24 this year, while the composite average in the Regular Division was 178.38.

Keep in mind that the Regular Division includes bowlers with averages of 181 and higher -- and many of them average well over 200 -- so it's more than obvious that most bowlers shoot FAR LOWER scores than they do back home, but in the absence of THS conditions, that shouldn't be surprising.

 

Joe Cool

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #16 on: July 28, 2014, 03:03:38 PM »
Not everyone has the same opportunity though for various reasons (lack of sport leagues, money to practice, money for balls, etc). 

Here's what I do believe though: If I bowled on one of the elite teams with one of their elite companion teams, I would perform better than I do bowling with my friends.  They are better bowlers for sure, but they also change the environment in a way that a "normal" group of bowlers cannot.

I've said this for years and it's still true: fair is a point of view.  I'm not sure there's anything that can be done to make the tournament completely fair.  Even if you bowled one per pair, some lanes play easier than other lanes.  We have to live with some level of inequality because there's no reasonable way around it.  I do think they need to find a way to make it a game of 5 instead of a game of 10 though.  Right now if you're not playing with 10, you have zero shot regardless of how good you are of winning the tournament.
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2014, 03:23:20 PM »
Nobody assigns you a team.  If you choose to bowl with a bunch of chops that is your own fault.

milorafferty

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2014, 03:26:58 PM »
"itsallaboutme" is right, maybe you should pick better friends.   :D
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Steven

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #19 on: July 28, 2014, 04:31:02 PM »
"itsallaboutme" is right, maybe you should pick better friends.   :D

Yea, maybe you should take your own advice.  ;)
 
To Joe Cool's point, it you truly don't have money for practice or money for balls, don't go. Unless you get your jollies from just being in the building, it's going to be a waste to make the trip.
 
Lack of Sport Leagues should never be an excuse. There's currently a nice thread going on in the Misc forum that points out how you can effectively practice on a THS. It's a good read. If you have the motivation to prepare, you'll have a fair shot, especially in singles and doubles. 

milorafferty

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #20 on: July 28, 2014, 04:38:16 PM »
"itsallaboutme" is right, maybe you should pick better friends.   :D

Yea, maybe you should take your own advice.  ;)
 



But I like my friends.  :D


We may not be very good, but we look great doing it.  ;D ;D
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

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Steven

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #21 on: July 28, 2014, 04:58:58 PM »

But I like my friends.  :D
 
We may not be very good, but we look great doing it.  ;D ;D

Amen  :P

Joe Cool

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #22 on: July 28, 2014, 06:51:15 PM »
I love how these threads always dissolve to people saying don't go with those same people not understanding that their advice would mean there's no tournament for any of them to bowl in.  If the only people that show up are the teams with a chance to win and the people looking to profit off the tournament, you won't have a tournament for long. 
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #23 on: July 28, 2014, 09:06:19 PM »
I love how these threads always dissolve to people saying don't go with those same people not understanding that their advice would mean there's no tournament for any of them to bowl in.  If the only people that show up are the teams with a chance to win and the people looking to profit off the tournament, you won't have a tournament for long.


Could almost substitute 'league' for 'tournament'.

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Steven

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #24 on: July 28, 2014, 09:55:32 PM »
I love how these threads always dissolve to people saying don't go with those same people not understanding that their advice would mean there's no tournament for any of them to bowl in.  If the only people that show up are the teams with a chance to win and the people looking to profit off the tournament, you won't have a tournament for long.

 
I didn't say not to go. I said that if you have to money to practice, then there isn't an excuse for not being able to prepare, even on a THS. Otherwise, why go unless the objective is just the good feeling from being there?
 
Really, it doesn't take extraordinary results to cash in a few events, and even get a good chunk of your entry fee back. In team, we didn't bowl great, but we cashed and had a great time in the process. Winning an Eagle isn't the only measure of success.   

Joe Cool

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #25 on: July 29, 2014, 07:52:21 AM »
I love how these threads always dissolve to people saying don't go with those same people not understanding that their advice would mean there's no tournament for any of them to bowl in.  If the only people that show up are the teams with a chance to win and the people looking to profit off the tournament, you won't have a tournament for long.

 
I didn't say not to go. I said that if you have to money to practice, then there isn't an excuse for not being able to prepare, even on a THS. Otherwise, why go unless the objective is just the good feeling from being there?
 
Really, it doesn't take extraordinary results to cash in a few events, and even get a good chunk of your entry fee back. In team, we didn't bowl great, but we cashed and had a great time in the process. Winning an Eagle isn't the only measure of success.   

I don't disagree for the most part.  Personally I have the money to practice, but I don't have the time and if I'm being completely honest I don't have the desire to do so either.  Bowling is much more of a hobby now for me, and there's nothing wrong with that.  I go to Nationals every year to see and spend time with the people I used to bowl with - the trip is not about bowling at all for me and eventually I will act on my threat to just show up to hang out and not to bowl.

I don't make this point for my benefit; I make it for everyone's benefit.  These threads start every year and they end up in the same place every year.  Someone feels (likely rightfully so) that they have no chance to compete and someone else tells them not to go.  It happens every year.  If you want to keep having a tournament, you need those people to keep going.  Instead of telling them not to go or get better (getting better isn't an option for everybody), people should be coming up with a way to make it worth their while to keep going. 

I don't belong to any message boards for any other sports - do all sports seem to have this problem or is it just a bowling issue?  It seems that we don't band together, even when our sport/recreational activity is facing some fairly challenging times.
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #26 on: July 29, 2014, 08:31:02 AM »
Guys on golf forums don't complain when the best player wins a scratch event.  They seem to understand that is the way it works.  Somehow bowlers don't get that and they want to make things "fair".

Joe Cool

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #27 on: July 29, 2014, 08:34:07 AM »
Guys on golf forums don't complain when the best player wins a scratch event.  They seem to understand that is the way it works.  Somehow bowlers don't get that and they want to make things "fair".

Guys on golf forums aren't relying on guys with no chance of winning to get their money either.
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #28 on: July 29, 2014, 11:09:53 AM »
Personally; I think they need a third division.  The guys averaging less than 190 have very little chance to cash unless they get into brackets and make all their spares.  Cant imagine many 180 guys are out there shooting 1900 plus much less 2200. 

Think there should be a 169 and below classified division, a 171 to 200 regular division, and a 201 and above elite division.  Back some 25-30 years ago when it took "only" 2100 or less even to win an eagle; it was more understandable to have only 2 divisions.  However; now that it takes at or close to 2300 to win an eagle and now 3500+ to have a chance at a team eagle; it makes zero sense to have people less than 190 bowling against them.   
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milorafferty

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #29 on: July 29, 2014, 11:22:49 AM »
Guys on golf forums don't complain when the best player wins a scratch event.  They seem to understand that is the way it works.  Somehow bowlers don't get that and they want to make things "fair".

Guys on golf forums aren't relying on guys with no chance of winning to get their money either.

Why do people want to compare bowling with golf? Two completely different things. And besides, if you play a tournament at your local muni course, you ARE playing for the other players money. Golf doesn't have the equivalent of the USBC Open.
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Steven

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Re: Entire field averaged only 171.79 for 2014 USBC Open
« Reply #30 on: July 29, 2014, 11:29:15 AM »

I don't make this point for my benefit; I make it for everyone's benefit.  These threads start every year and they end up in the same place every year.  Someone feels (likely rightfully so) that they have no chance to compete and someone else tells them not to go.  It happens every year.  If you want to keep having a tournament, you need those people to keep going.  Instead of telling them not to go or get better (getting better isn't an option for everybody), people should be coming up with a way to make it worth their while to keep going. 

 
I don't disagree with this. The USBC needs to make sure the tournament is a special experience people can't get in their own backyard. That's why I'm concerned about any proposals that would dumb down the event to a glorified city or state tournament, even if it saved a few bucks. Do that, and people will stop coming in droves.