I realize that this post really belongs under the Knoxville forum, but I thought that I'd drop it in here for those who might be curious as to how the scoring stacked up at this year's event.  The stats are courtesy of Jim Wyckoff of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

   The 2003 regular ABC tournament unofficial low to cash numbers are: 2,664 team, 1,096 doubles, 563 singles, 1,732 all events. Classified: 2,376 team, 970 doubles, 488 singles, 1,537 all events.
   Every year the tournament produces some amazing numbers. This year was no exception.
   There were 33 300 games bowled during the event along with 13 299 games, five 298s and two 800 series.
   The total pinfall was 92,399,838, or an average of just over 684,000 a day. There were 543,503 games thrown for an average score of 170.
   There were 3,659,478 spares attempted and 2,058,473 converted for.563. Bowlers made 961,466 single-pin spares but missed 325,000. Competitors also threw 1,967,618 strikes, for an average of 3.6 strikes per game.
   And then there were some who didn’t miss any spares. There were 32,944 clean games and 260 clean sets (three consecutive clean games in the same event).

First of all, I think the reason that the shot "seemed" tougher this year, is because the shot did not favor the high aggressive solids and particles that about 90% of the participants feel they need to drill either while at the tournament or just before the tournament.  Example:  I had a friend go up there with a Savage, a Pulse, and Threat, and X-Factor, just to name a few.  During team even, he shoots 640 with the Threat.  What does he do?  Goes to the Storm booth because he just had to have a X-Factor Duece.  He proceeds to shoot 150-180-140 in the doubles event.  WHY?   I shoot almost 1900 using a Cuda/C 2000 and an old Super Beast Titanium, which by the way shot 277 my final game of the tournament with that ball.  I watched a guy, who really did not have alot of hand in the ball, go 660-670-660 for his 3 events, using an X-Factor. My team captain, shot 1994 all events, using an old Sage Quantum and this guy is 56 years old.  He also had the front 10 during the doubles event. Bowlers do not realize that balls designed to get down the lane tend to work the best at these tournaments, yet everyone wants to be stingy and get that brand new $250 solid or particle ball, that they are going to struggle with it and average that whopping 170 as the tournament average indicates. I know you may hate to want to do it, but sometimes, pulling out that ball that has been in your garage or closet for the last 5 years, may be the difference between cashing, and putting up that stout 1500 for an all events score.
--------------------
If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!