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Author Topic: League Pattern  (Read 7449 times)

captzap

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League Pattern
« on: February 02, 2015, 08:05:39 AM »
Bowling in a competitive league for 4 years. This year they changed the pattern without consulting the league members. Shot was setup by a bowler on the league in conjunction with the house. Now almost everyone is averaging 5 to 20 pins less than last year. Your pro bowlers and lower average (straight ball) bowlers have almost no change in average. Only your average to slightly above average bowlers are struggling. My question is should the league have voted on a pattern change? If a change was needed should we have not been given a choice in patterns to vote on? Example. Red, White or Blue patterns. Should a bowler bowling in the league set the pattern up? To me this is more like bowling on a sport pattern than a modified house shot! The averages reflect that. 177 this league 193 all other leagues. Just doing a little venting. ;)

 

Urethane Game

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2015, 08:13:26 AM »
Your "average" is relative to the condition that you are bowling on.  You said it was a "competitive" league.  I'd figure out a way to get better so you can compete or bowl something less competitive.

itsallaboutme

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2015, 08:41:08 AM »
If the league is going to bowl on something other than what is normally put out the other 6 nights a week in the house they should be notified before the league starts.  No one from the league should be involved with the process of determining what the lane conditions will be unless it is something that is voted on by team captains. It's all or nothing, either vote or the center does it.

The problem being most people know absolutely nothing about how to condition a lane, including most mechanics.

Pinbuster

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2015, 09:08:51 AM »
As long as the shot is USBC USBC compliant and the shot was not changed to favor a team or player, then I do not feel any one has a complaint.

If the league bylaws stipulate a given condition then you may have a leg to stand on.

captzap

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2015, 09:20:20 AM »
I only bowl this league in this house. Their other leagues have different shots (THS). House and proshop (pro) set the shot. It's just the fact that the shot changed so radically from last year. From Modified THS to Modified THS long heavy oil and very flat. Pro has told many bowlers to adjust their surfaces to 360 even on high end balls. Just drilled up a Radical Guru just for this shot and had a 608 1st night. Maybe this is going to work.  :D

Aloarjr810

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2015, 09:39:22 AM »
This was a pretty good quote from a letter from a house that changed the lane conditions, explaining why they changed.
 
"The sport of bowling is about who is able to adjust, and then how accurately they can execute their shot. The team across from you has the same has the same condition as you. If you want to win; learn, practice, and adjust, otherwise rolling the ball is like rolling the dice."
 
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Aloarjr810

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2015, 09:42:58 AM »
Pro has told many bowlers to adjust their surfaces to 360 even on high end balls.

360!!!

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luv2C10falll

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2015, 10:07:43 AM »
It sounds a little like the proshop guy is setting up the lanes to get more business.
Like that's never happened before !!!!!

avabob

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2015, 11:14:33 AM »
Back in the stone age when I started bowling, I can still remember 170 average league bowlers complaining that "I don't care whether they are slick or dry, they should just be the same every night".  We can debate forever what the proper approach by the house is.  You can never please everyone, but with the modern lane machines and technology we have today, it seems only good business to try to keep as many customers happy as possible.  I think every house should have a sport league available to the growing segment of customers who want to be challenged.  The rest of the leagues should be given a so called easy scoring condition that the house does its best to maintain consistently.  That is not entirely possible because machines do screw up, the balls chew up conditions differently depending on the style of players on the pair, and sometimes things like climate and humidity changes do impact the condition.

In addition, any bowler who desires to be at all competitive should understand that developing some diversity is a necessity as important as consistency in release, to compete in the modern game.   
« Last Edit: February 02, 2015, 12:05:22 PM by avabob »

Jorge300

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2015, 11:15:05 AM »
I see two things going on:
 
1) You have already mentioned that the expectation was a "modified" THS pattern. It seems you have an issue because this year they "modified" more then in the past. Oh well. When you sign up for a league using a modified THS pattern you leave the door open for a variety of things, inlcuding what you are seeing this year. You need to adjust your surfaces, adjust your line, and bowl your best. All these people whose averages are down so much, has anyone tried pointing the ball off the corner a little...getting the ball heading towards the pocket right from the start? I have finished as high as 2nd place in a very prestigious tournament throwing that line....do what you must to score better.
 
2) That being said, it seems like the pro shop operator, whether or not he bowls in the league, is trying to create a market for the newer releases from a lot of companies. You purchased a Guru, I bet he has sold a lot of Storm's Crux, of Roto Grip's Hyper Cell, DV8's Thug Unruly and/or Ruckus Feud, etc..
 
I would look at it like this: It is a learning for you. You can learn to be a better bowler on a shot like this versus a typical THS. Think of it as such and use it as  such and you will be better for it.
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captzap

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2015, 02:32:05 PM »
Guru purchased online and drilled by my ball driller at another house. I don't think that the proshop did this to increase sales.

 ? Would you think at if 90% of the league dropped significantly in average this could be a problem? If this was the only league you bowled then your average in Tournaments would be affected. I would love this average for tournament use. If you bowl in a sport shot league your average is adjusted for tournaments by several pins up. I see that this could be a problem. The only tournament that I have bowled in that I could not average my book average was nationals (2012 pattern) and sometimes I think that is how this shot plays.

Also bowling this does make other leagues seem a lot easier.  :) :) :)
« Last Edit: February 02, 2015, 02:34:16 PM by captzap »

Jorge300

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2015, 03:36:47 PM »
I guess this was directed at me. I would think there are too many bowlers who averages were inflated over their actual skill level by easy THS.

How can it be a problem if, as you claim, you hit your average in every tournament but Nationals, if they raise your average using the sports shot adjustment? Is it a problem because you won't get extra handicap?

Lastly, you are getting my point. If you focus on bowling this league, it will help you get better and make the other leagues seem easier. So instead of complaining, try different things....different surfaces, different lines, different balls, etc., until you find something that works.


Guru purchased online and drilled by my ball driller at another house. I don't think that the proshop did this to increase sales.

 ? Would you think at if 90% of the league dropped significantly in average this could be a problem? If this was the only league you bowled then your average in Tournaments would be affected. I would love this average for tournament use. If you bowl in a sport shot league your average is adjusted for tournaments by several pins up. I see that this could be a problem. The only tournament that I have bowled in that I could not average my book average was nationals (2012 pattern) and sometimes I think that is how this shot plays.

Also bowling this does make other leagues seem a lot easier.  :) :) :)
Jorge300

cheech

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2015, 09:24:05 AM »
the house i bowled in last year changed their house shot for our league becuase our league was so competitive. handicap league field average was about 210 in 2013......2014 field average was 202. it seemed like everyone was down 10-15pins in average and the same sort of thing happened were the above average bowlers dropped in average but the "fluffers" that go up 10 raised their average.  the new pattern seemed to cater to the house bowlers as a "condition handicap." fair condition? thats debateable but in the end everyone bowled on the same condition and everyone got handicap so how unfair was the league?

i think the original question should be how can i combat this condition or get better to raise my average and compete OR what type of bowling ball and layout will help me compete on this pattern.

avabob

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2015, 11:37:41 AM »
Sorry to take a cheap shot at you Cheech, but as a 67 year old fluffer I would be glad to take on your "above average" guys for a few bucks on any two conditions so long as both of us get to pick one. 

On a serious note, I think the vast majority of league bowlers are way too caught up in trying to hook the lane to the max.  This idea got lost in the era of " crank to the bank", but the most effective ball is the one that can maximize hit with the least amount of hook.  It is rotational energy matched up to ball speed that maximizes carry, not the number of boards crossed or entry angle.  During the short oil urethane era the best way to maximize carry was through creating a lot of side roll, but the amount of hook was a by product of this type of delivery 

mainzer

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Re: League Pattern
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2015, 08:53:51 PM »
If there is that much volume it is time to work as a unit with your teammates open the lanes up and move in from there.

Don't worry about your average it is only a number. Is their a difference leading the league with 240 or 220? Leading the league is leading the league.
"No one runs...from the conquerer "

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