Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? - BowlingCommunity ...
#175313 - Yesterday at01:18 PMBowling controversies - Should I ignore them?
League Bowler Registered: 12/28/12 Posts: 57 A/S/L: 15/M/OH
As you know, there are plenty of controversies surrounding the state and integrity (or supposed lack thereof) of bowling. When I started bowling regularly over a year ago, I had no idea of the controversies surrounding bowling, nor did I have any idea about much else about bowling.
I'm now almost 16 years of age and have a lot of knowledge under my belt; actually, I have more knowledge about bowling than I actually need to have for my skill level, or so some people say...
Anyhow, I became aware quite some months ago about bowling controversies. These controversies include the abnormally high scoring pace in random bowling alleys as well as the lack of difference between house bowlers' averages and pro bowlers' averages, even though they compete on completely different shots. However, being someone who isn't exactly affected by the shots (because I've never been in a tournament before, house shot or not...but that is subject to change very, very soon), I try not to worry about these controversies.
As a [relatively inexperienced] youth bowler (because some people have been bowling regularly since before their age was two digits), should I really be worried or affected by these controversies, or should I just carry (Ha, see what I did there? Because I don't) on bowling without worries because I love the sport and have made it my commitment?
_________________________ My title says "League Bowler." Why yes, yes I am.
Second-year youth bowler.
Youth League High Game: 166 Youth League High Series: 425 Current Youth League Average: 113 Working on my fundamentals, 4 to 5 steps at a time.
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Registered: Fri Aug 27 2004 Posts: 10100 A/S/L: Mountain View, CA
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#175314 - Yesterday at02:06 PMRe: Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? [Re: Eternal Bowler]
Personally, I feel that as long as you enjoy the sport and are making an effort at becoming a better bowler, all of the controversial issues are just distractions. The overall theme if you will regarding the recent controversies are all due to the fact that bowling is in a state of change. New performance balls/coverstocks/cores are allowing the average player to score higher more often and increasing avgs. Modified house shots are now essentially "grown-up bumpers" sending the ball back from the edge, holding in the middles, and even tapering at the end to help guide the ball to the pocket. WAHSAM systems allow for more pins on the deck increasing scores. Two-Handed and thumbless bowling are becoming more popular since they allow for more revs on a ball and better pin action.
These changes are viewed by some as ruining the sport of bowling. I have a big distinction between sport bowling and house bowling. If average people are able to score higher, they are more likely to enjoy the game and can help bowling grow in numbers. That doesn't mean that a person can average 220 on a house shot and then compete in the PBA. The other changes are the types and degree of difficulty in sport patterns. A bowler must be able to read the lane and adjust which the pros do better than any league Joe.
I view a lot of the issues in terms of baseball. The Designated Hitter rule is loved by some and hated by others. It allows for more runs and thus more people watch. But others feel it's not how the game was intended to be played. Aluminum bats allow for farther hits and are used for many levels of play, but they banned them from the MLB. Maybe it's the same with performance balls and such, for different levels of competition, different rules apply.
The amount of respect a bowler gets in non-bowling circles is minimal at best. If more people enjoy bowling I see no harm. If someone avg 220 thinks they can take on Weber or Duke they'll get destroyed. As long as you enjoy yourself, don't let the distractions of others' opinions get in the way of that.
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#175317 - Yesterday at02:36 PMRe: Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? [Re: NoThumbNoProblem]
League Bowler Registered: 12/28/12 Posts: 57 A/S/L: 15/M/OH
I personally think that as long as it's not possible to average 300 and as long as 900 series aren't as common as 700 and 800 series, then our sport still has at least some integrity.
As long as the general scoring pace isn't like what the women in this clip are getting, bowling is still in a good state.
_________________________ My title says "League Bowler." Why yes, yes I am.
Second-year youth bowler.
Youth League High Game: 166 Youth League High Series: 425 Current Youth League Average: 113 Working on my fundamentals, 4 to 5 steps at a time.
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#175335 - Yesterday at10:39 PMRe: Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? [Re: Eternal Bowler]
Team USA Contender
Registered: 05/30/10 Posts: 422 A/S/L: 42/M/NJ
Most of the controversies aren't going to be fixed because the powers that be don't want them fixed. Bowling center owners love having half the house league bowlers averaging 200+. It even hits the bottom line outside of league time: the easier it is to strike, the more games (at five bucks a pop) the open bowlers can play in the same amount of time. Ball manufacturers are going to keep coming out with "new and improved" equipment to keep sales up. Of course the game has changed. Once upon a time, a 190 average meant you could be a pro. Now a 184 means you're the worst bowler in history, as I have been told many times, and no team will want you unless it's a 100% handicap league or the league has a cap and one team is so stacked that they need a
There is one thing that the sport should do to give people a real idea as to where they stack up. Golf courses have a slope rating, bowling centers should have the same type of thing. Is this a high scoring house or a low scoring house? My home house has a Thursday men's league; half of the league bowls in a Friday men's league at another house 10 minutes away. Of the guys who do both leagues, 95% of them average between 8-15 pins higher in the Friday league than the Thursday league. But when I try to say that the other house is easier than mine, people tell me I am saying things that can't be backed up and the other house has "better bowlers" than mine. Really? Do these same guys become "better bowlers" by driving 10 minutes south? A guy who has 4 300's and 2 800's on Friday has a high game of 267 and one 750 series in the Thursday league. But the Friday league has better bowlers and this has nothing to do with the shot being easier? Fact is, there are enough people who bowl leagues at multiple centers that it's possible to create a slope rating, if they wanted to do it.
To the original post, don't worry about the controversies right now though.
_________________________ 15# Brunswick Anaconda 15# Ebonite Cyclone 14# T Zone
HG: 279 HS3: 671 HS4: 847
10-11 Winter Avg.: 160 (one league only) 11-12 Averages: 181 full season league 184 (both halves short-season)
First "Triple Deucey" 3/28/2012: 226-212-202 for 640.
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#175349 - Today at03:30 AMRe: Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? [Re: Eternal Bowler]
Pro of the Year Contender Registered: 01/31/09 Posts: 771 A/S/L: 42 m
Eternal, I envy u discovering the game in your teen years, you have so much good bowling ahead of you! I was 30yrs of age when I began..
If you love the game, then pretty much everything else is irrelevant.
You obviously are keen on the sport, you want to improve, you join a bowling forum.. Sounds to be mate, like you are hook, line and sinker into this sport. The improvement is almost a given!!
Enjoy the journey of self improvement, the highs and lows, and bowl your best. Be your best, whether it's on THS, sports shot, whatever. Never worry about the seemingly huge insumountable hill of averaging 220 or thereabouts when you are in your first yr or so, nor comparing yourself against others, who have many more years on the clock...
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#175352 - Today at07:47 AMRe: Bowling controversies - Should I ignore them? [Re: Eternal Bowler]
Virtual League Champion Registered: 04/09/09 Posts: 2238 A/S/L: 50s/M/MD
Eternal, I would suggest being aware of the controversies, but not involved in them. I am confident bowling will find its place in the world again, perhaps with the PBA league, perhaps on the international stage, or perhaps some other way.
In the meantime, keep learning everything you can. Practice more when you are bowling well. Practice less when you are struggling. As soon as you can, video yourself, and save the best ones to review later. Remember that you are training your mind as well as your body. When you are ready, challenge yourself on more difficult oil patterns. If you continue to apply yourself, the sky is the limit.
Most of all, have fun bowling! It is a sport and a recreation that you can enjoy for many years.
_________________________ Career: 300s: 9 800s: 5 House Avg: 239.75 Sport Avg: 198
Scores being higher than they were 30 years ago has no bearing on anything. Its now a game where a once a week league bowler, who works hard, can eventually maintain a high average. It doesn't matter what anyone says, it is NOT easy to average 220-230. It takes work, discipline, knowledge, and experience. Yes, its easier to average 200 these days, but even that will require a few years of practice.
All you can do is set goals for yourself and attain them. If you want to win PBA titles, you have a long road ahead of you, but it can be done. If you want to be like the millions of bowlers across America who want to average 180 and post big scores in their league every once in a while, that road is shorter. All that matters is tht you have personal goals, and you do what you can to attain them.
If you're happy with where you're at, and you enjoy the game, you're doing it right. If you are unhappy with where you are at, and bowling and bowlers maker you miserable...you are doing something wrong. That's all there is to it.
_________________________ High Game - 300 High Series - 759
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