After playing in a summer league and playing a number of tourneys in the past year, I now understand these arguments much, much more. I ended last year with an average around 160, and I was intimidated a bit by some of the higher average bowlers in my league. I'd watch these guys sling their balls across the entire lane and bring them back into the pocket every time, and I had no idea how they did it. Once I started to study the game more, invest in new equipment, get lessons and bowl in tougher conditions (a lot of dry over the summer, spotty conditions overall...and slicker tourney conditions), I could finally see what people meant by the THS and its effect on the game. Now I see my league's crankers and other high scorers, and I can spot many of their flaws and how the wall saves them time and again. One guy in particular I used to envy has a huge backswing and cranks the hell out of the ball towards the ditch and brings it back. I can easily envision him on a reverse block crying in his beer, or even a flat pattern for that matter.
But, the thing is, every one who pays to bowl has the right to join the kind of league or play the kind of shot they get the most fun out of. It doesn't bother me that much that his THS average of 190 is better than my (new) THS average of 180, I know if I got him in a tourney I'd chew him up and spit him out, because I can square up and do many other things that he cannot. If I ever want tougher conditions, I know where to find them!
