Who of these people are cheating:

Bowler 1 - Starting bowling a year ago. Bowls once a week in League uses an old urethane ball that his friend gave him. Is gradually getting better in ability. Has an establised 160 average. Buys a ball through the middle of 1st year in League. Average increases 15 pins by end of 1st year. Buys more balls in 2nd year average goes up another 20 pins at end of year.

Bowler 2 - Has been bowling since childhood. Has bowled in several leagues throughout the years. Only able to bowl one league for next two years. Decides to join a League with toughest shot. Its almost like a Sport Shot (It just not an Official Sport League). Uses the latest bowling balls. Previous years average is 210-220 on THS. Its 185 in Sport League for 1st year and jumps to 190 at end of 2nd year.

Bowler 3 - Bowling for Several Years. Been bowling in one league for 4 years. League is setup with THS. Average is 200. Bowler wants to improve. Decides to use Plastic or Urethane (Weaker Bowling Balls) for entire next two seasons of League. Reason: Wants to improve.  Average Drops to 175 in first year and bounces up to 190 at end of 2nd year.

All three bowlers Enter the same Handicap Tournament away from their normal League Bowling Centers. The tournament oil pattern is different from any of their leagues.

   Bowler 1 - Enters with 195 Average
   Bowler 2 - Enters with 190 Average
   Bowler 3 - Enters with 190 Average

Who is cheating?

Well none of these bowlers are cheating bowler one is new to the game as he got better with improved eqipment his average raised a new bowler if dedicated can improve dramaticly in 2 years. bowler2 decides to bowl on a tuff shot that requires accuracy which he may of not of had on the house shot he averages 210-220 but he had area much larger for error on the tuff shot his mistakes cost him dearly. Bowler3 wants to improve well if you go from high end hooking equipment to no hooking its gonna drop you average but even with the drop he improved his game because it made him be more accurate with his shots now when he goes back to high end equipment with what he has learned to do will have an edge but he didn't cheat but he is most likely to score the highest

I agree that none are cheating.

However.....

Bowler 3 would be labeled as a Sandbagger by most people and considered to be cheating because he has chosen to use weaker equipment which has lowered his average for Handicap Tournaments.

What about people that show up to league the first week and don't try to bowl their best?  Say, maybe they are tired from finishing bowling the summer league, or doing yard work over the weekend, or whatever, but they just decide they don't want to concentrate since it's only the first week and they have another 34 weeks to bowl.

What if they bowl that way because the house intentionally puts down an "easy" pattern on the first night of leagues and then puts down more "normal" patterns the rest of the season......so basically you have inflated averages the first night?

What if they bowl that way because "everybody" (even though its just most of the higher skilled bowlers) bags the first few weeks so they can get handicap and qualify for "most improved," or some other award (high game handicap, high series handicap, etc)?

I'm sure all those people are cheating, right?  Its funny cuz I watch these 200+ average bowlers come into league the first 1 or 2 weeks and establish a 170 average, then bust out their 258, 265, 285 set and then joke about how that just earned them another $100 for the season.  Then they go on to finish the season back at their 214 average.
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Haywood

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I don't see where anyone is cheating.  Just because you label him a Sandbagger doesn't mean that he is cheating.  People will believe what they want to believe regardless.  All 3 bowlers are doing things that are going to make them stronger better bowlers.
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