Stop already. Nobody averages 240 for a season by accident. You average 240 by being able to use your favorite ball, stand in your favorite place and having the skill to exploit the conditions.
I agree to an extent. I have zero experience with ABT. Not even sure they are in the Texas area. But I do know if I were to bowl league at a particular house here in Houston, I would average 10-15 pins higher than I do at my current center. I would love to bowl there because of the competition, but I am relegated to just one league a week and my current center is where I have been for a very long time.
There are also centers in the area where I would probably average 10 pins less than I do now. Maybe if I were to bowl there longer I could figure it out, but carry-wise, it just doesn't work as well for me.
All this to say a variation of 20-25 pins within an area's bowling centers isn't necessarily uncommon. There are many reasons why people chose the center they do. Not everyone uses the highest scoring house.
But with the 20-25 pin difference, what determines that bowler's "true" average? Is it the highest averaging center's average or the lowest? Or is it in between?
This bowler isn't being punished per se, but because of the assumed scoring floor used for averages, he is limited on his ABT average. If his average from all his scores is 200, it won't matter because only those scores above 220 count. This is the decision of the tournament and the OP has to deal with it. His average will always be above the 220 base regardless of his true average.
