So we finally got something done about the pin spots, and lo and behold, scores last night skyrocketed. There were 2 300s, and several sets over 750. Didn't take any "muscle" or threats, just several people saying something.

Last night about halfway through the first game, a pin found its way halfway up the ball return track and stuck some balls and made one jump the track. I was on the front 7, and another guy on the pair had the front 6. It took the mechanic 10 minutes to find where the balls were stuck at, and then he spent another 10 trying to look for the one that jumped the track. By the time we got back to bowling, everybody had to "warm up" again, and naturally our streaks were broken. However, here's were the perspective comes in. Several people were pissed about having to sit, I was getting antsy, but tried to stay cool about it. After all, what could anybody do? This is a scratch league, and although people were talking about the "ruined" 300 chances, I was thinking "win the game." Instead of getting pissed and self destructing, I picked up the 10 I left, picked up the 4 the next frame and finished the game, which I won. I then went on to win the next two games and series. Can't say the same for the other guys on my team though.

People are obsessed with big scores, but what would 300 have meant? Another cheap ring and some high 5s? Two other guys shot 300 last night. And besides, 6 and 7 in a row doesn't constitute a real chance at 300. If you get up in the 10th on the front 9, that's a different story. So while people were moaning about their scores, I was making money across the board. Yeah shooting honor scores is fun, but to me it just means that you won by more.

So we finally got something done about the pin spots, and lo and behold, scores last night skyrocketed. There were 2 300s, and several sets over 750. Didn't take any "muscle" or threats, just several people saying something.

Last night about halfway through the first game, a pin found its way halfway up the ball return track and stuck some balls and made one jump the track. I was on the front 7, and another guy on the pair had the front 6. It took the mechanic 10 minutes to find where the balls were stuck at, and then he spent another 10 trying to look for the one that jumped the track. By the time we got back to bowling, everybody had to "warm up" again, and naturally our streaks were broken. However, here's were the perspective comes in. Several people were pissed about having to sit, I was getting antsy, but tried to stay cool about it. After all, what could anybody do? This is a scratch league, and although people were talking about the "ruined" 300 chances, I was thinking "win the game." Instead of getting pissed and self destructing, I picked up the 10 I left, picked up the 4 the next frame and finished the game, which I won. I then went on to win the next two games and series. Can't say the same for the other guys on my team though.

People are obsessed with big scores, but what would 300 have meant? Another cheap ring and some high 5s? Two other guys shot 300 last night. And besides, 6 and 7 in a row doesn't constitute a real chance at 300. If you get up in the 10th on the front 9, that's a different story. So while people were moaning about their scores, I was making money across the board. Yeah shooting honor scores is fun, but to me it just means that you won by more.

110% agree. I bowl in a scratch league on a custom made sport pattern and to hear guys complain about going from 220 to 160 is sickening just from taking the gutters out of play and putting down 39 feet flat. Guess they aren't scratch bowlers to begin with. I personally love it because it builds a competitive edge. Either you have it or you don't.

complex.
You can have a competitive edge on a sport shot or house shot. The problem with sport shots in my area anyway....There is nowhere to practice on these conditions. We had a sport shot league that was non sanctioned and we used it as practice. Other then that there is nowhere to bowl on a shark pattern etc...

It's easy to have a competitive edge when you have 5+ boards of area. However, when a condition tells you that you HAVE to hit this one spot to strike, a lot of guys find out REAAAAAALLLLY quick what they are made of and a lot of guys hate it because sport patterns make the cream of the crop rise. This goes against the logic behind the handicap riddled leagues that everyone has a shot.

I hear people every year complain about "scratch bowlers" coming in and taking their money... My motto for anyone, GET BETTER. How can you penalize the bowlers for wanting to practice, drill new equipment that works on more than just THS, wanting to practice and bowl on challenging conditions, etc. Practicing on sport patterns is awesome and if you can a center manager to run a pattern on a certain day for a set price, you'll draw guys.

The biggest thing to building a scratch league is to make the money in that league sweeter than any handicap league, plus you have to generate buzz. The lucky thing about our league is that Dale Niemela is the president, who's a storm rep.

What he's done is made the money equal or better than most handicap leagues in our area, for only a 20 week league... Every week there is some team or individual means of making money (i.e. team brackets, blind doubles, etc.) The shot is nothing anyone has ever seen, code named "BirdDog". It can play really well or really poorly depending on whose on the pair with you. Sponsors are involved for every team and it's a draft league so no full team of 230 avg+ bowlers. The Alley he chose has been A+ throughout the summer. Allowing 3 days of practice on the pattern per week, Happy Hour prices extended through the league, I mean they pretty much cater to the bowlers whim and have been top notch.

12,
I think the best thing that you can do is try your best to sweeten that pot. I'm sure with a decent shot that everyone will struggle on like the US Open or Bear pattern will make challenging yet equal opportunities to make bowlers feel like they have a chance.