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Author Topic: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers  (Read 1687 times)

jaf1224

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My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« on: November 04, 2004, 11:23:57 PM »
I have been bowling for almost a year now and I keep reading on here about how averaging 200 is nothing and about people shooting honor scores daily.  The people in my area (myself included) must suck.  I've bowled one full league in the summer and I am bowling 2 now and there have been only a handful of 700s shot at the two houses I bowl at.  The high average in the summer league I bowled in was a 205 and the current high in one league for the winter is a 206 and the other house high is a 209.  Now I am sure scoring is up from the past but is it really up that much or do I just bowl in an area with alot of bad bowlers?
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dogman666

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2004, 07:43:57 AM »
There are some great bowlers in the area but you might be at a house that is truly a tougher shot.  I bowl at Burke and it's one of the toughest houses in the area.  I've seen many a 225 bowler come to Burke and start a leage only to leave suddenly before 21 games so he can keep his high area average intact.  I won't mention any names but his name is Mark Glover and there are more just like him.  They spend their time on THS at places like Woodbridge.  Now Mark is a great bowler but just like the 170 bowler who wants to be a 190 bowler he chooses to play a house shot vs a tough shot.  It's a matter of choice and sometimes logistics (traffic in DC is a pain) but I would say the bowlers in the DC area are no different than any other big city.
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guzmand19

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2004, 07:55:09 AM »
Bones is right about the variations in houses, the guy who does my pro-shop work is an excellent bowler and averages 235+ in one house, and 209 in a different house.  He likes the 209 house better too, since it makes him work for scoring.

Also you can factor in the people in your area.  I know the small house I like to bowl in cannot fit large leagues where big shooters go, so it appeals to some more lower average bowlers.  The lanes and everything are kept in good shape and management is good to the bowlers.  Anyways, if Bones or other really good bowlers stopped in the house, they may not be impressed with some of the bowlers but thats definately not an indication that the house isn't any good.  

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Keith Frye

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2004, 08:31:57 AM »
Until about 2 1/2 years ago, I lived and bowled in the D.C./No. Va./Md. area for 15 or 16 years.  I personally know many excellent bowlers in that area.  As stated in the previous posts, much of it comes down to the environment.  The oil pattern, the upkeep of the center, the type of league and many other factors will affect scoring.

The local association in which I am currently a member is much smaller than the Nations Capital association.  However, the scoring conditions tend to be higher than what I experienced in the D.C. area.  One of the leagues that I currently bowl in consist of 11 teams of 5.  It is a scratch league and does boast many of the areas best bowlers.  So far this year there have been 4-800s, 5-300s, a couple 299s and 790s.  The league average is 207 with the highest average currently at 240.

With that being said, I am certain that if it were possible for a team to come in from the D.C. area that fits under the 1065 cap (it would be quite a commute to PA), they would not have a problem being competitive and posting similar numbers.
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psaunders300

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2004, 10:00:22 AM »
I agree with everyone's sentiment - in fact I am living proof.  Up until last year I bowled at a house that had a fairly tough shot for me (County Lanes in Westminster, MD) where I never booked a 200 average (I got close several times 199 and 198).  County Lanes closed and now I am bowling at two different houses in the area where the shot is a lot easier and open and I am averaging 221 in one and 215 in the other...my game has not changed that drastically but the shot is much easier.
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stanski

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2004, 08:26:18 PM »
Also, in addition to the houses being easier, many of the bowlers on this website bowl in the best leagues in the country. I live in one of the best bowling areas (Detroit) and therefore, have many different houses i can go to, many leagues to choose from, and am around some of the best bowlers. Just as an example, in one league, my Wednesday league (dan ottman junior allstars) you can see http://sunnybrookgolfandbowl.com/honscrs.htm that the list has many honor scores, and there are only 12 people in the league. Another league, my saturday league, only has 3, with 200 people in the league, and people are amazed that there are so many honor scores shot on wednesdays compared to saturdays. The crowd we are around affects how we view honor scores. The environment we are in also encourages honor scores.

All houses are not easy nowadays though. Many do not believe in putting down oil, which always has a big effect on the bowling environment. Many houses also are just tougher for whatever reason, so don't get discouraged or think you are in a bad area or league.
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jmccann

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2004, 08:34:44 PM »
Also many times when scores start getting too high the ABC has been known to put the clamp down (forcing houses to change oil patterns) to lower scores.  I least this is what the Center managers have told me for the drastic change in oil and patterns in the local Minnesota houses.

-John
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Nails

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2004, 09:10:47 AM »
quote:
Also many times when scores start getting too high the ABC has been known to put the clamp down (forcing houses to change oil patterns) to lower scores.  I least this is what the Center managers have told me for the drastic change in oil and patterns in the local Minnesota houses.

-John


I've never heard of the ABC telling a center to put down a harder shot, or else Jeff Carter would have never averaged 261 for a season.  I'm not trying to discredit his acomplishment, just using it as an example.  Maybe enough people complained to the center manager that the shot was too esy.  The ABC makes a convenient scapegoat.  When scores start to fall, they just say "It's not my fault, the ABC made me do it".
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a_ak57

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2004, 09:24:19 AM »
Nails, sounds like my home house.  In all the leagues bowled there, I do not believe that anyone has over a 210 average.  I can't remember the last time someone had a 700 series.  But I know it's the house, since when someone goes to another house for a tourney, their average shoots up a couple dozen pins.
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Nails

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2004, 09:48:21 AM »
I'm not saying that some houses aren't much harder than others.  It's pretty obvious that some houses are tough or don't carry well.  People who bowl there are probably pretty tired of hearing how easy bowling has become.  I was just arguing the point that the ABC makes some places put out a tough shot.  I mostly throw on med-easy shots, but I've seen some real Ray Charles houses.  No way would I ever enter a handicap tournament if my average was based on one of those!
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Jesse James

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Re: My area (Northern VA) must be some bad bowlers
« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2004, 10:19:50 AM »
Hey jaf1224,
Have no fear my man! The bowlers in your area do NOT SUCK! Just read all the related posts, above. It's all about the THS at your particular center. I have bowled with Mark Glover, and many, many other bowlers from No. Va./ DC/ MD. area, and believe me, if they were to travel to centers, say in the midwest, or outside of this area......they would do just fine. There are just some houses that are tougher than others. All the skill levels are comparable. We have guys bowling in our leagues, that have already tried their hands bowling the PBA regionals....and done very well!! So, don't worry about the averages. They mean little, except for the location you bowl at.
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