I'm really curious about the feedback I'm going to get on this one . . it's a fairly "controversial" topic and I don't pull any punches on any of it.  Thanks for watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2b9Zd0u-Oc

itsallaboutme, I like your point about shooting 500 and not cashing vs shooting 600 and still not cashing, because obviously the easier the shot, the higher the cut line.  That is one of those critical questions they need to address when it comes to the tournament.  They need to figure out what people enjoy about the tournament instead of asking a question and demanding only a one word answer from a short list of answers they've given you to pick from. 

Participation is down because people's interests change.  Ask NASCAR as they remove seats from every track not in Daytona.

I agree with this and I think you give a good analogy.....

Correct.  And it's not even really a survey when the answers are already provided for you. 

I would say bowlers do need more realistic expectations . . but at the same time it shouldn't be up to the customer to do all the work.  USBC should be putting more effort into education instead of smoke and mirrors used to keep the cash flow coming in, but they know if people know the truth, their brand is likely to suffer.  They have some information available that they put out so they can say they're doing something, but it's not promoted, it's not made readily available.  Most of the time that stuff is only found and watched by people who already understand it in the first place, meanwhile they "don't release the nationals pattern" which just feeds public ignorance and misconceptions. 

A business that expects their customers to do all the work won't last very long.  If I expected all my customers to have all the information lined up before I'd deal with them, I'd lose a lot of business.  It's USBC's job to explain all this dumb crap they're doing, it's their job to provide adequate education.  Bowling is suffering because it's too much work, it's too much expense, it's too much time, and it's NOT ANY EFFING FUN.  I'll have people tell me bowling is too expensive and takes too much time, but they race and dump thousands into their cars.  Anything that offers no returns will be seen from the negative standpoint unless the return is worth the investment, right now it's not. 

Due to some schedule uncertainty, I'm not bowling nationals this year.  I thought I had a chance to get on a team, but I still don't have the scheduling thing worked out and they found someone already.  Not terribly broken up.  To compete in the OC the way it is now, to actually COMPETE is more work than even I want to put into it right now.  Maybe in a few years when life quiets down, sure, but at the same time, where's the return?  Travel costs and bracket money in the thousands, a solid month of hardcore practice, for 9 games I might still go 630-630-630 and get back a couple hundred on the check.  How is that worth it?  What prize is at the OC that they think is so great that it's worth a significant chunk of your life and money to invest?  These people making these decisions are delusional. 

They can send out all the surveys they want.  Participation is down because people's interests change.  Ask NASCAR as they remove seats from every track not in Daytona.

If the only reason you bowl is for the money you are never going to enjoy it. 

Not counting the people on the business side of the game, except for about 50 people in the world bowling is a hobby.  For a fortunate few it is a hobby that pays for itself.  For the rest just be happy to get some of the money you spend on a hobby back. 

This.

What is meant by make the cash line more obtainable.  It's a numbers game based on entries.  Reaching the cash line is all about your skill level. 

A 185 average league bowler that has a legit 185 average has about as much chance in the standard division as the 210 has in the regular division.  And slim left town.

Sorry, but everyone doesn't get a trophy. Leave the cash line where it is

Exactly . . sooooo then the tournament has to be enjoyable whether you win money or not right?  Money is just a bonus, right?  All they're doing is focusing on the money, especially this year.  They're making people who don't even care about the money . . care about the money . .  This was my point in the video that the tournament has become so centered on that 2-5% who just go for the money.  The average rules have everyone confused, the shot is so difficult that I've already seen morons on my Facebook page saying, "well I started my OC preparations today . . blah blah blah, hashtag hashtag, we bowl 3 months from today exactly, counting down!"  You serious?  It's 9 games over 2 days and you're going to practice for 3 months?  Why? 

They need to do what they need to do to make the tournament enjoyable again for the 95% that support the tournament, and if it pisses some of the money sharks off, so be it, who cares.  If you're that serious about it, go bowl the US Open or Masters, it's likely cheaper anyway. 

Basically my point is that unless you're in the 2-5% going there specifically to win money, there is ZERO REASON to attend the OC other than just wanting to set a handful of Benjamins on fire.  So if I'm not going to try to compete, they have not given me or anyone else ANY REASON to attend otherwise. 

Quote from: itsallaboutme on March 22, 2017, 03:57:56 PM

If the only reason you bowl is for the money you are never going to enjoy it. 

Not counting the people on the business side of the game, except for about 50 people in the world bowling is a hobby.  For a fortunate few it is a hobby that pays for itself.  For the rest just be happy to get some of the money you spend on a hobby back.

Exactly. The same donkeys; "HeeHaw, HeeHaw, i have to drill a ball for Nationals".