Post by: Pinbuster on February 18, 2004, 06:39:25 PM
If the same handful of guys win the lion share of the money every week why do all the pigeons keep getting in? I realize I’m a little cheap with my money. But if I got in brackets for a couple of months and lost my shirt virtually every week I’d quit getting in.
Now everyone here is going to chime in and say how wonderful they do in brackets. But for every winner there are at least 6 losers. Why do the losers keep getting in?
I guess it is the lottery mentality.
Post by: Sir Bowl-A-Lot on February 19, 2004, 09:45:28 AM
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Post by: The Hose on February 19, 2004, 09:50:13 AM
I try to pick and choose when I load up on brackets. Keep in mind, that league is huge and most of Dallas' Big Dogs bowl in it. Guys can make a couple of grand in a good night. I've heard that it's not as big a bracket league as it was a couple of years ago.
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CLIQUE MEMBER
Post by: tenpinspro on February 19, 2004, 10:14:04 AM
I tend to agree with you because of what I always have defined as the "transition" game. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I shot 249, 200, and 257., my typical trend is to shoot one bad game in the set and in brackets, that'll cost me. I however love pot games because of this, I would've won 2 out of 3 maybe. I think there are quite a few guys however that couldn't shoot individual games as high as I do but shoot more consistently throughout and this I feel are the bracket players. They end up not getting in pots as much but invest in brackets because this set up is more advantageous to their scoring pattern. There's also the luck of the draw theory, most guys know they can't beat certain players in a league but on a percentage basis, they can keep up with most on an average, so again, they won't win a pot but could beat the guy next to them to still make money. Just my thoughts...
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Pro Shop Staff
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Post by: Gravy on February 19, 2004, 10:14:41 AM
I noticed to tougher the shot the money seems to be spread out among more bowlers. If your not on a good team you still have something to shoot for. Another benefit is than eliminates some sandbagging.
I really like it in tournaments, If I have a couple of bad games and I'm out of contention, one good 3 game set can actually make you money for the tournament. If you like to bowl tournaments you got to give yourself as many opportunies to win some cash.
Post by: tenpinspro on February 19, 2004, 11:48:58 AM
Bowlwbj presents a valid point, for every time that we enter a tournament, are we just gambling? One giant pot game that encompasses 3, 8, 42 games that runs longer then a league nite, is there a difference? We're putting in money to beat a score, isn't that like having a pot game?
Rick
Post by: RSalas on February 19, 2004, 12:01:44 PM
Post by: seadrive on February 19, 2004, 12:09:49 PM
Like Pinbuster, I don't understand the attraction of brackets for lower-level bowlers. By "lower-level", I don't mean bad, just not near the top of the heap in a particular league or tournament.
You're bowling for your own money. The best guys are going to win most of the time, just like the best teams usually win the bulk of the prize fund. If, after half the season is over, you put in $300 for brackets, and got back $150, why would you continue to play? You're overmatched, why donate more than you already are?
There's a sucker born every minute, I guess. Bowling just seems to have more than its fair share...
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl
Edited on 2/19/2004 1:05 PM
Post by: mumzie on February 19, 2004, 12:14:04 PM
When we have a bye in a bracket, we just don't take the $5 off the top.
The brackets on Tuesday are ones I don't get into any more. They're run manually by the wife of one of the bowlers. Although I think she tries to keep it fairly random, she does the drawing/assigning of spots herself, and I got really tired of entering 2 brackets every week, and ALWAYS hitting the same player in the second game.
Never failed. Week after week, in BOTH brackets, I'd be up against one of the highest 2 averages in the league. I just don't particpate in those any more.
On my wed league, one of the bowlers runs the brackets on the side, because he LOVES the numbers. He has an incredibly numbers-oriented brain, and he'd do brackets for no money just to watch the numbers. He takes the $5 "rake" and puts it in an 'end of year' pot that is paid out on a point system that only he understands. I got back $50 extra bucks at the banquet last year - I didn't expect it, so it was pretty nice. He has the bowlers draw numbers - if there are 8 brackets for the night, you'll draw 1-64. Although not foolproof, it's pretty good.
Post by: Pinbuster on February 19, 2004, 12:23:00 PM
Post by: RSalas on February 19, 2004, 12:27:47 PM
Post by: tenpinspro on February 19, 2004, 12:30:53 PM
In a tournament, you're also not on the exact same pairs as other individuals, so is that no longer competition? If it's not, then it's gambling.
Rick
Post by: just joe on February 19, 2004, 12:37:27 PM
Post by: jimensminger on February 19, 2004, 12:51:13 PM
I tried it for years,...and breaking even was a win.
If ya want to win week after week,....run the brackets..
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je
Edited on 2/19/2004 1:48 PM
Post by: Mikey C on February 19, 2004, 01:11:54 PM
Edited on 2/19/2004 2:09 PM
Post by: Game In a BoxLC on February 19, 2004, 02:04:49 PM
i am at 223 in the league, so all i need to do is shoot 10 pins over my average each game to hopefully break even.
My dad is at 195 and he puts me in and himself into 4 brackets each week, ive told him again and again its silly for him to get into brackets each week he is not a 230 average bowler, but every week he comes in thinking he is going to bowl well. Now back in his heyday he would sweep brackets, jackpots, eliminators but he was bowling more than once a week.
I guess its a matter of pride, i usually do ok in brackets but when im bowling badly i don't get in. and its the same addiction of gambling, you hope for the one big payday and don't realize you would have more money if you simply didnt get in. spending 800 to get 600 is stupid.
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I'm left handed and i've got a ball and a wall.
The forum whore formerly known as leftycrank300/JasonBogeyLC
Post by: mumzie on February 19, 2004, 02:35:07 PM
Here's one for you...
A tournament association I belong to uses the Ebonite tournament software, which also supports brackets. However, the tournament director didn't want to run brackets, so another bowler is doing it.
He is doing a pretty poor job of it. I have offered to help him (for no $$), because I know the software pretty well, but he so far has refused the help. Last tournament, he screwed up with the data entry, and had to use the other ocmputer to get the bracket results, and then screwed up on the payout - I won one, and he tried to pay me for second place.
These guys - until they really know what they're doing, seems to me they shouldn't keep a cut...
Post by: just joe on February 19, 2004, 02:47:25 PM
Post by: Mikey C on February 19, 2004, 03:17:48 PM
Post by: Wilbert on February 20, 2004, 10:45:11 AM
Edited on 2/20/2004 11:41 AM