Back around 18-20 years ago I bowled in several leagues in different centers. One center was newer and was filled with leagues and bowlers. At this center people averaged 15-20 pins higher than at the older Fairlanes center. The older Fairlanes center, people didn't like bowling there because the shot was tough. More and more teams dropped from our once 28-30 team league.
Had I been smart and had no morals i could have made a killing at tournaments. This was about the time when I was getting involved and entering tournaments. Because I established averages in different center, they would always use the highest average. My highest average was always at the newer bowling center where I averaged about 12 pins higher. I won several local tournaments even using the highest average but I don't know how many times I got beat by a few pins or how many times I failed to qualify by a few pins. Had I only bowled at that one house where the shot was tough, I would have had 10+ more pins handicap. I could have won quite a few more tournament. Heck if I had no morals and was into making money, I would have averaged even lower at that tough house. As it was, I carried one of the higher averages in that center.
People would ask me why I still wanted to bowl in a league that was dying due to tough conditions and I told them because it makes me a better bowler. It forces me to be more accurate and every spare counts.
Its funny how people complain about bowlers forced to bowl in a house with tough conditions now. They call them sandbaggers or whatever. That is what stinks about this sport(game). USBC was suppose to regulate the sport to keep things equal but they dropped the ball. Whining crybabies wanted an easy shot so they could average 230.
I think it should only be fair that if your center lays down a tough shot and you average 20 pins less than you would elsewhere, then too bad for those crybabies that wanted the easy shot. Although, averages should be based on more than 21 games.
Ok my ranting is done. its the weekend for me. until next week!
