Author Topic: Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive (Read 776 times)

trash heap · « **on:** December 01, 2005, 04:30:23 PM »

Let's face it....Maybe the THS was the best thing to happen to bowling. Might as well include the Ball Technology in this too.

Last week in league I saw guys with very little rev's score well. If they didn't have newer equipment and shooting on THS Wall....I wondered? Would these guys be bowling? Probably NOT. They don't have high averages, but they get that occasional high 240+ game. It's probably that occasionaly high game that keeps them interested.

Maybe its time that we approve of the "THS" and Ball Technology. Leave the Typical League bowler in the dark about how easy it is. He or she probably doesn't care what type of shot is out there or what balling ball they have or how it is drilled. Those who want to know, we share this information.

If someone comes up to you and starts telling you about how they shot there best series, don't act like its nothing.

Don't get mad when they are beating you in league nite when you are hitting your mark every time only to leave ten pins and they are hitting everything but their mark and stringing 7 in a row. Congratulate them!

We need to keep members, most of us on this board love this game and like to keep this sport alive.

From experience its not much fun bowling 8 months in a league with 3 teams.

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Trash Heap (exflinger wannabe)

NOTHUMB · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2005, 02:04:29 AM »

Some of the points you make within your broader point I disagree with---

but quite simply, if it werent for the THS, leagues would be dead completely in my area.
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Only Losers Feel Pressure
www.thetimekillers.com

MSC2471 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2005, 02:44:43 AM »

At my local house, the sport league has struggled to keep 24 bowlers together from 16 week season to 16 week season, while all the other leagues have between 12-16 4 or 5 person teams on the THS.

I agree with trash heap in one sense that it isn't fun bowling in a league with a small number of teams. I did that for 3 years in another house where we only had 6 teams. The final year I bowled in that league we almost went to an individual head to head matchplay format, but in the end the same old 5 man team format stayed in place.... and people got bored as the owner put down a scrub shot with little care for daily upkeep on the lanes and normal 170-180 average bowlers would struggle to shoot 450 on a week to week basis.

I do congratulate everyone who bowls well in my Monday night league- especially when the games are well above their average. I've seen many 150-170 average bowlers shooting 240 or better occasionally this year and I always let them know about their good games. We've had 3 people in this league alone shoot their first 300 games...

Matt

Edited on 12/2/2005 3:34 AM

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2005, 02:52:00 AM »

When I look at my house league and most of the players there, they fit into the description above... THS, light oil, walled shot. Big balls, no revs and topping the ball. But they score well because they do not play anywhere else, and so they get high results.

But I would not blame it on a THS condition but rather on the approach to the game. Many players seem to be content to visit only one house - and stick with it. They do not know anything else. I witnessed this several times when ambitous bowlers started to explore new grounds around and were shocked (it's best way to describe their experience) that there is OIL out there somewhere else and that their flimsy style does not work at all... I think it is a matter of mindset how bowling evolves. Sure, big hook for everyone and high scores are nice. But I do not think that the THS ruins or saves bowling. It is the way the sport is set into the people's minds and if they see it as a sport challenge or just recreation.

The house league where I play has 16 or so teams, and I am sure more than half of them are playing for fun. From 2nd division I play in with 8 teams, 3 1/2 are "serious" about the sport, and consequently they battle for the top of the list and the 2 places for promotion to 1st division.
Sure, those house players are hard to beat because it is their home turf, but I see it as a challenge. In fact, I struggle on these dry conditions and have to fight for being competitive. On the other side, I know that I can play with my style and equipment almost anywhere, as long as there is some oil.

My traveling regional league is much different - it officially sanctioned sport on demanding but playable patterns, and there bowling is taken athletically and very "German". But it is also fun for me, quite a contrast program to my house league.
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

CoachJim · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2005, 03:35:58 AM »

quote:
Maybe its time that we approve of the "THS" and Ball Technology. Leave the Typical League bowler in the dark about how easy it is. He or she probably doesn't care what type of shot is out there or what balling ball they have or how it is drilled. Those who want to know, we share this information.

The ball technology and ths are already approved. The typical league bowler doesn't care about the oil pattern or the equipment or much else for that matter, only the ones that are more competative seem to take the initiative to do the research and figure out why they do well one day and bad the next, or try to see if they are good enough to bowl in tournaments.

This forum is for those who want to know and are taking the time to figure things out. Most on this board can't handle the grind of a sport shot league, or long format tournament, and just want to come on and tell everyone how good they did last night in league. Then they start hearing about people averaging 240+ on this board and others saying yeah I bowled at that place and it is sooo easy etc... Then they wonder what makes that place so easy and when they figure out what the THS is they might start to want to bowl on something a little more challenging and learning to bowl instead of stand left and shoot right.

I'm lucky enough to bowl in a place that has no idea what the ths is and how to apply it, some nights it is oiled gutter to gutter 40 ft, other nights it is easy as it can be, but I see a wide variety of conditions throughout the season, mostly by accident.

Trash heap, if your point in all of this is to say "You don't want the Truth, You can't handle the Truth" then I agree. I don't bring it up unless someone asks, let them think they are the best thing since Earl Anthony whom they have never heard of.

wooddaddy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:45:19 AM »

We live in the fast food society these days. Nobody wants to work at anything and spend the time to get better at anything. Everyone wants it now and the want it easy.

A kid out of college wants a 200,000 home, they don't want to start out small and build up to the nicer home. 16 year old are driving Hummers these days instead of a 87 Bronco as their first car.

Bowling has gone to that as well. Nobody wants to learn how to be a great spare shooter so they can become a 200 or 210 average bowler. Everyone wants easy lanes, hook monsters, and to be able to stick their chest out when they shoot an honor score. It doesn't matter if the bowler averages 184, they know that on any given night, the wall will be there and they're timing is good enough to keep the ball in an 8 board area, they get the carry and will hit the 300.

Walls are where the game is headed, if not already there. The numbers of "real bowlers" has dropped in numbers to the point that if the USBC regulated the shots to make them "respectable", everyone would quit.

Someone made a post about easy houses. Most the replies said "I wish I could bowl on them". You should be saying "I wish I was able to burn that house down and slap the owner around" for destroying the game.

It's not just bowling, it's a product of our society. Integrity means nothing in our lives these days or as a bowler, you would refuse to bowl league or support owners that lay out the walls.

I hear crap on here about "nobody wants to shoot 180's every night". Why not? There have been some shots I've seen that I was happy to shoot 180 on. If your 193 average is the highest in the house, you are the best there. You'll more then likely be able to average that anywhere. Why should anyone be "given" an honor score?

I used to admire someone when I saw them sporting a 300 ring. I always said something to them about it and it started a conversation about bowling. When I see one today, I laugh to myself about it. I don't know many true bowlers that wear them anymore.

I really think it's too late for bowling. I remember when racketball was popular. Where is it today? Why? Well, bowling is headed that way. If you try to regulate the shots, bowlers will quit because they don't want to work at it. If you continue to open the flood gates and allow these shots, then we'll see more 900's then you can count.

trash heap · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:47:16 AM »

CoachJim,

That is my point. Just get on with it. Until they go to other houses and experience different oil there's no point in trying to tell anything.

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Trash Heap (exflinger wannabe)

Author Topic: Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive (Read 776 times)

trash heap

Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive

NOTHUMB

Re: Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive

MSC2471

Re: Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive

dizzyfugu

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CoachJim

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wooddaddy

Re: Could THS be helping to keep bowling alive

trash heap

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