Lengthy reply incoming......
I have to agree with Islenmetfan with an *.....
I've averaged 250 for 2 full seasons (see my bowl.com profile), and averaged over 250 in a couple of summer league seasons in 2 different houses. When you have confidence in a center whether it be because of general familiarity or because of the shot that is put down, its "easy" to average a 750 set. However, shooting 900 is daunting no matter how easy the condition.
When averaging 250 in the leagues I have bowled, the mindset is 690-720 is a bad night. Anything over 800 is a good night. Everything in between is as it should be. Is this a horrible way to think? Sure. For some people it can create delusions that they should do this in other bowling alleys (I dont fall into these delusions).
I know in my set of circumstances, I've had times where I did enough to shoot an honor score or maintain my average and have more or less stopped to take a breath. Or relaxed just enough to let my foot off the gas. My mindset is about A) winning my point, B) making money in side action and C) maintaining or upping my average. Shooting 900 never enters in my head.
Now the *------
Now there are other bowlers, less accomplished bowlers, that have had recent success shooting in the 840s, 850s, 860s. In my mind, they dont have the consistency to average 250 over a full season (they might be able to for a summer). However, given the right conditions and surroundings----think a low pressure handicap league with teammates or opponents throwing Urethane or Plastic to help wall up the middle of the lane. Maybe they are subbing, so its a new environment (I've often done well when subbing around people who dont know me). Figure less aggressive equipment is thrown because the bowlers in a league like this dont always have the "newest and greatest" equipment. The shot will hold up longer and maybe play easier. Plus there is a free roll feel to subbing. You arent bowling for yourself so just let 'er rip. I know this is a lot of factors......
In the end, I think some of the best from this area could shoot 900 OR average 250 on the fluff that we bowl on. I've averaged 250 as have 2 other bowlers. I am more likely to average 250 than to shoot 900 (and I would say the same thing even if I hadnt averaged 250). Not everyone is like that. Alot of it has to do with the personal mindset. Do you have someone so driven by honor scores that they mail it in when they arent scoring, thus keeping the average down? Do you have someone who when they have their look are deadly, but without it, they are nothing? What if that look holds up?
As for the 261 average.......after averaging 250 for back to back years in a league (and 253 back to back summers in a league)......I'd NEVER be able to do that. You saying I need to pick up half a strike per game essentially. I just dont envision that happening. If one of the bowling alleys in the area wouldnt tinker with the shot----thats the only way. Last year, around Christmas I was around 258. I had bowled almost as many 800s in the league as I had non 800s. I could not have bowled any better than I did and the shot was totally catered to me----and I was still 3 pins short of 261 LOL. The 2nd half, the league average shot up, but my average went down. Why? They added oil to the middle of the lane creating push for everyone else. I didnt need push to help me----I liked the hook and the fact that I could get farther left than everyone. So while everyone else struggled with the hook in the 1st half, I slowed down with the push in the 2nd half. One mans trash is another mans treasure.
Bowler ID# 2039-6328 
