Sport Bowling should be the standard. You shouldn't have to pay extra to join. That's a huge flaw. The awards/benefits do not justify the cost to the bowler and the effort to run tapes every week, mail them, and maintain almost constant contact with USBC in regards to your lane conditions.
There are no doubt fewer SPORT SANCTIONED awards handed out each year percentage wise to awards handed out in regular non-sport sanctioned leagues. The cost of $15 to upgrade is not justified. Pay more to bowl bad is not a good marketing tool.
God forbid if you signed up for a Sport Bowling League, you got a DISCOUNT on your regular membership or even a refund. And maybe if $1 of that $15 upgrade fee went BACK TO THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION, LEAGUE or CENTER for running such a league, you might have more interest from people to promote the program. Instead, THE USBC takes every nickel back to Texas without a cent going back to the people who promote, run, operate or bowl in the leagues. Just saying...Where does all that money go.
I ran a Sport League (PBA Experience) for four years. I ordered one award for a 299 game. I sanctioned 280 bowlers over the course of the 4 years. I ran tapes and mailed them for 64 seperate weeks and did all the promotion and ground work to run the league. Didn't see the benefit of sanctioning anymore and got burnt out by all the extra effort required. So last year was my final year running it.
However, as a whole, bowling on tough conditions can not be credited enough for my own skill development. And it has made me a competitor on a local and National level that I never once previously believed I could be. I just think the whole marketing attempt is flawed. I think bowlers should be able to join these leagues without having to fork out any extra money. I think if they forked out extra money, it should be returned to the center, the association or the league operator for their efforts to promote the program as a whole.
And don't get me wrong, I'm frustrated with the system. The people I've dealt with at USBC have been fantastic and very helpful. I just don't believe in the way they push Sport Bowling on people.
PROFILE
340-370 revs
18 mph
230 book on THS
200 book on PBA
Arsenal: (In the bag) C-System Ulti-Max, C-System Alpha Max, C-System 3.5, Lethal Revolver, Loaded Revolver, Wicked Siege, Massive Damage, Damage, Slingshot, Avalanche Slide,