I havent read every post but I have to ask this one question and I am sorry if this is repeated.

Why is it that in bowling we penalize bowlers who put in the time and effort to get better and understand the game better? Why should I/every other person who wants to and is getting better have to deal with this??? Heaven forbid someone who is actualy better wins. Who would of thought of the proposterous idea???

When it comes to the argument of hdcp of difference in 220, 210 etc and there is someone who averages over that, the fact of the matter that a 160,170 etc avg bowler can gain 20 pins a game easier than someone who averages 230 etc. It takes an extra strike here or an extra spare here with good count. its not an extra double ontop of already throwing 8 strikes a game. Even at higher levels doubles arent always easy. if you average over the hdcp limit thats great it means (hopefully) they are that much better. They deserve the advantage. They are better otherwise why else get better because if not you get more and more and more and more pins.

so then you change the hdcp to 240/250 and the 180 average bowler still compians becuase the 230 guy gets pins now. How fair is that. You complian when hes over the hdcp line and then complain when hes under it and gets pins.

In the state that our spot is in now you also want to limit what events and side events bowlers can get in. This wont be the answer becuase those tournaments are based on averages. So to get around this (not that I would ever do this but I know there are a lot of people out there that would) by making their averages lower for a few year and still come in to bowl and win.

Just my 2 cents

Interesting topic.

MOST of the time, the handicap should be 90% of the highest entering average for the event. 

However, I bowled a city tournament today.  We have a guy around here at 250+.  This tournament didn't use a THS, so I don't expect to see too many people averaging 230 or 240.  The handicap brackets were at 90% of 230.  I didn't enter the handicap brackets, but did the scratch and MADE $25 after my entry.  Ho Hum and I had the 2nd highest sets each squad. 

If you make the handicap brackets too easy then you water down the ability of the 230 average bowlers.  Sorry, facts.  People should want to bowl well and be rewarded.