That's how I've always felt.  I'd rather feel happy about shooting 200 than disappointed about shooting 230. 

You can choose to look at it as a negative - but I see it as other countries have a huge failure to address the recreational aspect and business of bowling.

Treat it as nothing but a sport, and you alienate a large portion of customers and potential players. You restrict the sport by a definition that doesn't always suit everyone.

We happen to treat bowling like a sport AND a recreation. It's actually pretty rare to find a house that doesn't offer competitive leagues and tournaments....as well as parties and open bowling.

Why is that bad?

We have easier shots on house patterns. So what? Gets more people into the game and to the "take it serious" level than other nations - then we put them on tougher patterns and what's the result? Do we have the worst professional bowlers in the world? No, the opposite.

For the 100th time: The score is irrelevant. You are there to beat the field, not the scorecard.

While I think everybody likes to play bumper bowling for the ridiculous scores, it can get old.

House shots are great for the 3 games a week men's league bowler or the average mixed league, but if you're on here, which you are, I would hope you are looking for something a tad more challenging.

The sad fact is this....most proprietors are here to overcharge for some version of Cosmic and put something out that will keep the majority of their clients happy.  They don't care that most of their 180-200 average bowlers would be lucky to break 160 on a Sport shot, they are there to keep 'em coming back.  That means we're going to see shots that are like bumper bowling.

Now, in larger cities, you are going to have houses that recognize there is some demand for tougher shots.  That's where you're going to find your Sport/PBA Experience leagues.  Me?  I live in a town of 30000 with a 32 lane house that might have 300 league bowlers total.  They have 3 patterns in their machine and aren't looking to expand.  I would love to be able to practice on something tougher to get a better idea of how I'm throwing it.  I mean, I can tell that I'm spraying all over God's creation, but there are nuances I'm not going to see because the shot is pretty damn easy.

Also, you have tor realize that in America, bowling has been labeled as a blue collar sport.  It's just the opposite in Europe and Asia.  Bowling is definitely a more affluent activity and receives much more support from both their societies and media.

I don't know if bowling will ever be at that level, I just hope the powers that be figure out an attainable goal and get some proprietor support toward that goal.




Man, that went longer than I meant.

You can choose to look at it as a negative - but I see it as other countries have a huge failure to address the recreational aspect and business of bowling.

Treat it as nothing but a sport, and you alienate a large portion of customers and potential players. You restrict the sport by a definition that doesn't always suit everyone.

We happen to treat bowling like a sport AND a recreation. It's actually pretty rare to find a house that doesn't offer competitive leagues and tournaments....as well as parties and open bowling.

Why is that bad?

We have easier shots on house patterns. So what? Gets more people into the game and to the "take it serious" level than other nations - then we put them on tougher patterns and what's the result? Do we have the worst professional bowlers in the world? No, the opposite.

For the 100th time: The score is irrelevant. You are there to beat the field, not the scorecard.

I'm genuinely curious on your point of view on this, since you are on the other side of the fence as I am.

Why does "recreational" have to mean "easy"?  I'm a recreational golfer, but I certainly don't expect the course to be so easy that I'm able to shoot par.  I show up, take my lumps, enjoy some beer, and get happy when I break 100.  With that in mind, why do recreational bowlers need to average 205 instead of 165?  Why can't recreational bowlers just be happy to break 200?  What is the difference I'm missing?

rec·re·a·tion·al adjective \ˌre-krē-ˈā-shnəl, -shə-nəl\
: done for enjoyment

It seems like we are able to enjoy other sports without dumbing it down.  We just accept that we aren't very good and play anyway.  Again, why is bowling the exception to that?

Quote from: swingset on March 04, 2014, 05:17:10 PM

You can choose to look at it as a negative - but I see it as other countries have a huge failure to address the recreational aspect and business of bowling.

Treat it as nothing but a sport, and you alienate a large portion of customers and potential players. You restrict the sport by a definition that doesn't always suit everyone.

We happen to treat bowling like a sport AND a recreation. It's actually pretty rare to find a house that doesn't offer competitive leagues and tournaments....as well as parties and open bowling.

Why is that bad?

We have easier shots on house patterns. So what? Gets more people into the game and to the "take it serious" level than other nations - then we put them on tougher patterns and what's the result? Do we have the worst professional bowlers in the world? No, the opposite.

For the 100th time: The score is irrelevant. You are there to beat the field, not the scorecard.

I'm genuinely curious on your point of view on this, since you are on the other side of the fence as I am.

Why does "recreational" have to mean "easy"?  I'm a recreational golfer, but I certainly don't expect the course to be so easy that I'm able to shoot par.  I show up, take my lumps, enjoy some beer, and get happy when I break 100.  With that in mind, why do recreational bowlers need to average 205 instead of 165?  Why can't recreational bowlers just be happy to break 200?  What is the difference I'm missing?

rec·re·a·tion·al adjective \ˌre-krē-ˈā-shnəl, -shə-nəl\
: done for enjoyment

It seems like we are able to enjoy other sports without dumbing it down.  We just accept that we aren't very good and play anyway.  Again, why is bowling the exception to that?

I have a simple, and non-negotiable view of house shots and the supposed "ease" of the game. Easier doesn't mean you are better. Easier shots make EVERYONE on the lanes better, so you still have to beat the entire field. That's the point, isn't it?

If you're shooting 220 and would only shoot 175 on sport patterns, it matters not a whit to your skill. Your opponents are the rest of the league, the rest of the tourney, not the lanes, not the scorecards. When you move up to stiffer shots and competition, you still must beat the field. Conditions are uniform, they simply don't matter.

Golf is a great example. On a very difficult course, Tiger Woods will destroy you and I. On a very easy course, he will destroy you and I. That's the fact. He's a better golfer. How well you shoot on an "easy" course doesn't mean anything, not if everyone else is equally skilled.

The house shot is a recreational shot, and we have embraced it because people like to score high, so what? It clearly hasn't impacted the abilities of good bowlers or diminished their talent. Bowlers are better than ever, and more bowlers are better than ever, and that's IN SPITE of supposed "easy" conditions.

I simply don't see it hurting the sport aspect of the game....because the competition/sport aspect is not about score, but your ability against the rest of the field which is better on easier shots too.

And, then I must fall back to the fact that on every league I bowl on 50% of the people playing these "easy" conditions struggle to break 190 averages.

Quote from: swingset on March 04, 2014, 05:17:10 PM

You can choose to look at it as a negative - but I see it as other countries have a huge failure to address the recreational aspect and business of bowling.

Treat it as nothing but a sport, and you alienate a large portion of customers and potential players. You restrict the sport by a definition that doesn't always suit everyone.

We happen to treat bowling like a sport AND a recreation. It's actually pretty rare to find a house that doesn't offer competitive leagues and tournaments....as well as parties and open bowling.

Why is that bad?

We have easier shots on house patterns. So what? Gets more people into the game and to the "take it serious" level than other nations - then we put them on tougher patterns and what's the result? Do we have the worst professional bowlers in the world? No, the opposite.

For the 100th time: The score is irrelevant. You are there to beat the field, not the scorecard.

I'm genuinely curious on your point of view on this, since you are on the other side of the fence as I am.

Why does "recreational" have to mean "easy"?  I'm a recreational golfer, but I certainly don't expect the course to be so easy that I'm able to shoot par.  I show up, take my lumps, enjoy some beer, and get happy when I break 100.  With that in mind, why do recreational bowlers need to average 205 instead of 165?  Why can't recreational bowlers just be happy to break 200?  What is the difference I'm missing?

rec·re·a·tion·al adjective \ˌre-krē-ˈā-shnəl, -shə-nəl\
: done for enjoyment

It seems like we are able to enjoy other sports without dumbing it down.  We just accept that we aren't very good and play anyway.  Again, why is bowling the exception to that?

Dont know where you're bowling, but the "for fun" recreational bowlers at my center definitely arent averaging 205.
The serious guys are, the pros, and the ones that put time and effort into it and treat it as a hobby, some even as a job.

The ones who show up and are happy to break 200 are the "for the hell of it" people.

My point is how people treat the sport are probably different depending on where you are.

I personally don't see recreational as meaning easy. Well, not exactly. I see recreational as fun, as something laid back and relaxing. I go out and expect to shoot a 600 series every night on league, because I see bowling as more than recreation.

On the other hand, things like golf, MX, hell even competitive shooting, i do "recreationally" and in no way expect anything to come of it. I don't expect to get on a range and out shoot pros, i don't get on a track and expect to put down faster lap times than anyone. I do it for the fun of it.

Which is how most people I know treat bowling.At least around here.