Author Topic: Options (Read 1360 times)

MichiganBowling · « **on:** October 14, 2004, 04:44:02 AM »

This post is in reply to the sandbagging post which I like to call the "I will whine and eventually cheat because nobody will fix bowling for me" post...

For those who wish that things were better, there are 2 real options here.

A) Be a part of the solution
B) Be a part of the problem

Some might say there is a C) Quit bowling, but I see that as being part of the problem. If you see a kid crying on the sidewalk because he is lost, then walking away, pretending you don't see him is indeed being part of the problem!

So I was asked what is entailed in choice A. "What can I do", people ask. I have found what it is that I need to do, and I am doing it. I could easily just sit here and tell you what I am doing to make the sport better, but I'd rather get you thinking a little bit first. One thing that I don't like about our society in general is that we teach people by giving them the answers and a blueprint. This allows people to be replacable. Anybody can follow a blueprint, right? I would rather teach people to learn for themselves, and I will drop little hints or things that I have learned along the way.

I hope many of you will take this thread seriously so that people can learn from what I have learned. I don't pretend to be some super teacher and have all of the answers, but I think I have some insight that has come from the many people I have talked to and the many trips I have made in the last 3 years.

I'll begin with the next post.
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2004, 01:11:35 PM »

We need to start with some reflection and ask ourselves some questions...

1) What don't we like about bowling right now?
2) What do we like about bowling right now?
3) What have others tried recently to make things better?
4) Why didn't those things work?
5) Why did some of those things work?

Please think about these questions and reply with some of your answers. For the most part, our answers to the first 2 questions will be the same. We all want to see more bowlers join leagues and other competition, and we all want to see some integrity return to the sport. Those 2 items will summarize our answers to 1 and 2 for the most part. So unless you have something new, just post your answers to 3-5. I'll get things started here.

3) Bowling Headquarters released sport bowling in hopes that it would bring integrity back to our sport. Strike Ten (I think it's them) has attempted and successfully landed some corporate bowling sponsors to offer coupons and such to our bowlers. The PBA is attempting an all exempt tour this season.

4) While all of these things are great, I don't think they address my two major concerns--getting new bowlers into our sport, and bringing integrity back to the game. I don't see how a Baby Ruth coupon gets more people to go bowling and/or join leagues. Sport bowling was released in a lazy manner in my opinion. People who tried sport bowling and struggled, quit and may never try again. Then many never even tried it because they were afraid to commit to a long season on something they were unfamiliar with. The PBA's ideas have only pushed past touring pros back into our leagues and local tournaments. Those players are in a lose lose situation as if they win a tournament, then people say they shouldn't have been there because they are pros. If they lose, then people say they aren't really that good. So we've p**sed off two more groups of bowlers.

5) The PBA's move created one of the most exciting seasons that the PBA has ever seen. Ratings should be up this season. This may help a little bit in attracting some new bowlers to our sport (hopefully). Sport bowling at least gets the ball rolling and allows us the opportunity to do something more with it. Let me stress that last sentence a bit--ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING MORE WITH IT. That means we the people who want to see change now have a tool with which to work and promote.

Now for one of my hints. Sport bowling was released in a lazy manner, yes. They just threw it out there and hoped people would try it out. So what I've decided to do, is go to different centers and try to get them to put out sport shots for open bowling, so that people can practice on it. I also attend the open bowling sessions as much as I can, and will be very willing to help people out who may be struggling on it. I also ask the centers to occassionally if not all the time offer coaching during the times they offer the sport shot open bowling. I also ask all of my "good bowling" friends to help others out who struggle if they are ever up there bowling on it.

The reason I think sport bowling is important is because it extends our learning curve for quite a few more years. Many people can average 210 or higher these days, and they have very little to learn on a house shot anymore. So I think promoting sport bowling promotes learning, which keeps people interested in the sport and gives them more goals!
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2004, 01:13:35 PM »

Bones, I didn't see your post and still do not see it. Where is it?

Feel free to add a poll anytime Bones.
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2004, 01:26:19 PM »

I mentioned it once so far, but I feel the need to stress it a bit more...

We are given "tools" every once in a while that will allow us to actually make a difference on our own. Sport Bowling was one of those tools. I try to do this with my business, MichiganBowling.com. I cannot make a difference in this sport by myself, but if I release enough "tools" in the bowling community and ask for others to help out, then we can really make a big difference.

The Sport Shot Open Bowling Program is one of those tools that I've released, and I need people in different areas to help promote the program and educate bowlers as to the importance of such programs. I need bowling ambassadors, and there are many out there. We just need them to stop sitting on their hands and get out there and lead the way.
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2004, 01:31:57 PM »

Yes Bones, but I say stop shouting and start teaching. The majority of people may indeed NOT want change simply because they do not know what that change will be. Sport bowling seems scary to people because they have not yet tried it. If we (the minority) teach and encourage people to try it without laughing at them when they struggle, then our minority grows into the majority.

Sport bowling was released in a way that promoted its own failure. Until we give it the best opportunity for success, we will never know what is truly possible.
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2004, 02:24:57 PM »

Let me add my take on this situation....

People want to average 200 on today's lanes with yesterday's equipment and knowledge.

There are plenty of frustrated bowlers out there who are sick and tired of getting beaten by Johnny who carried a 150 average, gets a new ball and throws 750 plus gets his handicap.

This has caused more than one person to quit at our local center. Let me give you another example...a team finished the first 1/2 of our league in dead last place last year. I mean they were 80 points out of 15's place (30 point system). They came back and won the 2nd half because of their huge handicap (250 pins per game based on 90% of 220) but guess what? Their team average for the 2nd 1/2 was over 1000 per game!!! Is it fair? No way. Does it tick off the good bowlers that try hard all year and carry their 200 average the entire year only to get hosed by the baggers with handicap? Of course it does.

So I say we do this...instead of trying to attarct NEW blood right away, let's work on salvaging the people who are CURRENTLY bowling and let's get those who have quit in the last 2-3 years BACK into the centers again.

Let's face it, lane conditions today are a joke. The only way they are going to regain any integrity is to do something about the conditions. BY no means am I a great bowler but I can throw the pebble. I have been relegated to throwing plastic and pearl urethanes to keep the ball right. I do not have the rev to go deep and get the ball back nor do I have the speed to hold anything stronger than a polished Black Phantom on the right. I have adapted though....I totally eliminated my approach last week...took one step and threw the ball with my wrist support set to full straight lock. Guess what? I shot 240 but it held for exactly 1 game.

In short I think we need to promote and keep those that we have before we try and get more people in.

RE SPort Bowling.....our proprietor solved the "scary SPORT Bowling" problem...he made the league handicap but it is a low handicap. It is only like 80% of 180 or something. This has allowed women to join as well as less skilled bowlers who are just sick of the adult bumper bowling leagues.
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
The Cherry is the Bomb
And the Uranium blows them all away!
Now accepting VISA/MC and Discover for your purchases

Edited on 10/14/2004 2:36 PM

guzmand19 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2004, 04:04:31 PM »

Im with Doug, the handicaps are killer right now. Im having fun bowling because I love bowling, but I will admit Im pretty frustrated in our Thursday mixed league. I busted hump to try to raise my average over last year and over the summer I finally was able to hover between 200-205. I joined up with the same team I bowled on last year, and while I am still bowling average and near average most nights, our team is getting pummelled. Why? Because 2 guys on the team improved, and our handicap is set so low we consistently have to make up over 200 pins just to get in the game. Unless one of our lower average guys is bowling great and the rest of us average, we are sunk. Our team is in 32nd place out of 36, and the only thing we have really done wrong is improve. I believe this mentality is why bagging suddenly becomes acceptable. If a teammate is having a bad night, they take solace that at least the team handicap goes up a bit.

The worst part of all this is the league is a pretty loose fun league. It's mainly meant for people who are improving before they join the more serious leagues. However, all the new bowlers learn is that bowling great 1 night out of 4 is better for your team than consistently improving over the season. If this is happening in the fun league, what incentive is there for people to work on their game? All they work on is the one big game, instead of getting better to have 3 good games.
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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins. Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names

jimsey · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2004, 05:53:57 PM »

Brian

nice post. a lot of these issues have been debated and will continue to be topics for quite a while since there is no right or wrong answer. Why people quit bowling is a question that will never have a definative answer since there are multiple reasons why an individual quits bowling. people will rationalize whichever answer best fits their theory. You do raise a few points that I will throw my 2 cents at.

handicap - a system that allows an inferior athlete to compete with those of a higher skill level. Imagine what would happen to baseball if the weaker team was spotted 3 runs before the game even started. Or football, the weaker team is allowed to run a play in every series with the opponent on the side lines. It might help to organize leagues by skill level, but that limitation works in theory and not in reality. People more often bowl socially, in groups of similar age, job, or convenient night and time. If they have no chance of winning, there interest level drops quickly and the likelihood of returning for the next season is minimal. this makes handicap an necessary evil and virtually makes it manditory.

sport bowling - I don't see sport bowling as a venue to return integrity to the game but more as a tool to measure or reflect true ability. It is a choice that 10% or less of bowlers will ever be interested to attempt and that very few will ever want to commit to for the long haul. Are there other ways to promote it and/or expose more bowlers to it? We may have to think outside of the box here. Some suggestions might be to use it as a learning tool for high average bowler clinics and game improvement leagues. Use part of the prize fund to hire a qualified coach to observe/teach/answer questions during league play and optional practice sessions after bowling. This might make the experience less intimidating to bowlers and help build their skill levels. Again, not for everyone but certainly help to target bowlers who are seeking to improve their games.

I like your bowling ambassador plan. we need more people to step up and get involved in programs like that.

mumzie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2004, 06:09:14 PM »

quote:
1) What don't we like about bowling right now?
2) What do we like about bowling right now?
3) What have others tried recently to make things better?
4) Why didn't those things work?
5) Why did some of those things work?

1. What don't I like about bowling right now?
a) The demise of women's bowling every where - from the PBA tour to the folding of women's scratch leagues everywhere, to the low turnout in the few scratch events still being held.
b) the game in the box attitude held by so many. I think that tougher lane conditions would really help the retention aspect - if bowlers REALLY looked long and hard at themselves and asked if they'd rather a - shoot high scores, or b - really improve and learn the game.
c) 180 bowlers with 240 averages.

2. What do I like about bowling right now?
I like the competition, the fact that ladies can compete in the PBA.
I like the availability of the sport leagues and sport condition, although I don't think much of the "softening" of the sport condition sanctioning.

3) What have others tried recently to make things better?
I think that there are some good things that can come out of the exempt tour, the usbc, and the proprietors getting involved in educational programs for the schools. I think this will help a lot.
Handicapping definitely has to be changed. (see rant below)
There is a move afoot with the new USBC to investigate some sort of rolling average - kind of like what is done with golf.

And- having the rolling average available for tournaments as well.

It won't be free, but it can be done, and would help a lot...

4 and 5. I think it's way too soon to tell what's going to be coming out of the items above.

Rant on... (in case you don't want to read further, the rest of the post is a rant.

)

At the national mixed, my hubby was knocked out of one bracket by a 289 in the first game, and a 320 in the second bracket the second game. Both handicap (duh), both the SAME bowler - each game with "only" 44 pins of handicap. That means the guy is shooting 245-276 scratch, yet was allowed in the tournament with a 181 average???

I didn't see what he shot for the third game, but I did see the guys name all over the place all weekend. That needs to be eliminated, or people like me, who get 39 pins TOTAL for 3 games will stop coming back! If this guy shot what he did the first game, that would give him an 898 series. I'd have to shoot 859 scratch to tie. Not impossible, but really, really unlikely at the national bowling stadium.

I'm not whining - really I'm not. I expected it, and I wasn't disappointed.
I understand that there were 2 women who shot something like 1350 scratch, and had around 400+ pins handicap, for doubles. There's another real beatable score, eh?

Shooting 1350 scratch - with that low of an average. Yeah, right.
I knew it was handicap when I walked in the door - that's why I paid the money to enter the scratch events as well. Of course, they're gonna pay 22 places in the women's scratch singles and scratch all events, and pay 114 places in handicap - because only 1/5 of the women got into the scratch...
And that's why they keep holding handicap events.
Sigh.
Rant off.
--------------------
If winning isn't important,
why do they keep score?
---
Vince Lombardi

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2004, 10:46:42 AM »

Yes, the handicap issue is a tough one. Very good points made in this thread so far.

I bowled last night against a team of 5 men that haven't bowled since the early days of resin. So these guys started out slow and are gaining momentum. They are all pretty good bowlers, but they had a lot of rust to knock off of their armor. Again, they had their best night of the season and pummelled us. We had no chance.

But alas, the league is a handicap league and we knew that going in. We also knew the % that was going to be used going in (I think 90% of 220). I live in Flint, MI which is the 3rd biggest city in the state, and there's not one scratch competetive league in the city!!! That is a crying shame. I won't go into the details about that, but I will offer what I think might be a solution.

Possible Solution
This should be the goal for every city/bowling center around. By that, I mean Flint should have this as their goal, and every small town that has only one bowling center should have this as their goal. I'm talking about one league to start with, and later maybe more leagues to join--One scratch league, with an "ambassador" or some sort of center salesperson going around and getting big sponsors and lots of little ones, and all of the money goes to this one SCRATCH bowling league. Men, women, seniors, non-seniors, whoever wants to bowl in this league and think they can hang is welcome to join this league. I would say collared shirts and no hats to start out with, and then maybe tighten the restrictions as time goes on.

NO SPONSOR MONEY SHOULD GO TO HANDICAP LEAGUES! ALL SPONSOR MONEY SHOULD GO TO SCRATCH LEAGUES!

I think you've got to do this to combat the human nature that makes people sandbag for the handicap leagues. The people that sandbag and new bowlers out there need to have an ultimate goal. When I was a kid moving up to adult leagues, my goal was to get on teams in the classic leagues, and then eventually to get the marbles up to go bowl Michigan Majors (scratch tourney). Now there are no classic leagues, and Michigan Majors is nearly non-existent.

The Main Point
We all notice and have discussed "the modern bowling center". The dungeons don't get the bowlers, and the modern, bright, clean bowling centers do get the new bowlers. This was a lesson that center proprietors learned (or didn't) and have done relatively ok by upgrading their centers over time.

In other words, they had to work a little harder to keep bowlers coming back and to attract new bowlers.

This is a lesson that needs to be leraned industry-wide. Bowling leagues need to work a little harder to keep their bowlers and to attract new ones. What I like to call "the modern league secretary" needs to be a promoter. Each center needs a person who also helps promote for all of the leagues, and the modern league secretary needs to coordinate better with these folks.

Center proprietors need to invest a little bit in hand-picking these modern league secretaries to make sure the job gets done. They need to offer cash incentives and free bowling to these people as well. All of these secretaries for all of these leagues in the bowling center should meet often with the league coordinator of the bowling center and with management at least 2-3 times before leagues start, and then maybe one time after leagues start. If you have to, offer these secretaries some very nice incentives to attend these meetings and to fill their leagues.

Jimsey, good point about sport bowling. I don't believe sport bowling to be the big answer that will return integrity to the game, but I definitely believe it is a start in the right direction. 90% of the people who have bowled in my sport tournaments would agree with that as well. It gets difficult to get up for a house shot league anymore after getting hooked on sport bowling. Sport bowling is all I want to bowl on anymore, and I think it will get even better once we try some tourneys that limit the bowling balls as well!!! But I like the way you explained how sport bowling can help bowlers measure their ability. But isn't measuring one's ability what makes something a sport in the first place? That should be what bowling competition does, measure my ability against yours, and the better of the two on that day wins.

Right?
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Edited on 10/15/2004 10:40 AM

Edited on 10/15/2004 10:43 AM

Edited on 10/15/2004 10:49 AM

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2004, 07:59:00 PM »

To add to my earlier point, we need to find additional ways to glorify scratch bowling on competitive conditions, both financially and through different media and promotional mediums.

I have been told by many that the reason that bowling isn't an olympic sport is because of lack of organization. There is no real organized effort or central entity that tries to make this happen. It is one of the problems that our sport faces is that there is very little structure and organization to our industry and to our sport.

Two summers ago, I started running my Summer Sport Series events, and it got off the ground rather slowly. 4 tournaments saw 20 bowlers at the first event, then 39 for the 2nd, then 48 for the 3rd and 48 again for the 4th event. This past summer, we averaged 50 for our last 3 events (out of 7).

These tournaments were a good start, but to keep the momentum rolling in the right direction, we need to get more bowlers interested in sport bowling. So we offer sport shot bowling clubs and sport shot open bowling programs throughout the state and are trying to offer coaching with each of these clubs and programs as well. This is all very much in the beginning stages, but by the end of the season we could see some beautiful growth.

This is the structure that I am talking about. It is an organized effort to promote competitive bowling in a modern atmosphere. The modern atmosphere I am still working on. We are working on setting up a wireless web tournament that will make the tournaments easier to run by having faster projected cut scores, flat screen lcd monitors displaying current standings and projected cut scores, and streaming video to an event's respective website.

While all of this is going on, we want to promote through different printed and online media. If we have to start up new bowling newspapers, then so be it. Rather than publicizing all of the 300's shot from week to week, publicize who is leading points for a sport circuit, or who is leading a sport league, or any scratch league that is going on.

This is a lot of new stuff being thrown out here, but if we get enough people working together to achieve the one common goal, then it will be fairly easy and a lot of fun making this all happen. Not to mention, this sort of structured plan makes it much easier to get sponsors for these scratch bowling events and leagues.

Any comments?
--------------------
Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Author Topic: Options (Read 1360 times)

MichiganBowling

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MichiganBowling

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MichiganBowling

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MichiganBowling

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MichiganBowling

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Doug Sterner

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guzmand19

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jimsey

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mumzie

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MichiganBowling

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MichiganBowling

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