This will be my first time attempting to bowl a PBA Sport bowling league and the only experience I can claim is NABBI.  My bowling partner decided to bet me that I want even make 180 at the end of the season..  Had to take that bet but wanted to know what avg did most of you received on your first PBA league...

My THS average is 205-210 and my PBA Experience average is 163-172.  I have bowled in the PBA league for a couple of years.  Biggest thing is leaving spares you can make and then make them.  Your not going to string strikes to make up for open frames.

Of course the toughness of the shot still depends on the house you bowl at and the lane type.  The only thing the USBC cares about as far as approving the tapes is that the pattern is in the 3-1 ratio.  I bowled on the Cheetah once that would not move outside 5, that should tell you something.

My first Season on a sport/pbax league I averaged around 160 something.

Since then I have improved worked on my game alot. Spare Shooting is the big thing you gotta make the easy ones it is a must, miss one or two and you are in alot of trouble. Learning the patterns can be a pain topograhy is huge places that naturally have more friction the patterns can be a little easier, vice versa less friction and the patterns are brutal.

Good Luck and have fun with it don't worry about scoring worry about learning that is the most important part.

My first year I was 205 & 220 in my two THS leagues (shows you the difference is house shots!).  I finished at 187 in my summer PBA league.  Like most people here, I had no exposure to the PBA patterns until I bowled on them for the summer.  I read on how to attack them, but my physical game had many weaknesses that I knew about.  If you bowl nothing but house shots, you have no idea on how consistent you are with your launch angle through the heads.  That was my biggest problem anyway.

In addition to making your spares, I compare it to when you were improving from 150 to 170 or 170 to 190, or 190 to 205 (I made "jumps" in my average over the years as I figured things out and/or got more consistent).  The more you bowl on them, you bad shots get less bad, so you leave easier spares to convert.  Instead of the bucket, you leave only a 2 pin, or a 3-6-9-10 becomes just a 3....

Throw the sheets they give you out when it comes to how to play the lanes.    Use your own instincts and eyes to see what the pattern is and play it to your own ability.   Just because a pattern is supposed to play at the 3rd board, doesn't mean it can't be played at the 3rd arrow etc.    The lane topography, surface material, age, oil machine, oil, cleaner all play a part. The overall characteristics of the bowling center will always come through no matter what oil pattern is put out.

Knowing your own center, is half the battle in these leagues.   Sheets, charts and graphs are ok when trying to point you in the direction if your bowling in a "perfect" world situation ala the PBA Tour, but sport leagues at your home center is a different story.

For instance I bowl in a PBA league where they use the same patterns 2 or 3 weeks.   The 1st week I will always try to play the patterns the way they are supposed to play, or the way I've experienced them played on the regional tour.     The 2nd week I will play them the way I see the lanes develop, and play the lanes how I feel they should be played for my own game.  Most often than not it's in a different zone than what the "book" says,  and the scores are always much higher.   I'm probably 200+ the 2nd week.   The 3rd week it's an evaluation of what exactly I want to learn since I'm there to learn and not score.   It's normally a different ball or release in the same area where I feel the best scoring chances are for me.

I will average about 200 for the season, without really trying to score huge numbers.   The goal is to learn, and get information and learn the best ways to create versatility in your game and find what works and doesn't work for you.
 

Your league might not allow you the flexibility in the schedule to "learn" or it might not be cost effective for you either if your bowling for money.    Hopefully your league allows you to play the patterns a few times, and you can learn without the stresses of how much this practice is costing you.

The first time I bowled in a Sport League was back in 2002 and I had a 218 THS Average.

We had what I believe to be the typical PBA experience league format in that we bowled on each pattern for 4 weeks at a time. However, position rounds were bowled on either the Masters or US Open pattern.

I averaged 200 even and was very proud of that average.

Don't worry it takes time and practice to get good on a sport league. I average 217 on my sport league now, but my THS has gone up to 232. It will make you a much better bowler.

The answer is to do what you think may work and see what happens.  I don't know how your league is set up, but I liked the previous quote about playing the first week by the "sheet", second how you think (experiment) and third for improving your game.  The way you will get your money is your spare game.  Strong spare game = money, poor spare game = no money

Thanks for all the input -- Going to the bank and withdrawing the money I will owe already... Dang..  I normally play break points but doesnt seem like I will have that..  Plus I am 2 finger bowler with a spare ball...  lol...   Was hoping to play breaking points without swinging the ball..  Already lost and have 2 weeks b4 season...  Keep the input coming - Even anybody has a chart on what 2 play that would be great..  What are the normal partners they put out...  I heard of Cheetah and some long pattern that reminds me of NABBI... Whatelse