This is somewhat of an anomaly to me and a topic I find a mystery.

First a quick bit about me (and this is not FIGJAM worthy), I'm currently having a career best 234 avg in one league and struggling in the other at 222 (to be fair, this house is naturally tougher)......my sport pattern average is in the 195ish range.  FOR ME, I think my PBAX summer league is REAL bowling, and I relish the challenge.  I would, in a perfect world, bowl on these patterns all winter long and set goals accordingly, if I were able.

What I'm asking about is this stereotypical ego that cannot handle NOT scoring, bowlers who NEED the inflated average a THS provides.  This is a mystery to me.  What happens to these people / ego's IN THE MOMENT when they're bowling on exceptionally difficult conditions?  What are they thinking IN THE MOMENT of (for example after game 1 when they shoot 132) failure?  Is there some cognitive dissonance or some Dunning–Kruger effect going on?

(Enter poker player me) I'm struggling to grasp the psychology of the stereotypical fragile ego (lets be honest, we ALL know them).  Can someone help me w/this?  I'm trying to reverse engineer the concept and understand the WHY the 195 PBAX average would crush my ego.....I mean, it's quite objectively obv that the THS is a softer condition and flat patterns are more difficult thus the universal scoring pace differential.

Think of this as analysis of the person YOU / WE ALL know......It's such a relevant topic in bowling today so a little exploration should be nice and everyone can contribute.  Another way of stating it:  If there were a truth serum in their blood and we could interrogate HONEST answers, what would we get?

Yeah, I would agree.  I've always said I don't care if I'm shooting 260s or 160s, as long as everybody else is shooting lower.  But a lot of people don't have fun unless they're shooting big numbers, regardless of whether they're winning or losing.  I've even heard people say, "Well I only beat the guy 190-180, doesn't really seem like I earned it," after I just watched them get a clutch double 9th and 10th to seal the deal.  I'm back there on the edge of my seat, and they're disappointed they only got one double that game and didn't break 200. 

Quote from: Gizmo823 on December 27, 2013, 12:41:08 PM

Well and these two points right here are really telling as far as their perspective goes.  They associate low scores with bowling bad.  That's exactly what they'll say too, they don't say score lower, they say bowl bad.  So even if they average 205-210 and that's the top end of the scoring pace, they still won't enjoy it.  Bowling has become about the score you get rather than winning or losing. 

Quote from: storm making it rain on December 27, 2013, 12:37:10 PM

Quote from: Good Times Good Times on December 27, 2013, 12:33:10 PM

Quote from: storm making it rain on December 27, 2013, 12:30:23 PM

.....and i quote "why would i want to spend $20 a week to bowl bad.....Unfortunately that happens a lot, in league there has to be a perceived value for alot of people instead of paying to enjoy/learn the game.

Man, that is just such a WEAK play.

I guess I'm just going to have to accept that.  It's interesting THEY don't view that as a weak play.  They just HAVE to know it is.

They are awesome guys......I think I lost a TON of respect for them, as bowlers and competitors, though.

I TOTALLY agree...

My perspective is as long as i'm in the upper tier to top guy i don't care the pace of scoring.  but you are correct that doesn't hold true for alot of people

Yes, I have experienced this as well. And the same guys didn't understand why I was so proud of my "clean game". LOL


Honestly, I get more excited about no open frames than a 220+ game on flat oil with a washout, split or whiffed 10 pin in the middle of it.

Quote from: Gizmo823 on December 27, 2013, 01:09:33 PM

Yeah, I would agree.  I've always said I don't care if I'm shooting 260s or 160s, as long as everybody else is shooting lower.  But a lot of people don't have fun unless they're shooting big numbers, regardless of whether they're winning or losing.  I've even heard people say, "Well I only beat the guy 190-180, doesn't really seem like I earned it," after I just watched them get a clutch double 9th and 10th to seal the deal.  I'm back there on the edge of my seat, and they're disappointed they only got one double that game and didn't break 200. 

+1

Haven't you heard, it's not luck, it's Physics! (Sorry Giz, had to do it  )

You do make a great point, averaging 220+ even on the easiest THS still requires skill. It might be a different method of bowling than a flat pattern, but it's still a skill set that the majority of bowlers do not have. And as you get above the 230s, your margin for error rapidly approaches ZERO to maintain that average!

Another Point to think about:  Why do so many people get wrapped up in the idea of the THS?  As many of you have said the scores are all relative, no?  I mean granted on a THS there are some suspect 220 guys, but honestly if you're 225+ you have to be at least decent, no?  I know in one of my leagues I average 250 this center doesn't transition much and carry is above average, my other league at another center I average 237 this center is very inconsistent and the transition is very weird and the carry is average at best.  Now i'm high average at both centers and i'm fine with that, hell if I was high at 190 that would be fine with me.

Back to my point, why does everyone bash the THS, if you're that good you should have problems out shooting everyone....Oh wait is it because of luck?  I tend to think no matter the shot people always get lucky sometime or another...just some food for thought

Lmao, +1

Haven't you heard, it's not luck, it's Physics! (Sorry Giz, had to do it  )

You do make a great point, averaging 220+ even on the easiest THS still requires skill. It might be a different method of bowling than a flat pattern, but it's still a skill set that the majority of bowlers do not have. And as you get above the 230s, your margin for error rapidly approaches ZERO to maintain that average!

Quote from: storm making it rain on December 27, 2013, 01:45:04 PM

Another Point to think about:  Why do so many people get wrapped up in the idea of the THS?  As many of you have said the scores are all relative, no?  I mean granted on a THS there are some suspect 220 guys, but honestly if you're 225+ you have to be at least decent, no?  I know in one of my leagues I average 250 this center doesn't transition much and carry is above average, my other league at another center I average 237 this center is very inconsistent and the transition is very weird and the carry is average at best.  Now i'm high average at both centers and i'm fine with that, hell if I was high at 190 that would be fine with me.

Back to my point, why does everyone bash the THS, if you're that good you should have problems out shooting everyone....Oh wait is it because of luck?  I tend to think no matter the shot people always get lucky sometime or another...just some food for thought

There are shot makers and shot throwers, best way I can it.

Sports is separated by the psychology and ego of the competitors...the elite are the ones that understand it and use it to their advantage

I think the  biggest misconception about sport conditions vs THS conditions is the harder vs easier thing.  THS isn't easier in the sense that it makes shot making less valuable.  It is easier in the sense that it rewards a more powerful delivery, and is amendable to more different styles.  Flatter patterns force you to adjust your roll to fit the end of the pattern.  THS allows you to adjust right or left and in essence create an end to the pattern at the optimum place for your style. 

THS is easier,  I have not seen a Sport pattern that I can miss target 5 boards right and still massacre the pocket and still yank if 5 left and still hit the pocket.

Spare shooting and shot making are at a premium on more demanding conditions, on a ths you can miss spares because odds are you will still throw 4 in a row sosomewhere.

My thoughts