I bowl in a summer men’s league at Strathmore Lanes in NJ, and I wanted to run a quick rules question by you.  Here’s our situation:

My teammate averaged a 218 in this league two years ago (2008), and last year (2009) he averaged a 201.  Last year, his handicap was based on a 208 average because our league has always had a 10-pin drop rule.  My question to you is: What is his entering average for this season?  Is it a 208 or 201?  I believe that his entering average should be a 201, because that is what he ACTUALLY bowled last year.  His drop average for this year shouldn’t be based on what he bowled two years ago; it should be based on what he bowled last year.  Subsequently, his drop average for this year should be a 191 and not a 198.  His drop average should be 10 pins less than last year’s average, and NOT 20 pins under what he bowled two years ago.

We do not have our own rulebook so I need to defer to the USBC rules.  This wouldn't an issue if this bowler wasn't struggling terribly obviously, but the difference in handicap has already cost us 4 points (2 wins).   To make matters worse, 3 weeks ago, this came into question, I approached the league president and told him that his avg on the sheet was wrong and that it should be 201.  He then entered it as 201 and we won a game. (1 game out of the 2 talked about above).  Last week, he decided that he was wrong and took the game away from us, without telling us (we noticed on the standing sheet).  Ironically, it came into play again last week and we ended up losing our 2nd game because of it.

I don't have a rulebook.  I spoke to our regional rep and he said w/out looking at the leagues rules (which we dont have and havnt had in a few years), he believes I'd be correct, but that we may need to vote on it during a called "league meeting".   I do not believe we should have to vote on anything absent a rule to the contrary.   What do you guys think.  

not that it matters.our rules are you use last years league average for the first 3 weeks then your average is figured from last season then the 9 games for a new average.but as mentioned the league rulings stand  unless changed.you might make sure to change that for next year at the meeting.or have the captains vote it in.
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you haven"t really been beaten you just been tracked

Maybe I'm missing something here, and this is just my opinion, but if there is no written league rules and USBC has no drop rule defined, where is the league defining their drop rule?  I don't see how you can have a drop rule without a set of written and voteded upon league rules.

10 pin drop rule should be based on last year's actual average for the league - 201.  That's been my understanding of the rule in many different leagues that use it.

If the league has a 10 pin drop rule then there should be written rules for the league somewhere.
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