We talk about scores increasing a lot, what we don't talk about or what I haven't heard talked about is the houses the scores are shot in.

 

We all have heard of houses where scores are few and far between, houses where you still have to work for good scores. We all have heard of houses where the scores are easy to attain stand left and through it anywhere to the right you please and all ten pins drop.

 

I bowl in one of these easy houses once a month and understand the allure of bowling their. We bowl a trios tourney once a month at a house like this, and I my average has to be around 240 or so. I bowled a league in the same city (Oshkosh WI) different house and averaged about 212 for the season the shot was tight, but playable for all styles, carry was tough no kickbacks and sideboards throwing pins all over the deck.

 

My point? Point is are the numbers that we talk about getting bigger like averages and high sets, are they getting blown out of proportion by the easy houses? How Many of these 240 and up averages are coming from the easy houses? How Many of the 850 and up sets are coming from these houses? Versus the numbers coming from houses with tougher conditions?

 

Not trying to rip anyone or the scores they have shot or the houses they bowl in I am just stating a opinion I have been forming in my brain during the last month or so from some of my personal experience   

 

Edited by mainzer on 4/22/2012 at 11:46 AM

 

Edited by mainzer on 4/22/2012 at 11:52 AM

Here in the Dallas area we have 2 centers that are considered stupidly easy.  We also have 1 center that has been called a nitemare for years.  If you look at the honor roll in the paper weekly there is sometimes 250 to 300 pins difference in high series every week.  That's not just the men but women too.  Some of this has to do with the caliber of bowlers but many of the good bowlers at the 1 center left due to scoring issues.  A lot of things have to do with the center up keep.  I know a center in Oklahoma that when it certified took the years previous paperwork and copied it and sent it in.  They finally sent the correct paperwork and tapes to USBC after how many years of this practice.  The condition of the lane beds, upkeep equipment and the competence of the person maintaining them plays a great role in scoring.  Another factor is pin condition.  Sometimes we like to think that it is the bowler has all the control.  There are more factors involved.  If bowling lanes were like checker boards we might be able to average the same everywhere.

 

Smash49

 

Oh and there is a button that solves certain issues on the forum.

I finished my past season in an easy house and will be bowling there again this upcoming season. It was due to my work hours and limited availability of mens leagues for the nights I can bowl.

 

I know my average is going to be 10-12 pins higher when I bowl there but when you average 218-221 at the tougher house then 230+ is still the same no matter what. 0 pins handicap is 0 pins handicap. I don't shoot much in the way of honor scores so if I get one in the easy house it is still nice, but not as nice as shooting it somewhere else. What I've noticed with the easier house is you have to be able to carry. You can get to the pocket from anywhere, but there are many days when you just won't carry and spares is what will keep your inflated average up. Then you have the other days were you carry the world.

 

The other advantage I like of the easy house is I'm more consistent as a bowler with my form, and timing then at tougher houses. The reason being, I don't have to fight the lanes from week to week when the shot changes. Either game to game, or lane to lane. the tougher house I bowled in wouldn't oil consistent from one lane to the next. the shot would also change every month or so sometimes. It helps on seeing and playing different lines but can also make bowlers develop bad habits trying to over come or match up to the conditions.

 

I think bowling in both is what will help any bowler. Just bowling in one or the other can have its pros and cons but doing both will help balance your game. Plus you must practice.

"1 of 1." 

I spend winters in Mesa AZ.  There are approximately 27 centers in the greater Phoenix metro area.  I have bowled in about 17 of them over the last 5 years.  All that I have bowled in are walled to the max for leagues.   Local tournies sometimes use flatter patterns, sometimes not.  There are also a couple of scratch leagues that play on sport type patterns.    There might be a toughie out there among those I haven't been to, but I doubt there is more than 1at the most. 

 

Frankly I don't have a problem with soft house shots.  Youngsters who aspire to be better mostly understand they need to develop a game that works on flatter patterns.  Most people like to hook the ball and have fun.  Let them.   

We can look at those, but we're still going to get into a chicken and the egg scenario.....

 

The "typical league bowler" wants to bowl in an easy house.  Show up, hang out with your friends, drink some beers, throw lots of strikes, and play your card game.

 

Houses that put out more difficult shots end up chasing those bowlers away....they move to the easier house and spend their money there.

 

A year after I started bowling I subbed for several weeks in a sports league.  Me and my crappy 163 average on a THS was still able to average 160 over those 4 or 5 weeks.  Each week I'd watch those guys try to grip and rip - usually skating straight into the 6-10 pocket.  It was funny to hear them fuss and cuss about how "bad the conditions are in this place."

 

Later that year (at a different house) I watched a guy go on a 15 minute rant about how bad the place was....."I f'ing average 215 at <center X>, but up here I'm lucky to break 170....this place sucks.  They don't know how to put down the oil or something.  F this place, I'm coming back here until they figure out to do things properly."

 

Anyways, it's pretty simple.  Found the houses that are packed with leagues 7 nights a week and those are usually the houses with the "easy" conditions.

 

I can pull up my center in League Secretary and see that Fall 2011 has had 16 300s, and 7 800 series.  Fall 2010 was 10 and 5.  2009 was 5 and 1.   Place is packed every night - 40 lanes, 4-5 bowlers per team.   

 

If you're running the center, what are you going to do?