Yep.  I would agree with you.  It sounds like a basic misunderstanding of ball motion and how it's created...

OR

They lost to a guy who, seemingly, had lots of area to play with...

Very much a lack of understanding ball motion, how to play them, proper adjustments.

Knowing the proper adjustments is my problem sometimes.  It was yesterday!  Game 1, 2nd frame, strike but it was light or "hit em thin and watch em spin."  I didn't learn from that because I was happy about the strike.  Forgot on 4th frame and lined up the same.  Hit thin again but this time left a 2/4/5 bucket.  Now to make that spare I should stayed right where I was at and throw the same shot to convert bucket.  But I didn't.  I moved right a couple boards and chopped it leaving the 5. 

My observation from over the years: inconsistent lay down points are punished worse on house shots than missed targets down lane. I don't think many people realize how inconsistent their drift can be.

Release descrepencies can be an issue too, though typically for lower average bowlers.

Understanding of good ball motion is definitely true too, but I'd argue that few house bowlers really understand, even those that score well.

The modern game favors a power release, just as golf courses favor guys who can drive the ball 330.  The difference is that golf has putting which is the great equalizer. Bowling has sport patterns but guys can open them up pretty quickly with strong shelled balls. 

Bob, I would argue that in a lot of cases, spare shooting is bowling's great equalizer.  so many that throw a really nice first ball cant hit spares.

I often see a post where someone complains that a house shot let's guys spray the ball all over the place.  The I see a list where a guy complains that if he tugs the ball it goes light, but if he swings it he goes high.  Doesn't seem like it can be both ways

It may be because of in proper throw? Aerodynamic? Physics?

OK I got it.  One of my teammates is on the heavy side.  Actually he is fat.  When he misses I'm gonna tell him he isn't aerodynamic enough and encountering to much wind resistance on his approach.

I've actually bowled on shots like this.  Too much oil inside and too little outside creates a pretty steep cliff.  Miss inside a bit and it just sails forever, miss outside and it checks and goes nuts.  Doesn't seem like a thing, but I have actually experienced this.