janderson's idea is an interesting one, but I think that the main problem with it is that concepts like that that involve any more math than is already required tend to cause peoples' eyes to glaze over before they even bother to try to follow the explanation. Other than that, I think that it would be an interesting thing to try. The principal difficulty would be that novice teams who catch on and start to improve would have the same advantage that they have now in handicapped leagues; but would have it twice. That could be offset by using SrKegler's idea of setting the nightly handicap based on the bowlers' most recent 21 game average instead of a season long average. That system partially offsets the handicap advantage had by a rapidly improving novice, as well as highlighting any suspicious sandbagging activity.
It's altogether too much math for most bowlers to want to bother with. If, however, somebody volunteered to keep separate stats featuring results with the new system, and if no money was at stake initially, such a system might win some converts. Somehow, though, I doubt it.
It is unfortunate that our league, with it's separate divisions, results in there being people in our league--the guys in the other division--that you never really get to know. On the other hand, it means that you bowl the other teams in your own division more often, which is good. We bowl everyone in our division at least three times per season--more when you throw in 4 position nights. This builds good rivalries in terms of the game, but tends to encourage a friendlier attitude since you get to know the other bowlers personally a little better. Despite it's flaws, it's a pretty good system. I intend to keep trying to sell the league on four nights per year of interdivisional play, however.
Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top
