I got into a PBA experience league this summer.

It was a doubles (2 person team) league and one of my scratch league buddies decided we would bowl it to see how we would do.

We met and bowled for the first time the other night and bowled on the scorpion pattern.

One I was surprised to find out the league is handicap. We hadn’t even asked, which our fault is really, but I really thought it would be scratch.

Two is there was a lot more interest in the league than I thought there would be. A total of 26-2 person teams showed up for the league. In order to accommodate that number of teams in a summer league we went to 2 game matches and bowl 2 matches a night on different pairs.

Three there really weren’t many scratch bowlers in the league. I would say over half the league doesn’t average 180 on house conditions.

Four because of the format, moving every two games, scoring will be tougher because just as you start to build a shot you move to another pair and depending on who was there you may start over or worse they may have chopped the pattern up.

Here are some general observations.

Few scratch bowlers want to get their egos bruised by bowling on tougher conditions.

The majority in the league are mid level averages wanting to see how they fair on the PBA patterns. Plus they feel since scoring is lower they have a chance to beat the higher average bowlers that have been beating up on them.

Funny how few bowlers wanted to bowl on sport patterns but by putting out the named PBA patterns bowlers are more willing to try them. But I wonder what happens after the novelty wears off.

While the pattern was tougher I feel that the house pattern still had some memory on the lanes. If they would strip/run the pattern several days in a row I think it would play even tougher.

It will be interesting to see the league sheet and what everyone shot. In general I saw a few low 200’s shot but none back to back. The low I saw was 106 and it was against me.
Most the league scores I could see were 140 to 170.

Myself I averaged about as good as I thought I would on that pattern (195) for the 4 games. I did miss 2 spares in the 4 games that I should have picked up and was disappointed with that.

we ae starting a league this summer that will use the 5 pba patterns, alternating them weekly...this is the first type of league around here like this....im really excited and ready to start..eager to see how others and myself fair on these conditions...i have bowled in many regionals and a few national pba touneys but it has been a while and i haven't bowled on any of the newer patterns..
--------------------
Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now!
myspace profile...
 http://www.myspace.com/chad__gordon  
 
http://

current arsenal

  super carbide bomb
  solid cobalt
  tsunami
  black xxxl
  raw toxic
  total NV
  smashtime pearl
  black ice

MEMBER OF THE F.O.S.

Hey Madiballz23,

Are you bowling at the Brunswick house in Columbia, MD?  If you are, I watched your first game, you were locked in good.  I ended up winning the last pot game with a 257, I got locked in after two games of struggling .  Your set was the highest and your first game would have won the pot as well.

I am not bowling for the competition and would have preferred to not use Pedersen points, but it is what it is.  I want to challenge myself with some tougher conditions and hopefully improve my game this summer.

As far as my first two games last Wednesday, I left a few splits (all 3-7 combinations) and missed a 6-10 and a 2-4-7-8 spare, but shot 179 and 188.  

Again, good bowling to you on a tough shot!
--------------------
Thanks,
Paul Saunders
InSite Bowling Products webmaster
http://www.insitebowlingproducts.com
(866) 405-bowl

we started last night on the viper pattern, its quite intriging,, and spare shooting, is a must,its just not easy to do, our league is 3 man teams,and we bowl 4 games each week with the pattern, changeing every 4 weeks,

Im bowling in 3 PBA leauges this summer. Teusday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. Tes and Wed were on the Viper Pattern, tonight is also on the Viper.

I didnt do all that great Teusday night. Spare shooting is a major key and I was not making any of my spares. Teusday night average right now is 148. This will improve. Now Wednesday night I was completely different. Missed 4 spares all night in a 4 game session. I average much better in a different house then where I usually bowl at. Wed my average is 178.

I enjoy the tough shots and the challenges that come with the different adjustments.
--------------------
Mike Zadler
Using the best brand in the nation, BRUNSWICK!!!
Below, my stats from previous seasons:
http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?ms=12886&mp=552&s=2005-2006
Winter season averages at Sunset Lanes in Waukegan IL.
Wed. Nite Ave for the season: 200
Thur. Nite Ave for the season: 216
http://www.BrunsNick.com

pinbuster,

To date, I have never heard of a PBA experience league with handicap. Sort of defeats the purpose, I think.

Here in NJ, all the (PBS) leagues have been singles. Doubles sounds more interesting.

Many better bowlers (read higher average) don't seem to want to grief and stress of hard oil patterns. They figure they're at the pinnacle of where they canbe and do not intend to bowl regionals.

Several of the Sport Shot and PBA leagues I had been in did have a high percentage of "lesser" average bowlers who wanted to see how hard the shot was and how well they would do. They were more adventurous in their bowling than many of the higher average bowlers.

Most, but not all, high average bowlers in New Jersey, from what I have seen, are more interested in making money on brackets and pots than in widening their experience and learning more about bowling.
--------------------
"None are so blind as those who will not see."