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Author Topic: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?  (Read 1325 times)

Pinbuster

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Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« on: April 18, 2004, 07:30:17 PM »
Would tougher lane conditions really cost us any bowlers?

If you assume the easier conditions have kept bowlers, how bad would it be today if they hadn’t made them easier? We are losing 10 to 15 percent a year now. Do you assume that we would have been losing 20 percent a year or more? If so then most bowling centers would be out of business by now.

In my opinion very few bowlers have stayed in the game because of the easy conditions. In fact since the gap between the average league bowler and top bowlers had widened I believe we have lost many bowlers because they don’t feel they stand a chance.

Now I’m not advocating make them stupid tough. But instead of 30 to1 ratios lets make it 5 to 1.  

This would not hurt the vast majority of handicap league bowlers. Most of them are unable to take advantage of the easy conditions now.

It would bunch up the good bowlers making competition even keener. Good shots would be rewarded more than marginal shots. Spare making would become more important. You would have to practice in order to get better.

Sure some of the flingers who now average 200 would quit because they wouldn’t have half the lane to throw at and couldn’t handle the truth about their games. But many would work and change their games to fit the new environment.

Recreational bowling will continue to survive at some level. But if you want the SPORT of bowling to continue then you have to make the higher levels of scoring meaningful to achieve.  
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2004, 11:36:14 AM »
quote:
Pinbuster, strange as it may seem, many of those who have and are quitting do not blame the conditions, be they too easy or too tough.  They cite many other reasons for quitting that has nothing to do with scoring ability.


What were the TOP 2 REASONS?
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Pinbuster

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2004, 11:49:54 AM »
I believe many quit because of getting older. If I look at the majority of league bowlers they are over 50 now. In many cases aches and pains from life’s experiences is driving them to quit plus their declining ability no longer allows them to compete at the level they want to.

Other competing activities, the length of schedule they have to commit to keeps them from doing new activities that are invented almost every day. Plus these new activities take up part of their recreational budget and they decide they would rather spend their money elsewhere.
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brimar

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2004, 11:51:08 AM »
the conditions i bowl on are tough enough. If they made it tougher i dont know if i would continue, showing up week after week  just to be frustrated isnt my idea of a fun night out, i get enough of that from work and my 3 kids.

That being said i dont want an easy shot either. Something in the middle which is what i have now and im very happy with it.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2004, 11:57:42 AM »
Sawbones said....."Pinbuster, I dont think age is a factor. Look at the senior leagues. They seem to be the only leagues that are still growing."
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I'm with Sawbones all the way on that statement as that seems to be the case where I live and bowl also.

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Pinbuster

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2004, 12:05:50 PM »
I believe they are growing because that segment of the population is growing faster than any other but I still see a lot of bowlers quitting as they have bad knees, backs, shoulders, etc.

The bowlers give up on being competitive and they either quit or go to a non-competitive senior environment.
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michelle

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2004, 12:06:52 PM »
Where should the line be drawn?  On the one hand you have those that are more interested in crossing boards and scores as opposed to actually having to try and hit a mark and on the other hand you have those that are disadvantaged by not having tougher conditions on which to practice.

For those looking to bowl in a tougher environment, the typical house condition masks problems.  Unfortunately, there is no question that those looking for tougher conditions are in the minority.  But should not there be an option for them even if it means the house puts something down on a Sunday morning if they won't put it down for a league?
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Pinbuster

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2004, 12:26:03 PM »
The problem always boils down to the fact you cannot see the advantage that the lane conditions are giving you.

Why shouldn’t the masses been shown how the games really should be played and where their abilities lie? Wouldn’t that make them marvel at the ability of the professionals and the top local amateurs? Instead they think that Joe Bowler in the handicap league is as good as the pros because he scores as high as they do.

In basketball if they lowered the basket to 8 feet and you dunk it you know you couldn’t do it if it was regulation height at 10 feet. You don’t fool yourself.

In horseshoe pitching if they moved the stake 20 feet closure you know it and don’t think you could keep up with Walter Ray at regulation distances.

Golf is a better example. Even with the new clubs the game is still very hard for the masses to learn. Because of that they appreciate seeing what the pros can do with the ball. They also can see how much more difficult the courses are (I don’t know if they fully appreciate it but they can see the differences).

So many in our society today is looking for the easy path, instant gratification. How times on this site have we seen someone whining about not being able to average 200, “I’ve been bowling for 2 whole years”, or not shooting an honor score yet. They don’t talk about 800’s in reverence they just wonder why they haven’t shot one yet.

Anything worth having should have to be worked for and in many cases I don’t feel that in bowling the holders of 200 averages and honor scores have worked nearly enough.

I know I haven’t worked at enough the last 10 years to accomplish what I have.
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Shoutout33

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2004, 12:46:41 PM »
Well what do you know. I was thinking about this same subject just this morning. Now, I haven't started back up yet, but I do know a "wall" shot when I see one. Ok cool, don't make a "sport" or tourney shot that's ok with me. But at the same time, give me something "to" shoot at.

If you want to give me a THS shot, either shorten it or lengthen it or do whatever you can to keep the same type of pattern but add to it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with Pinbuster that instead of making a true sport shot, why not modify a THS.

How about this idea, take ABC leagues and break them up into three levels of competition. Keep your THS like we have now to introduce (and I mean just that...) new people to the sport. In this atmosphere, they can have fun, learn the game and take steps to better their game as they go along. The competition would be just as fierce on a THS if the skill level is relatively the same.

The next level of bowling would be the "modified" THS/Sport shot that Pinbuster and I are talking about. These leagues would be for those who want to up their game, find more challenges, but aren't ready for the true sport shot. On this shot, lanes would be less forgiving but finding the break point wouldn't be that tough. You'd probably see the toughest THS shot (which would be a less difficult shot...) and the easiest sport shot condition (which would be maybe be one of the more difficult shots...just guessing here people.)

Of course, the final level of bowling would be the true "sport" shot league where the best of the best would assemble. Those that want to prepare for the Mega and National tourneys or for those that feel that they are able to compete on the tougher conditions would come here knowing what to expect. This league would be for the experts and masters of amateur bowling!

Yeah, I know it’s a dream and somebody will definitely find something wrong with it, but I think it’d be a cool idea. And just like you can get the really nice prizes with honor scores in the sport league, have a special set of prizes you could get for the modified league. For example, take the rings that you get in the THS league and transfer them to the modified league. What do you think? I’m sure if some of you would probably add to this, but like I said just an idea.



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When you've moved up, moved back, adjusted left and right, cupped, flattened out, have thrown everyting in your arsenal, and the pins still don't cooperate, just say, "Aw to HELL with it!", and throw the ball!
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Ernie McCracken

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2004, 12:57:56 PM »
I don't know how it is in your town, but here we lose bowlers due to the length of the season.  I think it's 35 weeks and most feel that is too long, myself included.  Next season, I'll be dropping out of 2 leagues for this reason alone.  It's just too much bowling and I love this game with all my heart.
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MichiganBowling

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2004, 03:37:58 AM »
I can honestly say that the #1 reason that I see people quitting bowling is "because this house sucks".  I hear it all the time, and I usually don't see them bowling again.  Sometimes they'll bounce around to different houses, but eventually they end up quitting.  The #2 reason would be because people simply do not have the time or the money (is there a difference between time and money???).

This whole mentality makes me sick.  Bowling is a sport, and a sport should be challenging.  I suppose video games have spoiled us all a bit, because most video games are made to be mastered and won...over and over and over, once you learn how to win it.  Hmmmmm, maybe that has something to do with it too.  Could make for a nice slogan...bowling is a sport, anything else is just a video game.  hehe.
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Brian
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Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

ksucat

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Re: Would tougher lane conditions hurt?
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2004, 01:39:45 PM »
Tougher lanes will cause some hacks to drop out.  These are the very people we don't want anyway, so let them go.  Hopefully, we can find individuals who want to have fun, be competitive and bring friends.  My dream is that I will someday be able to tell my grand-children about the great scoring explosion of the 80's and 90's and how I was part of it.  They'll say "Wow, that must have sucked watching hacks destroy the game you love."  

We are already losing league bowlers by the dozens, why are we still catering to the whiny crowd that wants easy lanes and superpowered balls?  Take the balls away, dress the lanes reasonably and let the whiners quit.  Maybe we can build around a solid foundation then.
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