Every year, some people claim that USBC Open scores are far too high, given the number of honor scores and the scores needed to win or place high in the standings.

However, even though the overall scores were a bit higher than those in recent years, only very few -- outside of the best players and shotmakers -- scored at high levels in the tournament.

This year, the entire field averaged 171.79 -- with a total pinfall of 68,401,949 over 398,179 games -- as compared to 168.3 over 461,357 games in 2013.

The Classified division -- including bowlers with entering averages of 180 or under -- averaged a composite 149.24 this year, while the composite average in the Regular Division was 178.38.

Keep in mind that the Regular Division includes bowlers with averages of 181 and higher -- and many of them average well over 200 -- so it's more than obvious that most bowlers shoot FAR LOWER scores than they do back home, but in the absence of THS conditions, that shouldn't be surprising.

The USGA has plenty of different events that can be compared to the USBC.  The difference is there is enough support for them with highly skilled players that they can set eligibility requirements for participation.

Enough support??? What USGA event brings in 10,000+ golfers every time it's held?
And yes, 10,000 is a very low number as the USBC Open brings in multiples of that number, but being reasonable, I limited it to that number. There is nothing that compares on the USGA calender. Sure there are qualifying tournaments, but the Open Championships do not have any qualifying events. Just pay your fee and show up to bowl. I supposed you CAN compare them, but there isn't a real comparison.


I think people compare golf and bowling is because it's something where a lot of people participate in both sports. You could as easily compare bowling and poker.

Milo,

My point with golf was that guys don't complain when the people that are supposed to win do.  Bowling is the only thing I've ever done where people want it to be "fair" for a lesser skilled participant. 

Milo,

My point with golf was that guys don't complain when the people that are supposed to win do.  Bowling is the only thing I've ever done where people want it to be "fair" for a lesser skilled participant. 

We must be playing in different golf environments then. I've entered quite a few local golf tournaments and golfers are just as much(if not more) a bunch of whinners as bowlers when complaining about "sandbaggers" when a handicap system is used to make it fair to lessor skilled players.

I would bet the term sandbagging even originated with golf.

You are missing the point. There were always teams practicing on the shot prior to bowling. In the old days it was the select few who got inside information whether from someone working at the tournament site, a friend who lived close to the host city or from another bowler who went and bowled early in the tournament. And Im not taling about general observations, it was specific detailed information. It happened, believe it or don't, that is up to you. With the shot being made public everyone from the 140 to 240 average bowler has the chance to practice on the shot. It is up to those who want to do it to do so.

And look at the teams in the top 10 or even the top 50. You may notice a lot of them are not all from the same area. A few of them might be, but the teams are from all over the county in some cases. So based on your hypothisis, how are they a top 10 or top 50 team since they couldn't have practiced as a team prior to getting to the tournament site?

You want to know why the top scores have skyrocketed...I think it's an easy answer. The technology of bowling has exploded in the last 10-15 years. But on a Sport cetified or flat shot, that technology won't help you score better if you don't have the right skill set. A lot of the 220+ average THS bowlers don't have the skills needed to score well on a flatter, sport-shot type pattern. The new techology can't overcome their lack of skill and the scores remain relatively low. The new Ice oil has also helped increase scores as it holds it's line better/longer than previous oils which means teams that work together have an improved shot for longer. Does practicing on the pattern help, of course. But since no one can simulate the exact weather, the exact center design (whether at the NBS or a convention center setting somewhere else), the exact lane topography, or the exact conditions inside the center in their home house.....all it does it give one an approximation of what one will see at the actual tournament. All these factors go into how the shot reacts and how it breaks down.

You are looking for a scapegoat or a smoking gun, but this isn't it. And there is no logical reasoning you can give to show that this does anything other than help level the playing field as much as possible.

Quote from: Jorge300 on July 29, 2014, 12:36:49 PM

And to Lefty Gomez....if you don't share the pattern, do you think it would be completly secret? How do you stop people who go the first days of the tournament from sharing the info with their friends who bowl later? How do you stop the local bowlers from going into the venue and learning the pattern prior to their bowling? This isn't the Oscar votes kept secret by a 3rd party. The pattern will get out. You think the "have nots" are at a disadvantage now...it would grow exponentially if you tried to keep the pattern secret. With the information announced publically, everyone has the same information. It is now up to them to take advantage of that or to ignore it. And to those who say your center won't put it down, have you gone to the manager with a real proposal or did you just ask one off? Get with your leaguemates, get a group together and show the manager that if he puts the shot down on a normally quiet time (like a Sunday Morning) he will get 5, 10, 15 etc people coming in to practice. That's x number of open games at $x.xx dollars, that's snack bar revenue for drinks and food, show them the money they are throwing away for not doing it. If they still refuse, then go to the owner and show him what his manager is throwing away. I would think that any smart businessman would see the value.

This tournament was bowled for 50 years without the pattern being made public. There's a difference between people getting info from people bowling saying "hey, the shot is around 15 this year, a lot of OB right of 8" versus an actual chart with the lane machine and exact oil pattern to practice on.

My argument isn't good bowlers vs bad bowlers ... why has the avg scores for the top 100 skyrocketed yet the field avg not skyrocketed?? Specifically in the team event. What's the difference? In my opinion teams practicing on the shot before hand is a huge factor and i think it's hurting the tournament.

You want to know why the top scores have skyrocketed...I think it's an easy answer. The technology of bowling has exploded in the last 10-15 years. But on a Sport cetified or flat shot, that technology won't help you score better if you don't have the right skill set. A lot of the 220+ average THS bowlers don't have the skills needed to score well on a flatter, sport-shot type pattern. The new techology can't overcome their lack of skill and the scores remain relatively low. The new Ice oil has also helped increase scores as it holds it's line better/longer than previous oils which means teams that work together have an improved shot for longer. Does practicing on the pattern help, of course. But since no one can simulate the exact weather, the exact center design (whether at the NBS or a convention center setting somewhere else), the exact lane topography, or the exact conditions inside the center in their home house.....all it does it give one an approximation of what one will see at the actual tournament. All these factors go into how the shot reacts and how it breaks down.

Dear jorge300:

You have stated PRECISELY why the top scores have skyrocketed, and the entire above-quoted paragraph is right on the mark. My viewpoint EXACTLY!

Milo,
     I think you are correct. While there have always been the "professional" amateurs that bowled in the tournament and the former PBA members that have given up the grinds of the tour (at the time), I think there are more now due to the factors you mention. But I am not sure it is the 95% of the top 100 as you've said....but then again I haven't studied the top 100 either. JMHO

The 95% number is just one I pulled out of my a$$. Your results may vary. 

USBC participation is declining simply because the pool of USBC members are declining.  Also, not sure what value there is to having info on the pattern since the top teams go out and blow a hole in the pattern right where they want to play anyway. 

All I need to practice on a pattern for nationals is to have somebody put out a 40-42 foot pattern with at least 5 loads 2 to 2, and overall volume of close to 30 ml.