Maybe it's because people can't get into their #$*&ed up website to register a team.


I registered a few teams earlier this year, but now it doesn't respond to the log in. I've sent emails to USBC and no response. Perhaps it's time I called and chewed out some ass.


Another thing, why the hell does the sub board and the team registration pages require separate log-ins?


And one more thing, why do we have to go though the process of entering the team information before we can see what dates are available on the team registration site?


Who runs the website for USBC? Whoever it is, they need someone better.

I don't think USBC has many options on where to hold the Open. As we can see from this thread, Reno is not popular anymore, so they moved it Baton Rouge, but people still bitch. Move it to El Paso, people still bitch, it's scheduled for Syracuse, and someone is bitching about that with a comment about Albuquerque thrown in for good measure. Everyone seems to like the idea of Las Vegas, but once you have made the trip a couple of times, the bitching will start again.

Personally, I don't care where they hold it, I can find something to do and enjoy the trip no matter where it is. But they need to get the registration process to where it's less of a pain in the ass. They have control over that part at least.

Vegas is nicer and all around better then Reno for options on things to do.  Tickets are typically cheaper to Vegas as well. Now other activities in Vegas will be more expensive no doubt.

Any place has pros and cons along with a getting old factor.  The more consistent rotation is the better option. Vegas every 3rd year and mix in other places would be nice.

I understand you point about releasing the shot.  However, if you do not release it, "someone" always knows the shot.  And they have friends.  And those friends magically score well.  So did they get insider information or just bowled well?

The people that set the pattern bowl in the tournament as well.  You think they aren't duplicating the pattern at ITRC in Arlington and practicing.  And actually they design and set the pattern at the ITRC in Arlington before taking it to the nationals location.  You think no one has seen or bowled on the pattern there?

Too many loopholes to not releasing the pattern.

As far as locations go, why cant they incorporate a "regional type" of format. Where the east coast would bowl somewhere on the east coast, the mid west would bowl somewhere in the mid west and the west coast bowl somewhere on the west coast. Then take the top scores from each region and and put them together for a big show down......and obviously change it up every year to offset travel expenses.

To give every "joe bowler" a chance, they would almost have to put down a house shot. Thats the only way to make "Joe Bowler" think he has a chance to win an Eagle.

Probably cost too much to do that. Besides, do we really want to see USBC have more things to screw up? These people can't even get a somewhat basic website to work correctly.

Ok, they have 2,3 or 6 patterns to choose from and randomly select one.  Someone knows those patterns.  They pull tapes to verify the pattern is correct, against the master pattern that is known to "someone who is bowling in the tournament".  Someone bowling in the tournament always knows.  That is the problem.

Eric Pierson who used to design the patterns for the tournament, bowled in the tournament.  There is not an independent party that does not bowl in the tournament designing the pattern.

And lets be realistic here.  It's nationals.  Take 8-10 bowlers of the same hand and burn in a shot around a defined point and if you are good enough, you will be top 100 most years and if you guess correctly, top 20.

Most of the good teams come from the same areas, Wisconsin, DFW, and current and former college teams, and other teams here and there.  Why, those areas have some of the best bowlers in the country, because college programs don't bowl on THS.  Wisconsin constantly runs sport leagues and tournaments, and DFW has the ITRC where you can practice on any sport shot you want, and several houses will also run any shot you request.  And since USBC relocated there, a lot of the best bowlers in the country, moved there.

You could hide the shot, and within 2 weeks of the tournament opening, the internet  will know where to play and how long the shot is.  How, someone will go and watch and put it out there.  And teams will immediately start practicing.

Looks like we might be headed for not knowing pattern ahead of time as is the case with Junior Gold and US Open.  Those involved in setting pattern won't be allowed to win prizes looks like direction to keep integrity.  Of course, there's arguments for and against knowing pattern ahead of time and those arguments are numerous.  "Let your ball be your guide" looks like where we are headed.  As long as you aren't in first few squads, you will have lots of information as to how to play the pattern as other bowlers will talk about what they did or just watch what is done in person or on livestreams.  Unless everyone competes at the same time, there isn't any way for those bowling later to not have more information than those bowling early.

The Disney method of making the experience magical works well for them.  That includes ease of entry especially with emphasis USBC stated recently naming technology as one of their pillars of future success.  If any of you have been to Disneyworld, you can't argue with the effort put out to give you a memorable experience from start to finish. 

Chad Murphy, head of USBC, is a big proponent of hiding the patterns.  He was also a driving force behind making this year's open shot much tougher than previous years.

The move by USBC to not allow USBC employees to make any money in the tournament should they choose to bowl, removes the big obstacle in hiding the pattern.

A consequence of this move, I predict, will be the resignation of several top level bowlers who work there, and now up and coming young bowlers won't go to work there either in the future.

When you, as a top level bowler, can go bowl the open championship, and profit 2-5 thousand dollars in brackets plus whatever prize money you earn, I can see you not giving up that chance to stay employed there.

Good.