What is a normal/usual variation in scores over the course of a league?

[Aslan]

For some of you who have been bowling in leagues for quite some time...what is the normal fluctation in scores?

I'm sure many of you averave lets say 179. You're gonna have an occasionl great game or series...maybe an occasional "dud". But does it vary a lot? A little? How consistent are you? Does it matter how consistent you are? Is it good? Is it bad?

I've been told for 2 consecutive weeks that I'm "very consistent". Which is great...if you're consistently throwing 275 games +/- 25. Not so good if you throw a 95-105 game every week.

So, if you just look at your last 5 league series (same league, same house)...what was the fluctuation? What if you throw out obvious outliers?

Last 5 series I've average 168.2 throwing between 137-213. However, if I throw out the 2 obvious outliers...I have thrown between 150 and 183. Thats 13 games that have varied by only 33 pins.

Is that good? I don't know. I guess it's better than when I used to throw a 118-179-97. :rolleyes: Or is it bad? Is it a sign that you've hit some kind of "ceiling" or "plateau"?? :confused:

My sample size is too small to analyze with high confidence. What about you folks that have been doing this for some time? Do you usually throw a 179-178-179 or would that be considered "odd" for you?

[RobLV1]

It just so happens that I decided to join the 21st century this month and purchased an i-phone. One of the first things that I did was to download a bowling app that would allow me to keep track of everything. I haven't had it long enough to keep track just of individual leagues, but I have kept track of several different leagues plus competitive practice sessions, and pot games in several different bowling centers. Since January 1, I have tracked 53 games and averaged just under 205. My high game during the period was 268, and my low game was 156. The thing that I found really significant when look at the graphs is how few games I actually bowled my average. If you can imagine a line graph starting with games in the 150-159 range (1), and increasing through 160-169, 170-179, 180-189, and reaching a peak at 190-199, then plummeting for games in the 200-209 range, and reaching a peak that is identical to 190-199 for the 210-219 range. After that, it tapers off nearly exactly symmetrically to the 260-269 range (2). What this tells me is that when I have figured out the lanes and have the right ball in my hand, I can score well above my average, but when I don't, I can't.

Rob Mautner

[e-tank]

usually my worst series is usually around 180avg and best has been upwards of 250. Aka im pretty inconsistent

[tccstudent]

For some of you who have been bowling in leagues for quite some time...what is the normal fluctation in scores?

I'm sure many of you averave lets say 179. You're gonna have an occasionl great game or series...maybe an occasional "dud". But does it vary a lot? A little? How consistent are you? Does it matter how consistent you are? Is it good? Is it bad?

I've been told for 2 consecutive weeks that I'm "very consistent". Which is great...if you're consistently throwing 275 games +/- 25. Not so good if you throw a 95-105 game every week.

?
In a normal handicapped league I will gladly take that lower average CONSISTENT bowler and thank you for all the sticks.
I dont know what a normal flucuation is. Most nights I am within 20 pins of my average for series. For this reason I would think that I am pretty consistent. I think the lowest I have shot this year is 70 under for series and the highest is 170 for series but most of the time my 3 games average out to bieng close to my average

[Hammer]

Your consistency depends on how much you practice and if you are using the correct technique in your practice. I have been bowling on my league for 27 years but because of arthritis problems I haven't practiced in several years. I depend on my experience I developed over those years about my technique. Because of not practicing I get the inconsistent games that I do. I had a league night with games of 191, 207 and 225. Good right? On another night I had a 126, 141 and a 152. I have a 177 average at this time. Just this last Saturday
on league night I bowled a 152, 165 and a 246. Just call me Mister Consistency. LOL. So practice will do you no good if you are using bad technique. You will just ingrain bad habits and muscle memory. So the way I look at my current situation is that I am out to have fun with my teammates and bowl the best that I can on any league night we have. So I will just accept the 120 games that suck and the
246 games that keep me coming back because I know that they are in me ready to be released at any time. I love this game too much to let a bad night keep me down. I can't get mad at myself because I don't practice and can't expect to be a great bowler on every league night. I accept myself as I am and leave it at that. So never let a night get you down.

[mc_runner]

This year, 80% or so (I'm using a graph function on a score tracker app and just looking quickly) fall between 162 and 220. A few outliers on either side. I think consistency is a sign that you're starting to get better at spare mechanics at least, which is the key to maintaining your average - I would say it's way better to have a consistent average, and a higher floor... your ceiling will raise eventually as you adapt more to lane conditions for striking.

[J Anderson]

For some of you who have been bowling in leagues for quite some time...what is the normal fluctation in scores?


So, if you just look at your last 5 league series (same league, same house)...what was the fluctuation? What if you throw out obvious outliers?

Last 5 series I've average 168.2 throwing between 137-213. However, if I throw out the 2 obvious outliers...I have thrown between 150 and 183. Thats 13 games that have varied by only 33 pins.

What about you folks that have been doing this for some time? Do you usually throw a 179-178-179 or would that be considered "odd" for you?

In my experience, the old style bowlers who throw almost straight have very little fluctuation in scores, generally everything is + or - 15. Throwing a hook means dealing with transition and therefore more variation in scores.

[tccstudent]

In my experience, the old style bowlers who throw almost straight have very little fluctuation in scores, generally everything is + or - 15. Throwing a hook means dealing with transition and therefore more variation in scores.
You know what they say Straighters Greater

[JJKinGA]

I looked at a data set of a past league and at bowelrs with 20 or more games. The range is usually +/- 50 pins from the average. If you throw our the "outliers" (in this case the upper and lower 1/6 of the scores) the variation becomes less between bowlers and the range is +/- 14 pins for a median. The bowler to bowler +/- is typically +/-12 to 18 pins. On a percetnage of the average basis, the distribuitons remain the same. with nearly all bowlers +/ 9% to 20% with most being +/- 7.5% to 10%.

So if you can keep you low scores within 7% or less of your avearge you would be an ideal teammate.

[Mudpuppy]

Consistency is key to winning league bowling. If everyone on the team is super inconsistent you won't do well - most teams have this condition. So on a 5 man team you need 4 consistent bowlers and a loose canon. You might even have 2 loose canons.

[Aslan]

So if you can keep you low scores within 7% or less of your avearge you would be an ideal teammate.

Thanks ALL!!

Well, I'm not quite at 7% yet. That would be a range (taking out the occasional outlier) of roughly 151-173. I'm at 150-183. But close. And I agree with what Janderson and mc_runner said. I throw a bit straighter and more traditional and have gotten better at picking up spares (since I leave so damn many I've had a lot of practice)...and I think both those might hinder hitting a real HIGH score...but keep you from falling through the floor.

Interesting stuff.

[vdubtx]

I also use an app on my iPhone called PinPal. Works very well and can give lots of stats etc.

Here is a graph of my bowling this season, total of 99 games thus far in league play.
Current total average 225 and has been right at that range since back in October

http://i.imgur.com/yjeOYmd.jpg

[Aslan]

Cool. I need to get an app for my phone. I saw a lady using one where she was actually putting in what pins fell each frame. It was like a newer version of the old AMF screens above the pins. I wonder if it gave any cool stats about what pins you leave most often and spare shooting %. That would be cool if it did. I shoulda asked her.

[vdubtx]

Cool. I need to get an app for my phone. I saw a lady using one where she was actually putting in what pins fell each frame. It was like a newer version of the old AMF screens above the pins. I wonder if it gave any cool stats about what pins you leave most often and spare shooting %. That would be cool if it did. I shoulda asked her.

Absolutely. The app I use, I go frame by frame with pin leaves. Here is a sample, I have it set so I can either hit Strike at the bottom or have it show pin left., then whether spare was converted or not.

https://db.tt/ScFyH6zg


You can then go through more stats on one page where it will show first ball %, Spare %'s etc.

https://db.tt/W8JsMfPy

[vdubtx]

Spares is a bit confusing as the multiple Pin spares category also includes Splits, but there is also a separate Splits category just below that which is not shown. You can click each category and see each leave and what your conversion rate is on each one. I think the app is rather nifty.

[Aslan]

I think the app is rather nifty.

I agree 100%...what is it called so I can GET IT!??

[tccstudent]

To fancy for me I can barely send a text

[Pauley]

I have the same app and love it! Its called PinPal. Not sure if it is available on other operating systems, I have an iphone.

[zdawg]

I have the same app and love it! Its called PinPal. Not sure if it is available on other operating systems, I have an iphone.

I found it on android, it's $8.99 which isn't bad considering some of the cool stuff you can do with it

[Aslan]

Got it!! And it's AWESOME!! Can't wait to start using it!!

Thanks vDub!

[Pauley]

It was one of vdubtx's post a while back that turned me on to that app I think. It is a great tool for sure. I really like being able to see specific spare percentage and average score per frame. Can definitely help pinpoint areas in need of practice.

[vdubtx]

It was one of vdubtx's post a while back that turned me on to that app I think. It is a great tool for sure. I really like being able to see specific spare percentage and average score per frame. Can definitely help pinpoint areas in need of practice.

Maybe I should contact the developer and get a commission. LOL.

[GoodGravy]

BAhhhhh....I have so many Century awards I can' even count them....Me and Tin Cup, we never play it safe :-)