Have you ever heard of...

[strikedaddy]

a league with no adjustment period? In all leagues I have bowled in the past, you normally have a 3-4 week period in which you bowl with your book average from last year. Then your average begins to changed based off how you bowled over those weeks. The sanctioned league I joined this year had no adjustment period and also figured handicap based off 90% of 220. I started with 28 pins based off the 188 book average I had. The first week I bowled was the worst week I have ever had in league play finished with a 434 series. Came back the next week and my average had dropped to a 144 and I gained 40 pins of handicap to bring me to a total of 68 pins. This night I bowled a 694 series. I had an 898 series with handicap. With my teammates bowling just there averages, the other team never stood a chance. I went back to their table and apologized and explained myself. They said we knew you wasnt a 144 bowler after watching you bowl. They understood, but I still feel bad because it seems like an unintentional sandbagging. I personally have never heard of a league that doesnt have an adjustment period. I was just wondering if anyone else had experience like this in league play.

[StormGirl]

I bowl in a league right now that works the exact same way as you described. I also bowled terrible the first week and my handicap the following week was 68. I bowled really well that day, and I could tell the other team was extremely pissed. Nothing I could do though, I haven't been bowling long at all so my consistency goes way up and down. This being my first league, I thought all leagues were this way. I also noticed a lot of people trying to bend the rules to their advantage by playing bad their first game, and playing better for the second and third. That way their average stays below what it should be, just in case they need it I guess?

[glen290]

The few leagues I run have a 9 game (3 series) entering average period, this was brought in for the exact same reason as StormGirl above, but one of the leagues has a 100% of 200 handicap figure

[The Mayor]

I definitely agree that there should be a period, whether it's 9, 12 or 15 games where you use your book average. If not that, have a 10 pin rule, where you can't drop more than 10 pins below your book average. Your league is promoting sandbaggery and it's no fun.

[StormGirl]

I didn't know that was the term used. Maybe I should talk to the guy running the league? Or would it be better if I just joined a different league next season?

[J Anderson]

I didn't know that was the term used. Maybe I should talk to the guy running the league? Or would it be better if I just joined a different league next season?

By all means, speak up! If you just leave at the end of the season the powers that be will have no idea why you left, and will probably assume that its not their fault. If you say something they can make a change for the better.