Bowl GREAT against some teams, and POORLY against others (:?

**Aslan** · 10-30-2013, 01:01 AM

In handicap, good teams still have the advantage because they're SO good.

We played a team Friday where 3 guys were carrying averages around 200…another guy had an average around 200, but he didn't show up so their sub was some guy that had a 150 average and the 5th player was his wife who had a little over 110. Well, long story short…they all bowled their averages except their sub, who was rolling in the 200s. Why? Because he set his handicap earlier in the year while recovering from arm surgery.

Our team beat them the first game…barely. They beat us the 2nd game barely. Then they beat us the third time, barely. And they ended up winning the overall by 2 PINS! Each match was like within +/-18 pins total. They had one of their 200 average guys slumping in the first 2 games…or we'd have gotten beat for certain all 4. So good players still have the advantage..they're more consistent. Their " off" game is a 182 or a "bad" game of 158. For higher handicap bowlers…their "off" game could be a 116.

**mjoyce** · 10-30-2013, 10:34 AM

Asian, To combat the relegaton consequences of the teams of friends who end up with one good player. Who would have to move and break the team up you could also allow no sanctioned handicapped leagues at your alley.

The league I'm in currently is non-sanctioned and it's a ton of fun. We have 6 teams and it's a good time everyone knows everyone and that really helps the sandbagging.

Sure I know that means you don't get the benefits of sanctions leagues (not sure what these are) But if the main reason this hypothetical team is bowling together is for fun and to hang out as friends then they might not care about the benefits.

But in theory the relegation/promotion for a sactionend league makes senes to discourage sandbagging.

One question, in most of these sacntioned leagues are teams not picked? In my league all of the captains(6 highest averages) get together before the season and pick up teams in a draft. Makes it fun by allowing everyone to play with new people. Most first year people get added to the friend that brought them in's team but everyone else is fair game to go between teams.

So that could be another option. Make it a draft type league then you're not splitting up teams per say you're just moving the bowlers with high averages up to the scratch league and the people that fall down to the handicap league.

**Aslan** · 10-30-2013, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by mjoyce

The league I'm in currently is non-sanctioned and it's a ton of fun. We have 6 teams and it's a good time everyone knows everyone and that really helps the sandbagging.

It's an "L"…I'm not asian.

Even though it seems silly…that actually won't help. I'm in a non-sanctioned league on Thursdays and the sandbagging is worse in that league than the sanctioned one….by FAR! I think in sanctioned leagues…sandbagging doesn't help much in terms of winning cash. And most players in those leagues are after the cash, the 300 games, and the average. They aren't gonna sandbag as much because the leagues usually sweep somewhere and you win money playing there….it's not dependent on where your team finishes.

But non-sanctioned leagues…it's only about team finish…many leagues don't even give any prize except 1st place….so there's nothing to play for except that.

**e-tank** · 10-30-2013, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Aslan

It's an "L"…I'm not asian.

Even though it seems silly…that actually won't help. I'm in a non-sanctioned league on Thursdays and the sandbagging is worse in that league than the sanctioned one….by FAR! I think in sanctioned leagues…sandbagging doesn't help much in terms of winning cash. And most players in those leagues are after the cash, the 300 games, and the average. They aren't gonna sandbag as much because the leagues usually sweep somewhere and you win money playing there….it's not dependent on where your team finishes.

But non-sanctioned leagues…it's only about team finish…many leagues don't even give any prize except 1st place….so there's nothing to play for except that.

im in a non sanction league that has a first place trophy as well as a sweeper. Most teams play for first but theres a few select players that bag all season so they can win the sweeper. I wish people would just be honest and play but what can ya do...

**Aslan** · 10-30-2013, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by e-tank

im in a non sanction league that has a first place trophy as well as a sweeper. Most teams play for first but theres a few select players that bag all season so they can win the sweeper. I wish people would just be honest and play but what can ya do...

My Friday league people are pretty honest. I mean, a few here or there that might have missed a few more spares on week 1 than usual. But in a sanctioned league…a lot of these guys/gals don't want their USBC average to be 210 then 160 then 206 then 147. Most of these folks have a ton of fun in that league…but most consider themselves serious bowlers. In the non-sanctioned, non-sweep league…it's supposed t be more about having fun each week…but for many people, "fun" is defined as starting with a 121 average and the bowling a 175 average.

I don't know how "sweepers" work. I've tried to ask my teammates but they just say a bunch of nonsense about bowling for money…but not how it WORKS. One of my teammates is asian so I can't understand her very well to begin with. And the other chick is young and kinda "flippy"…so she doesn't get too in depth into anything.

**MICHAEL** · 10-31-2013, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Aslan

My Friday league people are pretty honest. I mean, a few here or there that might have missed a few more spares on week 1 than usual. But in a sanctioned league…a lot of these guys/gals don't want their USBC average to be 210 then 160 then 206 then 147. Most of these folks have a ton of fun in that league…but most consider themselves serious bowlers. In the non-sanctioned, non-sweep league…it's supposed t be more about having fun each week…but for many people, "fun" is defined as starting with a 121 average and the bowling a 175 average.

I don't know how "sweepers" work. I've tried to ask my teammates but they just say a bunch of nonsense about bowling for money…but not how it WORKS. One of my teammates is asian so I can't understand her very well to begin with. And the other chick is young and kinda "flippy"…so she doesn't get too in depth into anything.

I have only been bowling for 3 years, but I have no idea what a (sweeper) is?

**e-tank** · 10-31-2013, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Aslan

My Friday league people are pretty honest. I mean, a few here or there that might have missed a few more spares on week 1 than usual. But in a sanctioned league…a lot of these guys/gals don't want their USBC average to be 210 then 160 then 206 then 147. Most of these folks have a ton of fun in that league…but most consider themselves serious bowlers. In the non-sanctioned, non-sweep league…it's supposed t be more about having fun each week…but for many people, "fun" is defined as starting with a 121 average and the bowling a 175 average.

I don't know how "sweepers" work. I've tried to ask my teammates but they just say a bunch of nonsense about bowling for money…but not how it WORKS. One of my teammates is asian so I can't understand her very well to begin with. And the other chick is young and kinda "flippy"…so she doesn't get too in depth into anything.

in my league we go to vegas and bowl in a "tournament". What it really is, is we bowl 3 games league style and our league secretary calculates highest mens singles series/games, womens singles series/game, doubles series/game etc. We get money based off those different categories. My gf won $100 last season for bowling the highest game and the lowest game lol. I got $8 for i dont even know what, she just announced my name. The guy who won it all was a 150avg who bags all season. He knows exactly how to bowl with his style to strike but in league he purposely takes errant shots or lofts over gutter just to do it and only clamps down if his team has a chance to win.

**mjoyce** · 10-31-2013, 12:17 PM

AsLan sorry about that.

That stinks that people sandbag in the non sanctioned league. Sandbaggers suck. They way the payouts work in our league is that most of the teams win something before the final tournament based on end of season standings. Ovbiously with first place taking the most. Then there is a pot for a win or go home tournament with the top team or top two getting paid out (I forget...bowl drunk) Since there are only 6 teams this works out to just be a three game series. But it's pretty fun. And that way anyone has a shot at winning the final. Last year my team came in second in the tournament and I think 4th overall but we bowled well on the last night.