Are THS patterns really that easy?

**Hammer** · 11-18-2013, 03:19 PM

I have been bowling on THS patterns since 1987. There are folks here that say a THS pattern is too easy. Not for me they aren't. I have never rolled a 300 game on one yet. I had all strikes but a spare in the 8th frame once. When I was practicing two times a week when I was in my 50s the highest average I had was a 191. I would bowl a few series that were higher then 600 a few times and most of my scratch series were 500 and up. Somehow I would manage those stinker games like a 128 or games in the 140s. Sometimes a three game set on league night would have my highest game be like a 161 and the two below that would be like a 156 and a 145. If the THS pattern is that easy why do I have games like that? Where are my 300 games that never came about. At my House I don't see every person bowling there with a 200 or higher average. I do see a lot of averages below 170. I guess that our House just has a lot of lousy bowlers in it me included. Well, I am not making or intend to make bowling a career so I am not concerned about not having a 240 average on a THS pattern.

Plus being on this FORUM a few months it sounds like a THS pattern isn't easy for everyone. There are evidently quite a few folks here that need to bowl on a THS pattern. That shouldn't bother anyone here. Some folks want to reach a certain level and that's it. Some folks don't have the time or money to get so good that they have to move up to a sport pattern or higher. If they are not that good on a THS pattern why would they move up to a harder pattern? Everyone has their own level that they seek and are happy to be there. That doesn't make them someone to look down on by better bowlers. If it is too easy for you then move up to harder patterns. I am happy to stay on my THS girlie pattern.
Darn! Another series below 500. Stupid THS pattern.

**e-tank** · 11-18-2013, 03:53 PM

From what ive read, bowling on sport patterns makes you a better bowling because the margin for error is much smaller than on ths. It improves your accuracy and consistency and well as versatility.

**vdubtx** · 11-18-2013, 03:54 PM

If a THS pattern was too easy for some bowlers, those bowlers would constantly be posting about their 300's and 800 series shot on their league nights every week.

Sorry, but anyone saying the THS is too easy has a big ego and shouldn't put down or look down on bowlers who don't have a 220+ average.

I, for one, enjoy the challenge bowling in different centers(yes both THS), as even though they use roughly the same pattern, the volume of oil is different from one to the other. But, I also like the challenge of a harder pattern like at Nationals or in other tournaments.

**Aslan** · 11-18-2013, 03:55 PM

I think it varies alley to alley. Statistically, averages are up as are 300 games due to a combination of ball technology and lane conditions. So, it's factually based.

However, I think things vary a bit lane to lane. I have a 136 average on Thursdays and a 164 average on Fridays (different alleys).

On Thursdays, I think the high score is about 267-268 and even the good scratch bowlers rarely break 230. I haven't seen one guy even get close to a 300 game yet. It's a heavy oil synthetic lane...and you can't miss by much either way.

On Fridays, There's been someone who almost bowled a 300 EVERY night. 290, 299, 289, 278, 299. And in that league...each team has 2-3 guys with averages in the low 200s or 180+. There are 2-3 teams that don't have those type of players (like mine)...but even the teams without big time 200 average guys...they have 3-4 players averaging in the 150s or 160s.

In that alley the biggest difference is you can "misss" by 1-4 boards...and you're "okay". You miss left...the ball will still hit the headpin or at worst brooklyn. If you miss right...it's so dry on the outside...the ball will cut back into the headpin. So it's very difficult to NOT hit the headpin. Which translates into a strike or at worst a 7-9 pin first ball. So if you can just avoid a split...and are a decent spare shooter...no problems.

House ball bowlers don't see a "huge" difference from one alley to the next because a plastic ball will be a straight ball at both alleys. And if you throw the plastic ball thumbless or 2-handed...controlling the hook on the drier lanes is just as difficult as it is to get it to work on the slicker lanes. But with a standard advanced-pro level reactive resin ball...much better scores at the 2nd alley than the 1st.

And the only guys where this is "reversed" are the guys with "BIG HOOK" balls that have trouble adapting to drier lanes (their balls break too sharply and hit left of the headpin) and struggle trying to find a place to throw it. The alley is still easier...but these guys are very stubborn about changing their approach to fit the lane so they keep trying to throw the same ball at the same target as they would on heavier oil and rather than "adjust" they just try switching balls or just stand around griping about it.

**J Anderson** · 11-18-2013, 04:11 PM

One of the troubles with talking about the Typical House Shot is that you would think from some of the posts about it, that there is a single THS pattern. Every center has its own THS and can vary a lot between the ones where there's barely enough oil to protect the lanes to ones that are one step away from leaving the bumpers up all the time.

Even if the shot really is an easy one, it doesn't help bowlers who don't throw a hook. It also doesn't help if you don't play it right. Don't ask me what that way is, because when you compare my Sport average with my THS average, I'm either 8 pins better than I should be on the sport or 8 pins worse than I should be on the THS.

Going by the USBC conversion table, any one who averages 225 or better on the THS will average about the same on sport patterns.

**circlecity** · 11-18-2013, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by J Anderson

Going by the USBC conversion table, any one who averages 225 or better on the THS will average about the same on sport patterns.

That sounds interesting. do you have a link to something online I could look at?

thx

**MICHAEL** · 11-18-2013, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by vdubtx

If a THS pattern was too easy for some bowlers, those bowlers would constantly be posting about their 300's and 800 series shot on their league nights every week.

Sorry, but anyone saying the THS is too easy has a big ego and shouldn't put down or look down on bowlers who don't have a 220+ average.

I, for one, enjoy the challenge bowling in different centers(yes both THS), as even though they use roughly the same pattern, the volume of oil is different from one to the other. But, I also like the challenge of a harder pattern like at Nationals or in other tournaments.

Hey, I know your not talking about ICEMAN, I don't even have a 220 yet, but I have thrown two 300's in less then 6 months. Must be pretty easy,, I am not a spring chicken, but am tough as nails!! LOL

Sure lots of bowlers don't have that 220 average on Typical House pattern, but those same bowlers would be lost on sports, believe me,, I had a blast last summer bowing a Saturday evening sports pattern for cash! Its so Fricken different,,, you have to lean to bowl each Sports pattern differently, were as the house pattern is almost always that same old, same old week after week,,,

Averages, including 300's and 800's would be few and far between if the USBC decided to make it a rule that each week you change the oil pattern on all sanctioned leagues,,, then the esteem with having a great series, and even a 300, 800 would have true value!

What would be wrong with that??? Its what the Pro's do?? You could still have the Typical house pattern for non sanctioned leagues.

Maybe then they would start giving out rings for 300s and 800s each time you bowl one, because their would be far less!

As I have said, it would be like bowling golf the same hole over, and over ,, and over,,, where as sports patterns is like playing the full 18 holes!!

**vdubtx** · 11-18-2013, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by circlecity

That sounds interesting. do you have a link to something online I could look at?

thx

Here you go. This chart shows the Sport Average and what adjusted average would be.

LINK

**Aslan** · 11-18-2013, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by MICHAEL

, it would be like bowling golf the same hole over, and over ,, and over,,, where as sports patterns is like playing the full 18 holes!!

Iceman...you and I are in lock step on this...and I'm thinking your best bud Jamau is not....but I think the better analogy is a guy who plays golf at the same municipal par 3 course. It's not just playing "one hole" versus an entire course. It's a guy who is a little over par on his municipal course where the longest hole is a par 4 399...and then he goes to a real course on an outing and his friends think "he must be having a bad day...I've seen him golf before and he's almost a par golfer". Because he KNOWS that course...he KNOWS where to hit it and where not to. He knows exactly which club to play where.

I agree that a THS shot isn't the same from alley to alley...I gave my example. If you think it's the same...find an alley with wooden lanes (there aren't many) and go try to throw your big hook ball and watch what happens. I'm telling you...I've SEEN it. Guys who have the top of the line equipment and average 190 on synthetics struggling to hit 180 on low oil wood lanes. And vice versa...I went out and started bowling synthetics...heavier oil...I went from rolling 180, 160, 190....to rolling 106, 97, 115, 118. Meanwhile...the guy bowling against me just kinda takes a few small steps toward the foul line...just "sets" the ball down with some spin...throws a 237.

Like I proposed before...in my opinion, the best solution is to make sanctioned bowling like Euro soccer. I hate soccer...but their league system is very fair.

My proposal:

- Every new bowler (never sanctioned) starts out in a non-sanctioned handicap league. THS patterns.
- After one league, they can move into a sanctioned handicap league if their house average is greater than 125. THS patterns.
- Once in sanctioned (handicap) league play, they play and get better...THS patterns until a time when they carry a 179+ average at which time they are automatically bumbed to a sanctioned league on SPORT patterns. The sport patterns can vary but are essentially the USBC red, white, blue, open, etc..
- Once they reach an average of 200...they are moved into a scratch league on sport patterns.

That proposal keeps everything fair. No more 220 average players "slummin it" playin no-tap or in some entry level non-sanctioned league. No more good players whining that "the handicap is killing them". And 300 games...would actually mean MORE because if you roll one, it's on a sport pattern...OR you rolled one carrying a < 179 average (which would truly be special and rare). And finally...it helps players gain the confidence to take it to the next level. I mean, if you're already playing scratch on sport patterns...why NOT enter a regional tournament?? Why NOT take that next step?

And you could still have all the variety you have now in terms of leagues...each level would have a cheaper/for fun league, a sweeps league, maybe a woman's or senior's league. But they'd have that variety at each level where there's demand. The only "downside" to this idea is if you have a buddy you want to bowl with...and he's not so good...but you are...then you're screwed. You might be able to make an exemption for those within 5-10 pins of the cutoff...or maybe allow players to move UP a league (but not down)....I don't know. But the point is...the overall point is...for leagues to truly be fair and fun and competitive...you have to develop a strategy to move the better players up in levels...because they are unlikely to move themselves up due to ego.