2015 USBC Open Championships!

[vdubtx]

The trip to El Paso was a great one. Had a lot of fun bowling, golfing, eating good food and just generally hanging out with good friends.

Thursday was at the convention center bright and early to cheer some of our partner team members bowl their double/singles events. Went out to lunch after with the whole group. Back to the hotel for some rest before our Team event that evening at 830. Got a chance to watch forum member ALazySavage and his team bowl their team event as they were on squad just before us.

Team event went better than expected:
Game 1 started with double, 10 pin, 3 pin, 4 bagger, 3-6, strike and a 2 pin in the fill which I missed converting for a very good 235.
Game 2 strike, 2-8 which I picked out the 8 pin from for an open, 6 bagger, 2 pin, 2-8 converted this time and 10 pin in the fill for a nice 234.
Game 3 started out a bit fast 2-5, 2-7, double, smash 8 pin, 3-6, strike, 5 pin, strike, and very slow leaving 1-3-5-6 which I failed to convert for a 193.

235-234-193 = 662
Extremely happy with that considering the very tough oil pattern. Also, made some cash on brackets. Used my Hyper cell at 2000 grit the entire set.

Friday went for a round of golf with team mates. Great fun, then some lunch and some sleep to prepare for the nights Doubles/Singles events.

Doubles:
Game 1 I started out way too fast leaving a 1-2 and whiffing the conversion, 3-6-9-10(too slow) which I converted, 1-2-4-10(bit too fast) leaving the 1 and 10 pin standing on the failed conversion. Starting to think this was going to be a very poor outing. Composed myself, began to control my speed and started to get some good reaction. 1-5, 4 pin, strike, 2 pin, 3-6, 4 bagger to finish out with only a 189.

Game 2 strike, 10 pin, 3-6, 2 pin, strike, 7 pin, strike, 3 pin, 3 pin, strike, and 7 pin in the fill for a 196 and a clean game!!

Game 3 2 pin, strike, pocket 7-10 split, double, 6-10, 4-7-10, 10 pin, double and then 3-6-9-10 failing to convert for a 186.

189-196-186 = 571, partner had a 583 so we are sitting at 1154 for doubles. Used Hyper Cell for entire set and likely should have changed half way through game 3.

Singles:

Game 1 started with 10 pin, 3-6, strike, 1-2-8-10(converted), double, 2-8(did not convert), strike, 3-6-10 which I left 3 pin standing, strike, 1-3-6-10 leaving 1 pin standing for a lowly 179.

Game 2 3-6-9-10 leaving 9 standing on failed conversion, 2 pin, 4 bagger, 3-6-10, double, 10 pin which I failed to convert for a 213.

Game 3 smash 9 to start, 6 pin, strike, 3-10, 2 pin, 10 pin, double, 2-4-5-8 leaving 5 pin standing, 7 pin, strike to finish out with a 191 and on a high note.

179-213-191 = 583 using Disturbed at 2000 grit all 3 games.

All Events:
662-571-583 = 1816

Very happy with how I handled the tough and flat patterns. Still have work to do, but for now I am content with how I did. Given the tough conditions, this is my highest set at Nationals, will only continue to go higher in future years. . Scores should hopefully pay me back my expenses. Should cash on all but team event. Other team members did not fare so well and we are under the low to cash for that event. Not a big gambler with brackets, but won a couple hundred on team event so that will help pay for my trip in addition to any monies won on the main events.

Some stats:
Average 201.78.
First Ball average 9.02
Strikes 47%
Single pin spares 91% (22/24) missed 1 2 pin and 1 10 pin. 2 pin most left with 7, 6 10 pins.
Non split multi pins 55% (12/22)
Splits 50% (2/2)

[Amyers]

That's some great bowling there Vdub. Congrats on a great trip.

[NewToBowling]

Good stuff. Great game on tough pattern

I would be happy with these scores on THS

[mc_runner]

Nice! Congrats on cashing

[Aslan]

Glad it went well vDub.

I'm hoping to join you in Reno in 2016. El Paso was 3hrs further from here than Reno is. I just gotta figure out what averages they are going to use. Right now I'm sitting at a 180 composite average which I think would be great for entering the Classic division. The problem is next season I don't plan on bowling in the more difficult house. So instead of averaging 191 at House A and 169 at house B...I'll be averaging 191 at House A and ??? at House C. But I can almost guarantee House C won't be as low as House B. So, in other words, if I don't enter the 2016 Open and get to use my scores from THIS season...I'll likely be forced to enter in the open field and then will likely get absolutely kicked around.

The other variable is how high my average in House A will actually go THIS season. It got to 191 after my 689 series, then I pooed the bed with a 500 series and it dropped to 189...but two weeks ago I shot a 605 and then a 600 last week so it's inched back up to 191. If I keep improving...or just holding my own with 600+ series' each week...OR I figure out the lanes in House B and bring that 169 average up into the 170s...I may have to face the fact that I missed my window to compete in the Classified division. And that would be a bummer.

It's a double edged sword...you don't want to spend the money to go to the Open and be horrible...but by the time you improve enough to consider giving it a shot...you're "too good" to bowl against the other average bowlers and then you're looking at bowling against the elite bowlers in the country. Some people treat it like a 5K or a marathon...you do it just to say you did it. But man...that's $400-$1000 of travel, registration, prize pools, lodging, etc...that's a lot of dough to dish out when the chance of me actually performing well enough to cover the costs is virtually 0.001%...much less win the thing.

[vdubtx]

Thanks all.

Aslan, Regardless of what your composite is, they will use whatever is highest average the last 3 years with atleast 21 games. One of our companion team bowlers thought he would be classified and brought a ton of money for brackets thinking he would clean up. They found a league where he was over the cut and used that for him. Needless to say, he kept a lot of that money in his pockets since he was no longer in the classified grouping.

[Aslan]

Aslan, Regardless of what your composite is, they will use whatever is highest average the last 3 years with atleast 21 games. One of our companion team bowlers thought he would be classified and brought a ton of money for brackets thinking he would clean up. They found a league where he was over the cut and used that for him. Needless to say, he kept a lot of that money in his pockets since he was no longer in the classified grouping.

Well, in that case I'm screwed. Because if I enter the Open as a 165-190 bowler and they use 191 as my average...whats the point? I mean, I really want to bowl in the National Bowling Stadium...at least ONCE in my lifetime. But that's an expensive road trip if I already know I'm gonna get destroyed going in. It's bad enough that even despite the 191 season...they'd end up using that adjusted sport average of 172...which also isn't really accurate. I mean, what sense does it make that if I average 166 and 165 in two THS leagues...then average 149 in 2 consecutive seasons on a sport shot...how in the World does that = a 172 average? Because a guy throwing a 149 on sport conditions SHOULD average 173 on a THS??

Seems dumb that they use the highest single season average rather than the composite. I mean, see below;

Season 1 165 * 66 games = 165
Season 2 (166 * 66 games) + (173 (adj.)*24) + (172 (sub) * 12) = 168
Season 3 (162 * 60 games) + (173 (adj.) * 48) = 166

Season 4 (preliminary data) = (169 * 30) + (191 * 33) = 180

So looking at that data from afar....I'd say that's a 162-172 bowler...who when faced with sport conditions is likely to roll a 149. Yet the USBC looks at that data and says, "Oh...he's a 191 average bowler." What!!??? What bat *poo* statistical analysis are they doing that such a blatently obvious data set as that...with really only the 191 as the outlier... = a 191 average??? That's absurd. Is MWhite in charge of my average now? According to my almost flawless algebraic skills...I need to average 171 the rest of the season in my higher average league to get me back down to 180. Hmmm....if only I were a sandbagger...

[vdubtx]

Them's the rules. Start calling the USBC to get them to change to your way of thinking. At some point, after you talking with them as length, they may change. LOL!!!

The point of going to Open Championships is more about the experience of it. If I went with just the mindset of how much I wanted to win I would bowl horribly. Cashing is just a bonus.

I go for the experience and the fun I have with my team mates along with seeing a different place than my typical bowling centers. But, that's just me.

[Amyers]

Well, in that case I'm screwed. Because if I enter the Open as a 165-190 bowler and they use 191 as my average...whats the point? I mean, I really want to bowl in the National Bowling Stadium...at least ONCE in my lifetime. But that's an expensive road trip if I already know I'm gonna get destroyed going in. It's bad enough that even despite the 191 season...they'd end up using that adjusted sport average of 172...which also isn't really accurate. I mean, what sense does it make that if I average 166 and 165 in two THS leagues...then average 149 in 2 consecutive seasons on a sport shot...how in the World does that = a 172 average? Because a guy throwing a 149 on sport conditions SHOULD average 173 on a THS??

Seems dumb that they use the highest single season average rather than the composite. I mean, see below;

Season 1 165 * 66 games = 165
Season 2 (166 * 66 games) + (173 (adj.)*24) + (172 (sub) * 12) = 168
Season 3 (162 * 60 games) + (173 (adj.) * 48) = 166

Season 4 (preliminary data) = (169 * 30) + (191 * 33) = 180

So looking at that data from afar....I'd say that's a 162-172 bowler...who when faced with sport conditions is likely to roll a 149. Yet the USBC looks at that data and says, "Oh...he's a 191 average bowler." What!!??? What bat *poo* statistical analysis are they doing that such a blatently obvious data set as that...with really only the 191 as the outlier... = a 191 average??? That's absurd. Is MWhite in charge of my average now? According to my almost flawless algebraic skills...I need to average 171 the rest of the season in my higher average league to get me back down to 180. Hmmm....if only I were a sandbagger...

If your going thinking your going to win money your wasting your time go for the experience and if you win something it's a bonus

[Mike White]

Well, in that case I'm screwed. Because if I enter the Open as a 165-190 bowler and they use 191 as my average...whats the point? I mean, I really want to bowl in the National Bowling Stadium...at least ONCE in my lifetime. But that's an expensive road trip if I already know I'm gonna get destroyed going in. It's bad enough that even despite the 191 season...they'd end up using that adjusted sport average of 172...which also isn't really accurate. I mean, what sense does it make that if I average 166 and 165 in two THS leagues...then average 149 in 2 consecutive seasons on a sport shot...how in the World does that = a 172 average? Because a guy throwing a 149 on sport conditions SHOULD average 173 on a THS??

Seems dumb that they use the highest single season average rather than the composite. I mean, see below;

Season 1 165 * 66 games = 165
Season 2 (166 * 66 games) + (173 (adj.)*24) + (172 (sub) * 12) = 168
Season 3 (162 * 60 games) + (173 (adj.) * 48) = 166

Season 4 (preliminary data) = (169 * 30) + (191 * 33) = 180

So looking at that data from afar....I'd say that's a 162-172 bowler...who when faced with sport conditions is likely to roll a 149. Yet the USBC looks at that data and says, "Oh...he's a 191 average bowler." What!!??? What bat *poo* statistical analysis are they doing that such a blatently obvious data set as that...with really only the 191 as the outlier... = a 191 average??? That's absurd. Is MWhite in charge of my average now? According to my almost flawless algebraic skills...I need to average 171 the rest of the season in my higher average league to get me back down to 180. Hmmm....if only I were a sandbagger...

If you consider yourself a 162-172 bowler, then why would you consider averaging 171 or so for the rest of the season to be sandbagging?

The problem with the USBC tournament is the border between regular, and classified should be much higher than 175/176.

Back when the best bowlers were 200-210, someone 35 pins behind that would be placed in a separate division, now with people averaging 240+, the 176 bowler is 60+ pins behind.