I disagree with that mindset.
I used to run 5Ks a lot. And I ran a 10k once, realized my time in a 10k was not competitive. Same thing with a duathalon...I knew I couldn't be competitive unless I bought a faster bike. I never bothered entering a duathalon or 10k again. I figured I'd build up my endurance, lower my times, and then enter a 10k when I was competitive.
Bowling the USBC Open...obviously I'm not going to put if off until I feel I'm a sure shot to win overall events...hell, I'll never do it if I wait that long. But I also think it's silly to do it (unless it's held < 2 hours from you) if you're a 150-180 house bowler. The Open is sport bowling event. It should attract SPORT bowlers...not casual bowlers. Otherwise it'd be completely legal to have beers and order mozzarella sticks and wear tank tops while bowling the event. If your game isn't at a certain minimal level...your only "experience" is that thud sound when you roll a 137 and everyone snickers and chuckles.
I have a goal written down...I can't remember exactly what it is because I currently am missing the paper I wrote it down on...hope to find that as I move apartments...but it simply has a total series score or a league average or something like that...and until I can achieve that...I don't go to the Open. Just hypothetical, it would say something like "193 composite average for one season AND a 725 series." That gives me something to work towards. And a reward for achieving it. I have little goals like that regarding the USBC Open, the ABT, PBA Regional events, etc... Now I just need to find that notepad!! I doubt my 689 series would be enough to meet any of the goals...but I'm at least "sniffing" some of the targets I set.
But no...I've never been much for the "just have fun" mantra...not since grade school. If you're gonna drop $400-$1000...to travel across two states to bowl in a tournament...you should have at least a "shot" at winning it. VDubtx went, and I'd say...although a long shot...he has the ability to say he had a remote chance of catching fire and winning. So more power to him. Of matter of fact, I've been one of the few voices trying to push him a little more...maybe take that next step to some amateur tournaments or PBA regional events. If ya got the skills...go for it. The body isn't going to hold up forever...and none of us are getting younger. Do you really want to be using a walker at age 75 and wishing you could have went back 30 years and maybe challenged yourself a little more? I don't.
I consider bowling beneath my ability level to be sandbagging. And in that house...thanks to their recent attempts to make the easiest shot in Orange County...I am averaging 191. I could probably...believeably average like 164 the rest of the way without it seeming blatent...but let me put it to you this way: Last week in Game 1 I started off with 6 spares in a row...and the guy that runs the strike frame asked me why I was sandbagging. I was CLEAN through 6...but in THAT league....and this will seem strange to Mike who has actually bowled in a league with me...but in THAT league...I'm one of the better bowlers. And they know that...so I'm kinda stuck unless I fake an injury or something.
It's 180/181. That actually seems fair to me. I think that's generally the "line" between "good" and "average" bowlers...from what I've seen. What I DISAGREE with...and there's no solution to this that will ever happen realistically...but we need consistent conditions. I go bowl in Irvine and the lanes are toughest in Orange County and I average 155 over 9 games. I then go to Arlington and average 181 over 9 games. I then go to Concourse with their completely random, bowled on conditions and average 169. Then I go to AMF Carter where they've intentionally altered the pattern to make it easier and attract more league bowlers...and I average 191. So what is my true average? The composite is probably the closest...but the USBC doesn't use composite for the Open...it uses and one individual season in the last 3 years...
...moral to the story...if ya want an advantage at the Open...you better not ever bowl in a center that has an easy shot. Find the hardest centers in your area and hope that you do as bad as possible...because if you so much as join ONE league in an easier house...you're screwed.
I would like to know "why" they don't use the composite. They are the organization that calculates the composite...seems like they should use it...but I guess maybe VDub is right and I should send them the question.
Either way...I'm still strongly considering going in 2016. I will "probably" be moving from Southern California to Iowa in the next few years...so I want to take as much opportunity as I can to do things out West while they are still within driving distance. Reno's National Bowling Stadium is on the top of that list. And bowling in the new bowling center at Southpoint is also on the list. Maybe even visiting the Kegal/USBC center near San Antonio. Once I move (if I move), those trips become much more expensive. No more going to Vegas 3-5 times a year to bowl.
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