Thanks for the advice, not sure how the handicap worked, last league I was in was 24 years ago,
My goal is to have fun and improve, 300 is on my bucket list and hoping to get there in a year or 2
high game is a 278 and a couple of 700 series back in the day but my how ball technology has changed.
I'm a team player and get along with everyone so I hope they'll see that in me
I'll post how it went tomorrow
Thanks again
Went well, was accepted to the team, turns out its 1/2 way in so 15 weeks left which is a good start for me to get back into the game, tough getting used to the slow pace but nice folks and laid back
I sucked though and set a low average but no where but up to go now
thanks for all the advice and Merry Christmas to all!
Here is the USBC Rule on establishing an average for a new bowler.Originally Posted by fordman1
118c. League Entering Average
Entering averages are determined by league rules. A bowler who does not have an entering average,
or until they meet the requirement(s) defined by league rule(s), average is determined by dividing the
total number of pins by the total number of games bowled the first league session. (See Rule 100g
for handicap.)
It's pretty clear that unless unless the league specifies a number games greater than the number bowled in one session, a new bowler's average will be established the first day. I know of no leagues where the bowlers would be patient enough to wait two or three weeks to find out whether they won or lost the week that they bowled a team with a newbie.
John
Not sure who you were aiming that at J but in my league new bowlers that don't have a book average in the last 3 years come in at 195 for 3 weeks. Then they get the new average after 9 games. Most of the new bowlers in mixed leagues use women-120 and men-170 or 180.
Just making a point that many leagues have rules for new bowlers.
Most of the leagues that I have been active in just use the basic USBC rule. since they were either scratch or social leagues there was very little incentive to sandbag. Like someone's really going to sandbag to win another trophy to take up room and gather dust.
Now that you mention the fixed assigned averages for new bowlers, I recall that the serious money leagues around here assign an average of 165 for women and 185 for men who join without an established USBC average. They also use the maximum 10 pin drop rule, so basically a team has to be desperate to add a rookie.
John
Never seen the 10 pin drop rules used for a team. We use it for bowlers with established averages. Either last years in the league or highest in the last 3 years for new comers. We also use a 21 game cushion for everyone with an average. A 200 average bowlers on the 1st night has 21 games bowled and 4200 pins. you add onto this total until the actually have 21 games then the original pins and games are dropped.
This is how one of the leagues I bowl in work, when we have used a sub without an established average he gets one the first night. In another league I'm in they assign an average and like a book avg it is used for the first 9 games when a new average in established.
The league that I'm talking about uses the rule for individual bowlers and it works the way you explained it for your league for returning bowlers from the previous season or people who are new to the league but have an average from a certified league. Someone who is either completely new to USBC league bowling or is coming back after a break of more than 2 or 3 years gets the assigned average of either 165 or 185. At the third or fourth week the league starts using the new season's averages. Say you're a new guy in the league during the first 3 or 4 weeks you averaged 150. Because you initial average was the assigned 185 your handicap is going to be based on 175 even though your average is only 150. Your team is going to be at a 25 pin times the handicap percentage disadvantage until your average starts to improve. That's why I said that a team would have to be desperate to add a new, no previous average bowler to the roster.
John
Right John I agree it is best to do what the league prefers. I would recommend the 21 game cushion for leagues that have a tendency to have a few sandbaggers. If for bowlers who always start off hot or cold it keeps things closer their ability.
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