There are lot's of stories floating around the booth here about how vocally whinny Pete Weber was when he came through. He barely cracked 1700, and let everyone know that we shouldn't be bowling on patterns so much harder than what they face on the PBA tour.

And while most scoffed at his attitude, pretty much everyone agrees about the patterns. Really, they're too tough. Especially if you want to continue to entice 10,000 teams.

In my opinion, the standard should be about where it was in 2014. Scores were very high by USBC standards, but all things considered, they were at a good level. Almost everyone still struggled to hit what they thought they should, but it wasn't as brutal. And they great teams shot 3500s. But in today's bowling, is there anything wrong with great teams shooting 3500?

I think 3720 was some kind of nightmare for the traditionalists, and they never want to go there again. But the paying customer has to suffer.

I'm not whining. I love the tournament and will bowl on it if they decided to put out flat 1:1 pattern. I have nothing but admiration for the people who find a way to put up the scores that win. But the USBC needs to stop pretending its 1960 still. Times changed. Scores changed. You can put out a shot that demands skill to score on and still give the people something to work with.

Yeah it seems only a special few really get the pattern. Of course, only special people get to bowl so slowly they end up all alone out there too, with video coverage.

But some do very well on the pattern, and it's not really a surprise that those bowling now and later have done very, very well. Lots of time and effort into analyzing both the pattern discussions and team strategy.

The story behind how they got to this year's number of teams amounts to bribery and begging.

Our bowling center sent 12 teams this year, mainly because Vegas is close (~250 miles). Of the participants, many were first timers and didn't have a clue what to expect. Many will not be returning. The organizers are trying to line up donors...er...teams for 2018 and are having problems fielding 2 teams. what does that tell you?

After 3 consecutive years (El Paso, Reno and Las Vegas) I will not be going to Syracuse.

The USBC may be interested in protecting the "integrity of the sport" but they are doing a half-ass job of furthering people's interest in it.

update Ryan Reid 259 first game singles.

Zerocuse is a no brainer for me...only 90 miles away, I can actually drive home to sleep if I want to. A lot of my west coat friends will not make the trip, I am guessing...I will put a team together that doesn't bowl with my annual nominal group [shrug]

I'd love to go there because it's not that far, five hours or so. But the time slots absolutely suck.

Only the 7am and 10:45pm squads suck. There are other options. Don't let the opinions of Facebook whiners convince you not to participate when its so close to home.

this!

Not listening to opinions, just schedules.

so - went this last weekend with my F-in-law and wife and a couple of friends to fill out the team. Here is my impressions:

First, the hotel. I really like Southpoint. Rooms are nice - nothing special, but clean and nice. I like the place. I like not having to drive INTO Vegas to get to it, lol. I have only ONE beef: We KNOW that the morning (9am) squad is going to get out later than checkout, and RIGHT UP AGAINST the late checkout deadline . . . so can we get a little leeway? It's not like the hotel doesn't know this. . . and we'll be at Southpoint again in two years and again in two years after that. . . c'mon, please?

Second, the arena. Really liked this. Nice center. Nicely placed. LOTS of room for equipment so I really didn't feel like I had to cram my 4-ball-roller in someplace. PLENTY of room for balls, even during team event. I liked the digital displays at the back, even more as I played with them just a bit. Really good wifi coverage (I used bowlsk during my squads). Yes, it was cool - but I LIKE that! LOL

Third, the squad area. Okay, c'mon people. You KNOW that we have people sitting in the seats, with bowling equipment there too . . . let's figure out how to make enough SPACE for it rather than berating people for putting their equipment where it wasn't supposed to go. I mean, seriously? You KNOW it's a problem. . . and a solution should NOT cost you money, just use the space more efficiently.

Fourth, the squad meeting. This thing drags on and on. Yes, the awards are nice, but go in some order maybe?

Okay - to the bowling. Caveats (err, excuses) - I've been nursing a strained back for over a week, so yeah, that's what I'm blaming it all on! http://www.bowlsk.com/games/view-tournament.html?tournament=5177813510389760

I found it TIGHT on both patterns. If I was relaxed, stroked the ball smoothly and really hit my mark with the right speed, I could strike. Unfortunately, I kept leaving it outside, which was WAY out of bounds. Then I had multiple-pin pickups, which were hit and miss. In the 65% range.

For the team event, I used my Crux at 1000 grit. I could get it to go right down 10 and work nicely, but then I started tensing up and throwing wild and it did NOT have enough surface to get back. My Marvel did, but I didn't trust it enough, and I was all over anyway at that point.

For Dbls/Sgls, it was a longer pattern, so I started with my Marvel S at 500. Honestly, I should have taken everything down to 500. If I stroked it nicely, I could do nicely. But zero leeway. I also REALLY need new inserts - they have sharp edges and just gouged at my fingertips. My own fault, workable but painful.

I was, of course, my own worst enemy. I only marked in 5 (of 9) tenth frames. No clean games - and I was leaving left-side spares, and I had just spent time practicing a loose left-side throw to pick them up. . . sigh.


It was fun. Exhausting, but fun. I was a true pleasure to watch my F-in-law bowl in this at 83. Two years ago he was on a stretcher being rushed into emergency open heart surgery and once he was brought back, he nearly lost his fingers and toes (because of the aortic pump they put in to keep his brain going. . . too bad they missed THAT part! LOL) - he has them all and can bowl. We got him some new shoes to help him slide better now that he can't really feel his toes, and bang, he's out there. The 5th and 6th games really wore him out, but he plugged through. SO proud of him!

It was also fun bowling with my wife. Really have to figure out a couple of issues with her fit, but she bowled her average or thereabouts the whole time for dbls/sgls. Very proud of her!

We won't be going to Syracuse, but will likely go when it comes back West.