Additionally, I found that prize money was NOT the incentive to bowl on Sport patterns. It was the Challenge. Put some instruction with it, and you could lower the weekly fees, give everyone a Polo bowling shirt, and a jacket for league awards. You would get more people participating.

$1 per game based on the practice fee = $4
$5 per bowler for an on site instructor, 20 bowlers pays the instructor $100 a night
$8 per shirt just for participation, which is a 1-time cost, spread over 16 weeks
$3 for oil lay down and taping, a bowler can understand this extra cost.

That's about $12.50 per week over 16 weeks. And, the house should give out jackets for awards. Add a few bucks for that weekly.

This way the bowler gets something for his effort, and learns something at the same time.

I agree, instruction needs to be a big item with the PBAX leagues. During our large PBAX Summer league (160 bowlers) we have had Barnes, Ballard, etc... come in for the league meeting to discuss the patterns. Although, I think that is great, I think they left most of the bowlers short of the information they should be getting.

I missed the league this year with Ballard doing the discussion. Came in the first night of league and looked at the ball returns. Everybody and their brothers bowling balls where sanded at 320. I asked why everyone's stuff was sanded. I discovered that Ballard had suggested to use sanded equipment. I guess at least they listened. But, I would have hoped something more would have come out of the discussion.

Another instruction item i tried this last summer was to give away 30 minute coaching sessions for the PBAX League bowlers. I was doing a simple video analysis and talk about the bowlers opinions and problems with ball reaction and lane play. I was disappointed that I didn't get as much interest has I thought I would have. But we will try again next year.