Strategies for Putting Toghether a Championship Handicap Team

[Aslan]

As I was watching the 1st place team in our league bowl last week...hoping they'd drop a point or two so we could catch or pass them...I noticed something.

Now, my team is in sole possession of 2nd place with about 5 weeks to go in the season.

And the first question is..."how in the world is MY team in 2nd place?!" I mean, out team is made up 3 guys that either have barely ever thrown a bowling ball or only have once or twice a year for fun. These guys are older, non-athletic guys. This is their first ever league. Their averages are 109, 124, and 130. The two lesser of them have thrown games routinely in the 80s-100s range. The 5th guy is a guy who used to bowl leagues 2-3 decades ago. And then there's me. Me and #5 have nearly the same average...mid-upper 160s.

But as I watched the 1st place team...and pondered how my OWN team could be battling for the league championship...I noticed their team make-up was eriely similar.

2 very new bowlers...114-119 averages. 2 below average bowlers...140-141 averages. And ONE guy with a 194 average. And these guys played "smart". When their lesser players were doing well...it seemed like their anchor would just drink and throw whatever...not really care. But if their first 4 were struggling...the anchor could turn it up a notch and throw 200 games almost at will. Sort of an ongoing intermittant sandbagging team of sorts.

But was it "true" sandbagging? I don't think so. Why? Becuase the high scores for the 110-120 guys were 155-170. The high games for the 140s guys were 199-206.

And thats when I saw the similarities and the strategies that were similar to our own. The KEY to winning a handicap league...is bringing in bowlers with a very low starting point...but a very high ceiling. So the 3 new guys and 4 lesser guys on the other team...these guys all started out in the 90s-130s...but have getten better as the season has progressed. My #5 guys was rusty early on throwing in the 150s...now he's pushing 170. I didn't move much...neither did THEIR big gun.

What worries me is...their team is better poised to win...for two reasons:
1) Their High Handicap potential series (sum of all high handicap series of their players indivudally) is 3746. Thats their potential. The highest they've ever acheived thus far this season is 3518. Now, OUR team only had a high potential series of 3679. Our highest is the league season high of 3619. In other words, their PERFECT night...is better than our PERFECT night.
2) At the end of the day, a tie goes to who has the best bowler. Now, we have a sub with a 208 average...but neither me nor our #5...in a position round where subs aren't allowed can compete one-on-one with their 194 average bowler...not when he's sober and gives a ***t.

So I think thats the secret to winning. Having that one really good bowler...and then 4 beginners who are committed to getting better as the season progresses. Our 3 new guys just aren't that motivated. Their 4 new guys...3 of them look fairly motivated. One of their 140s guys has a nice stroke. The other 140s guy is one of those thumbless/big hook guys that are always dangerous in 1-game matches. And they have an ace in the hole...a 190s bowler who can turn it on and off.

It would really be awesome to win!! I'm tired of losing...but I'm also tired of doing "just enough" to finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th or 5th....and not get anything for it. In a 22-team, 5-person league...when will I get another shot at 1st place!?? Maybe never. Gonna be an interesting 5 weeks.

[Amyers]

In handicap leagues I've found this myself you either need a team like yours or you need true high rollers who can throw well over the handicap amount on a very regular basis

[mc_runner]

The new teams almost always do well at the end of the first year in a handicap league, as their bowlers get better. If there's not a lot of money on the line, I am supportive of it since it is motive to stick around the following year.

[MiggityMatt]

Basically, when guys are shooting 50 pins over average, they're tough to beat. The winning team in our league last year also had a similar makeup as your team. We had to spot them over 200 pins. Handicap leagues are great but when you have to spot over 200 it turns into 5 against 6. The handicap team basically has an extra bowler. All they have to do is make their spares and they're tough to beat. I always tell my team that one of us has to be on a double, each frame, otherwise we're not gonna catch up.

I've always thought it would be nice to have a "cap" on the handicap. Maybe I'm just tired of losing? We bowl for fun, obviously, but losing eventually wears you down.

[Aslan]

Well, tonight we got to feel how the other half lives. We played a team that had over 500 pins handicap and lost 4 of 4 points. We weren't doing horribly nor were they doing particularly well…each game was close…but in the end we just didn't have enough in the tank each game. Each game 2 of the 5 bowlers would just do horribly and only 1-2 of us would bowl above our average.

So, having been on both sides of it…yeah…100% of 220 is kinda ridiculous in my opinion. 90% of 220 or even 80% of 210…but leagues that offer 100% of 220 are really making it hard on their higher average bowlers.

[Amyers]

Well, tonight we got to feel how the other half lives. We played a team that had over 500 pins handicap and lost 4 of 4 points. We weren't doing horribly nor were they doing particularly well…each game was close…but in the end we just didn't have enough in the tank each game. Each game 2 of the 5 bowlers would just do horribly and only 1-2 of us would bowl above our average.

So, having been on both sides of it…yeah…100% of 220 is kinda ridiculous in my opinion. 90% of 220 or even 80% of 210…but leagues that offer 100% of 220 are really making it hard on their higher average bowlers.

I've never seen a 100% of 220 league here I bet the higher average guys love that

[RobLV1]

The best way to put together a winning team in a handicap league is to man the team with high average bowlers. The USBC did a study a few years ago of all of the leagues in the country. The results of the study showed that for lower average teams to beat higher average teams, handicap would have to be based on 116%! The only possible advantage that the lower average teams have is when a majority of their members actually take the game seriously to try and improve. Most lower average bowlers bowl their leagues, and that's it; no practice or coaching at all. As to the higher average bowler who shows up when he needs to, I don't really think that he's sandbagging. I think that it's more a matter of losing interest until his team actually needs him. That's another advantage of having several higher average bowlers on a team; they start competing with each other which keeps them more focused.

[Mudpuppy]

Interesting Rob. I never really paid that close attention but that does seem to be the case now that I look back based on what you said. So even with handicap "leveling" the field it still isn't enough, typically. And 2 or 3 leagues I ended up winning I still have the USBC patches for: League champion, high average and high series. So that plays right into it.

In most cases though what I have found that works is this:

On a 3 person team you have 2 consistent bowlers. They bowl +/- 5% of their average. A big game sprinkled in from time to time but rarely ever a "bad" game way under average. The 3rd person is your loose canon wild card. Could bowl a 300 game or could bowl under average but more times than not throws big games. Where I have seen this doesn't work is a few years back our loose canon had a 220 average but he would throw an 800 series and then a few weeks in a row throw a 500 something series. So it really hurt the team.

4 person team same type of thing - at least 2 consistent bowlers and then 2 wild cards or 3 consistent bowlers and a wild card. Or you can have the best type of mix - 2 consistent bowlers - meaning doesn't matter if their average is 120 or 180 - just bowl consistently near their average and then you have your 3rd bowler who consistently bowls their average or HIGHER. Instead of a rare high game they have consistent high games. Doesn't have to be a 180 bowler who bowls a 280 game every 2-3 weeks. Can be a 180 bowler who throws 180-180-220. And then of course the wild card - always have to have the wild card. They can make or break you. A good wild card will help you more than hurt you and typically will get in the zone, lock in and throw huge games, especially on position night.

You get the idea. 5 person team same type of formula but typically I find sticking the wild card as the 4th bowler is the way to go. You need a rock steady consistent bowler at anchor. Best to have an anchor who consistently hits their average and throws in a good mix of good over average games - 20-40 over average. Lead off bowler is important to set the tone - need one of your better bowlers at lead off. Spots 2 and 3 should be lower average but consistent.

[bowl1820]

The USBC did a study a few years ago of all of the leagues in the country. The results of the study showed that for lower average teams to beat higher average teams, handicap would have to be based on 116%!

Here's a link to the USBC information on handicaps

Click here for THE FACTS ABOUT HANDICAPS

and here's a chart also

[Aslan]

I think the disconnect is NOT that a higher handicap team will win…it's "how" higher handicap team wins.

Yes, according to the study…if everyone bowls their averages…100% of 220…it's a tie. But thats not the point…we know that.

The POINT is…higher handicap bowlers have more of an ability to raise their averages/games over the course of a season.

So in the case of our team (#2) and team #1…we both have 3-4 bowlers that fit this mold. They started out with averages in the 100-130 range. After very few weeks…they are regularly capable of throwing in the 120-160 range. It DOESN'T mean they don't have bad games…but for them, it's kinda hard to have a game as bad as where they started. For them, a bad night, is bowling their average or maybe 10 pins under…but they have the ability to bowl 2 of 3 games 50-60 pins over their average.

Meanwhile…the other 2 players on my team, including me…sure, we will have a 200 game every now and again…but most nights we bowl our average. If we have a "good" night…we bowl 30 pins over. The "really" good guy Team #1 has always bowls +/- 20 pins of his average…but seems to pick and choose based on what they need…whether it's gonna be +20 or -20.

I don't think you can have a competitive team in a 100% league that is all high/mid level bowlers. Because they aren't going to give you that +50 or +60 pin games twice a night. And I don't think you can win with a team that is ALL beginners…because they are too erratic and incapable of "turning it on" when needed.

Last night we lost to a team that had 527 pins of handicap. Most games were within 30 pins. Our guys generally bowled their averages…each game 2 guys would step up to cover 2 guys that faltered. Their team all bowled about their averages. We came in with 367 pins of handicap (our lowest average bowler wasn't there and was replaced with a mid-level sub). In terms of handicap…the team we played had the 2nd highest and our team has the 7th highest in the league. The team in 1st place had the 9th highest. 22 teams in the league. The highest average (lowest handicap) team is in 20th!

So the study may say whatever it says…but the reality is…in a 100% of 220 league (highest average bowler 209)…you BETTER have 3-4 beginners that are "teachable" or you're gonna have a LOT of nights where you can't figure out how you lost! I looked at last night's scoresheet after signing it…I outscored every bowler on their team…and I had a night where I average 15 pins under my average! Our worst bowler shot an 80 in game 1 and STILL had a higher series than FOUR of their five!

I'm not complaining…believe me…our team has walked away from SO many matches this season against really good teams…and we've won 3 of 4 points despite getting POUNDED scratch. So we got what was coming to us. And we just didn't have it last night. I am their highest average bowler and I bowled 15 pins under my average. Our 2nd highest average bowler, our anchor, bowled 8 pins below his average. Our entire team had 2 doubles and 2 turkeys total for the series. I think in each game…we maybe (as a team) struck 6 times.

All we can hope for is that the team in first slipped up and lost 1-3 points to keep things close. I didn't bother checking on their scores because I was too pissed about our loss AND pissed that the team is going to fold after this season…so I just figured "whatever".