200 Averages  -  It is not what it used to be!

Update from last month

The last Bowling History column covered the team series record progression. As indicated, Kokomo Sports Center holds the men's record with 3457 and Go's Girls maintains the women's record with 3210. Team pictures for these quintets are included with this month's article.

200 Averages

This month Bowling History addresses one of the goals of every bowler - to average 200. This has always been a sign that you have mastered the sport and were one of bowling's elite.

In the last two years, the number of 200 average bowlers in Kokomo has skyrocketed from 32 to 99. Did all the bowlers get that much better? Obviously not. So what are the reasons behind this big jump?

One reason is the highly aggressive bowling balls that generate more friction (hook) and, therefore, strikes. But we have had the reactive balls now for almost 10 years. So this is not the only reason. I believe the primary reason for the big jump in 200 averages locally is due to changes in the lane conditioner "pattern" applied to the lanes.

A few years ago, the highly reactive balls grabbed the lanes too early causing them to lose precious rotational energy and making it more difficult to consistently hit the pocket. At the end of the 1996-97 season, the local bowling proprietors began to apply more conditioner allowing the latest state-of-the-art equipment to be more effective. They had learned what other proprietors had learned, that the new equipment required much more conditioner on the lanes. (This also serves to protect the lanes from the biting friction of the highly aggressive bowling balls.) By applying more conditioner to the "heads" (front part of the lanes) and to the center of the lane (between the 2nd arrows on the left and right), it became much easier for bowlers to get the ball down the lane and hit the pocket more consistently, with more power (for more games).

Many bowlers that were averaging in the 170's and 180's are now averaging close to, or over, 200. Why is this? It comes down to one simple reason - more strikes! It used to be that you had to pick up all your spares and get a double to get your 200 game. Well that much is still true. However, it is not as tough to drive through the pins with the new balls so that getting strikes is easier. Less deflection means fewer "weak" corner pins, 8-10 splits or 5-pins. Combine this increasing striking power with a more "forgiving" lane condition and you have bowlers getting more four and five baggers (or more). If you pick up all of your spares you shoot in the 210's or 220's. If you miss one or two, you still shoot over 200. At least until you bowl in a tournament with a tougher lane pattern!

Scoring conditions in Kokomo have varied over the years. There have been several time periods where scoring was good to excellent. Prior to the current scoring era, scores were up a little in the late 1940's and early 1960's. Cedar Crest had great scoring in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Prior to the late 1970's, there were very few averages over 200. Lefty Willer averaged 199 for 103 games way back in the 1930-31 season. Fred Hurstel was credited with being the first to average 200 (actually 199.68) when he accomplished the feat in the 1938-39 season. The 1946-47 season saw a flurry of 200 shooters as three men achieved the lofty goal. Eddie Schupp was high that season with 202. Closely behind were Don Lowry at 201 and Herman "Hap" Land with 200.

Carl Babb indicated that he averaged 208 and Don Johnson 205 in the 1962-63 season. Tex Thornton believes that "Bunk" DeWitt averaged 202 one season in the early 1960's. All three of these men also averaged over 200 at Hillcrest Lanes in Peru.

Three tables have been compiled to summarize Kokomo's 200 averages. They were compiled from available Kokomo Bowling Association yearbooks provided by KBA Secretary Dave Turner.

Table 1 shows the highest average in the city by season (60 game minimum). It is apparent that for many years Cedar Crest was the top scoring center by far. Equally apparent was how Steve Preston dominated the local bowling scene for many years before moving to Lafayette.

Table 2 shows the number of 200 average bowlers, the total number of 200 average league seasons (some bowlers had more than one), and where these averages occurred. Again, a 60 game minimum was used which corresponds to about two-thirds of a full bowling season. Cedar Crest dominated the list until the 1997-98 season when both Don Lowry Lanes East and West caught up and put the three centers at similar scoring levels.

Table 3 shows which bowlers have the most 200 average league seasons through the 1997-98 season. It also shows at which centers their averages were recorded.

Beth Stanley and Deb Stewart became the first women to average over 200 for a full season (60 game minimum) in the 1997-98 season. Stanley averaged 204 at Don Lowry Lanes West and 200 at Don Lowry Lanes East while Stewart averaged 201at Don Lowry Lanes East.

If averaging 200 is one of your goals, you might consider developing a reasonably consistent hook release, getting some free "tips" from the better bowlers or finding yourself a coach. You need to develop good bowling fundamentals, key skills and a knowledge base from practice, and experience. Reading books, such as Fred Borden's "Knowledge is the Key" or Chip Zielke's "Revolutions" and "Revolutions 2", allow you to take advantage of the experience that others have learned.

This concludes the Bowling History column for this season. Have a great summer! Practice up and maybe you can average 200 next year!