The 11th place team scored over 700. WOW. Only 129 total teams for the invite. Heard 430ish for the open. This means only 300 teams signed up for the open only.  I think the date this year has alot to do with the lower team count. When we cooked in 15 there over 600.

https://www.kcbs.us/event/7363/38th-american-royal-world-series-of-barbecue-invitational

For those of us not well informed in such things, is 700 a high score or low score? How does it rate a "Wow!"?

This is high. Normally you may see 3 or 4 in a really big comp, but the top 11over 700, that is for me a wow.

To me, it show a lot of "grade inflation" by judges.  When PH competed in 2010 and got 3rd overall, the teams score was 673.1430.  Lotta Bull won that year -- it was their third AR championship (that is basically unheard of).  They know how to cook comp bbq and had, at that time, numerous wins in big comps.  Their score was 687.9998.

To have that many 700 and above scores indicates to me that KCBS should spend some time on retraining judges.

To me, it show a lot of "grade inflation" by judges.  When PH competed in 2010 and got 3rd overall, the teams score was 673.1430.  Lotta Bull won that year -- it was their third AR championship (that is basically unheard of).  They know how to cook comp bbq and had, at that time, numerous wins in big comps.  Their score was 687.9998.

To have that many 700 and above scores indicates to me that KCBS should spend some time on retraining judges.

Agree. As the TV shows popularized the "sport" many folks came out of the woodwork to compete that otherwise wouldn't have. As a result, many of the same inexperienced folks became judges. Partly as research, and partly demand. As with anything, you can't teach experience. Also, when things explode in popularity it's very hard to salvage the "right" way because of all the pressure (money) being infused into the mix to strike while the iron is hot.

I also agree, at this years Lenexa BBQ which has 184 teams there were more 180's scored and also more 700 scores than I have ever seen in my 32 years of competing in this contest.  Something is changing!