Tyveil, being competitive by Nature, and by choice, I just can't understand why some people do not want to improve. Even though I have been one of the higher averages on my teams, I will always listen to any tip or suggestion from another bowler.

I guess there just are some people who are there for recreation, and not competition.

I agree I just would think after weeks and weeks in some cases years a league bowler would want to actually improve. One of the guys in my league has actually been on my teams on and off for the past 6 years. We'll get sick of him and find a more serious bowler for a year and then he'll beg us to let him back because he misses it. He's had the same [censored] throw where he muscles the ball from beginning to end.. obvious to see (even from an inexperienced coach) and plenty of steps to take to correct it, but he just ignores the pleading of me and others trying to help him with his game. Then he wants to come in and practice.. like practice will do him any good if he's not willing to take steps he may not be comfortable with. I really believe he's just of the attitude that he can make "his way" work with enough practice, despite how fundamentally terrible his form is. Doesn't help that he gets a mircacle good game every once in awile. Ahh well enough venting for me for now /rant off.

Monday league went well and I managed a 560+ after starting with a horrible 139. I went back to my least aggressive ball (the Quantum) the second and third game and scored over 220+ and then 200+. I think I'm going to have to stick with it on our wood lanes and save my Rule GP2 for summers and synthetics. We still only won 2 of 4 games, losing the 1st and 3rd game by a total of 7 pins and blowing them out for overall.

Hi folks, I feel for you, Tyveil, with your team-mate not wanting to step up his knowlege and skills. I bowled with a friend last season who has plenty of ability and is technically fairly sound but developed his game on lane conditions that we haven't had for two or three years now but insists on trying to bowl the way he used to instead of adapting to what we have now. Consequently, he bowls with a 165 average (he used to be 190 - 200) and has decided that he doesn't like bowling any more! No matter how we tried to get him to adapt, he just wouldn't... oh well, we live in hope!
Summer League yesterday... we bowled against one of the top teams (both scratch bowlers) and my partner (105 average) was a bit daunted by the prospect. With my 156 average we had 95 pins handicap between us so I told her that we should be in the hunt if I could bowl a few pins over and she managed her average but she didn't look too convinced. We didn't make the first game but only missed by 20 or so pins. Second game we took by five or so, third we lost by 30 and the last we took by 70 pins (my partner rolled a personal best 157)! I managed 199, 176, 163 and 179 (for 179 average). By the end of the last game, my partner had a whole new appreciation of what bowling above her average could do! She is now signed up for a doubles league for the Autumn season that starts very soon and looking to improve her game. I was pleased with my night despite missing out on a 200 game, I feel as though I am making some good progress.
Good bowling to you all.. looking forward to your posts.
Cheers,
Allan

Hi Allan, looks like you are having fun. Good bowling. All over average. And, took 2 from a top team. OK! Sounds like your lady friend is commited to the game. I am sure you have had a positive impact on her.

I wish other bowlers had your attitude. Both Tyveil and I have found there are some who really don't want to improve, and that's a shame. I really don't care what their average is in a handicap league, as long as they try. Maybe I'm putting too much on the competitive side, but I just don't see it.

I find, and I am sure you do also, that there is so much enjoyment in challenging yourself with a goal, and reaching it. Picking up that spare, or getting that next strike, or improving your delivery are so rewarding when you try and accomplish. Throw in some physical problem, which some of us have had, and the challenge becomes more intense.

Any how, keep up the good bowling.

It has always amazed me (been bowling leagues for over 20 years) at the number of bowlers who do not care what their average is or what the score is for that matter. They are social animals and there have been some in every handicap league that I bowl in.

I am not saying that you have to be super competitive, but at least give a S**T about what is going on in the game, it is a team game after all. They seem to want to talk more than bowl and don't even know when it is their turn, frustrating...

Mike

Thanks for the nice comments, Dennis. My "Lady Friend" as you put it, is a first timer and was a total stranger five weeks ago. She thought that it would be fun to bowl on a league without realising that this stuff is competitive! After a couple of weeks the lightbulb went on and she started asking questions about what the scores meant and so on. Up until Tuesday we hadn't bowled against a team that was vastly superior in personnel, the others were about our level and just in it for enjoyment and to keep their hand in over the Summer Break from leagues, so she hadn't really seen the effect of a handicap when there is a really big difference. By the end of the match, though, she had caught onto how it was working and that spurred her on to her big game. I was delighted for her and relieved because I had a shocking front five with big splits. She was actually outscoring me in frame eight! I managed to get myself back together to bag out and get my score up, but she kept us in the game and then made sure of it with an excellent finish ( 8/8 I think). I should mention that our opposition wasn't holding anything back, either. Scratch, I think they both averaged around 220 apiece, but our handicap and bowling above average got us to the line or very close. We took the overall point as well. Very pleasing. As far as being competitive, I probably rank with the best but this league was for my own improvement as I try to consolidate the changes that have been made to my game, so I have been keeping an eye on the score but really only concentrating on making each shot as close to perfect as I can. I must say, that it seems to be working and I imagine that my average will make a climb for next week. I will have to work harder to get above that. Ok.. this got long real quick, so I'll sign off.
Good luck and good bowling to all,
Allan

Well Another League Night Done. Well i dont have nothing to be down about. Is shot over my average every game. First game was a clean game no opens and Shot a 233. Second game shot a 182 two frames 7 and 8 i pulled the ball and opened. Last game 178 only had three strikes rest spares except two open Left one ten pin and a split. Rest were all 9 pin or 8 pin taps. We ended up wining 2 out of 3 games. Second game game down to 10 pins. Overall happy with my performace and Since Dec 28 i been bowling above my average and my average been increase average of 1-2 pins a week.

Hey all,
Nice bowling there Brandon, only 7 shy of a 600.. just think if you hadn't pulled those two shots

I'm glad Friday is finally here and we have league tonight. I've been anxious to get back out there after last weeks depressing 0-4 loss (our first time losing all 3 games). Also anxious to try out things that worked on Monday; playing a further inside line, using a less agressive ball, and slowing down my shot to a more comfortable speed. Tournament season begins for me next week! Can't wait I'm bowling 2 city tournaments, a charity tournament, and hopefully state over the next few months.

I spent the day anxious to use my new Black Widow. Warm ups were here and would you believe the ball didn't even hint at moving. If it moved 3 boards that was a lot. I started the 1st game using it only to throw a 4-10 split and then a weak spare. I switched to my dulled up Angular one, played the 2nd arrow and shot 652. We managed to take 3 of 4 points taking the last game by 3 pins!

What i can't understand is the shot. I went to my strongest ball with lots of revs, the ball would move but no snap more of a slower reacting arc. It wasn't just me, our anchor had issues as did another 211 average bowler on the other team who was way under average. In my mind's eye it felt as though the oil was a thin film bordering on being burnt like after a full day of bowling on the lanes. It would hold the shot but like I said no real power strikes very weak finish. We talked to the lane guy who said not only did they put in all new pins the changed the buffer. I guess I have to be happy that I'm making ball and line changes quicker and still finding ways to be around 650s even on more challenging shots.

I came home to my local lanes right after and the Black Widow was hooking off the lanes. This is my Friday night ritual (bowling right after league to see different conditions). Here it's more like your tradition house oil patterns. I don't know if it's more units but it feels as though the ball travels on the oil like it should, hits the dry area and hooks. I didn't shoot well but I averaged 201 over 4 games and found a line the ball likes. Just a weird night at the lanes but not entirely bad.

Well, I'm glad I'm also out of the slump in my friday night league as well. I did bowl a 559 series. I started with my TS&A and bowled a 183, but I noticed that there was not much oil so I changed to my Sahara in the 2nd game and I had a 188 for the 2nd and 3rd games.