My Monday Night League, which I am new to, has some different rules that I am still learning. I found out that last Monday was the end of the first third of the season. We had a position night on the schedule. I didn't know that this league divides the season in thirds. And the winner of each third, plus the next team with the most points throughout the year, get into a 4-team rolloff to win the league.

Now, this is a 185 and over 90%/210 league. So the averages are quite close. With the exception of 2 bowlers on our team. They are 114 and 135 averages respectively.

It seems there were some openings on some teams, and the league let anyone who contacted the counter to join this league. They both ended up on our team due to a relocation of one bowler and pulled back muscles of the other.

They really shouldn't be in the league, but it sure does help our handicap against stronger bowlers. They are both first time league bowlers.

We ended up 2nd, only 2 points out of first.

We have the highest handicap, which means the lowest team average.
We are behind the next closest team by 3000 pins of total actual pincount.

How could we end up second?

The team chemistry is pretty good. But, I find it a bit frustrating when our bowler gets a gutter on a spare. I don't mind when the 114 bowler bowls 20 pins over. But, that doesn't happen too often. Last Monday on the position night, he shot 278 series. I have second high game scratch in the league with 279. Go figure.

I am a new bowler with about 4-5 months under my belt. My girlfriend and I joined a Vegas Doubles league which is my first league and her second (other one was 4 years ago).

During our first week, I averaged 127 and she averaged 107. Each week we have been able to play at or above our averages which tied us with 4 other teams for first place going into the position round. Well it just so happened that I had the best 2 games I’ve had all season (171/222) against a team that has a handicap of 20 versus our handicap of 144. This team is really good and one of the players has already had a 300 this season. Well needless to say, we ended up winning our match against them and took first place for the quarter.

Now you would think I would be happy about this but I'm not as happy as I thought I would be. I actually expected my team would lose, but because of our handicap and a couple of really good games, we were able to beat 4 of the best teams in our league. I started to celebrate when I found out that we had won, but that all changed when I realized how mad this made everyone. For the first time since picking up the sport, I actually felt bad for having a good game.

Now should I be happy about winning the 1st quarter or should I feel bad? Do I deserve the win or not? Do you have to be a scratch bowler to get respect or what?

Since joining the league, my average has gone from 127 to 139 and my girlfriend’s has gone from 107 to 128. We are definitely getting better and planning to continue practicing every week and keep taking lessons and hopefully get our averages up to a respectable level by the end of the season. Maybe then we’ll start to earn some respect.

Well my league got off to a frustrating start Monday and had a great end... only to be spoiled by the clowns we were bowling against. Never has a team name been more suiting to it's members than the team we were up against Monday.

The team we were bowling was called No Fun, and I figured they like us needed a name and just blurted something random out. Boy was I wrong. The first game everyone was bowling poorly seemingly around the entire league... nobody could really get a great handle on the lanes. I ended up shooting a very disappointing 121 that game I just could not get anything going. I tried moving my mark more towards the middle and I ended up with 3 straight splits. All I could do was laugh about that really... or rip my hair out, which I honestly felt like doing. We did however win the game as my teammates picked up for me and chipped in with over average performances. That 121 also sadly ended my recent run of over average games and that was somewhat disheartening but I figured I'd go ahead and start the new streak the next game.

Everyone did quite a bit better that 2nd game including the other team. I'm not at all bitter here... but my God I've never seen one team get so many Brooklyn strikes in my brief league career. It was unreal... one guy managed a 5 bagger without one solid pocket hit. At that point you just go ahead and conclude it's not your game and keep it close. The middle of the 2nd game the taunts started to fly among their table and I was a little irritated by it but I knew that's what they wanted and they were just getting lucky anyways. I ended up with a 155 that game but we did lose by a pretty good margain. As I was leaving to go back to the bar to get a pitcher refilled one of them stopped me and asked me if someone else had been bowling for me to get me my average. I couldn't believe it. Needless to say I was righteously purturbed.

The last game they returned to form and weren't getting the absurd carry they got in the 2nd game and their scores were back down to Earth. I started off flying with a spare and a little early Thanksgiving dinner for my first 4 frames. I inexplicably left my 4th frame open on a 5 pin (grrr...) and then left the 8th open in what seemed to be a game we had comfortably. I noticed that with a bit of quick math in my head that we actually had a shot at total pins if we could close strong. I finished with a spare, 2 strikes and a 9 for my now league high game of 188. Right after we had realized that we took total pins... you guessed it. I was called a sandbagger.

It's amazing to me that people can't just congratulate someone else on a good game of bowling. There's a mentality in team's we've bowled lately that I've been sandbagging the whole year when in actuality I've been taking lessons and practicing. The people from the league who I see at the alley practicing with me know better so it doesn't really bug me... but why can't people just admit they were beaten fair and square by clutch shot making?

I hear about disgruntled bowlers, and name calling. Our team is so much fun to bowl with and against, we always have a good time. And, after every match, we shake hands with the opponents, who have usually lost.

I see players mad at themselves, but it is rare to have someone mad at our team.

Sorry for your bad experience, but congrats on your bowling.

Whoa! This post is in response to Tyveil's last one back a page. How it got here is anyone's guess so if you want this one to make any sense, read back a few posts. Sorry all.

Yeah... I know what you mean about the spare ball moving away from it's line. Mine does the same, hooks quite a bit in fact, when the lanes are dry like that. Bowled some practice games tonight on a pair that were grease from foul line to the pit! Very few strikes but I hit my spares ok, so I guess I'm still delivering the ball ok but will have to adjust for the hook on the dry lanes. It ain't easy to settle into a system when the conditions force changes in your basic setup. Not to worry... I will learn how to do it all one day!
Cheers,
Allan

To those folks who are getting grief for bowling well... don't feel bad or guilty for making improvements to your game because there will come a time, soon I hope, when they will be collecting pins from you in your match-ups and you will still be bowling above your averages. Every bowler will have "one of those days" when it all goes right and score well above average... where do you think all those 300s and 289s etc come from? Not from people bowling their average, that's for sure. Don't let 'em get to you and take pride in your successes... you earned them!
Cheers,
Allan

Hey Rookie roller,

I know how you feel. Not everybody is like that, but it seems there is a few of those sore losers that can't realize that there are improving bowlers out there. Don't feel bad for doing better every week.

I started bowling last year for the first time in my life. I started with a 110 and finished the season with a 127. I wanted to improve so I got coaching lessons and have spent a lot of time practicing. This year my average is 169 and I've been getting grief from some bowlers in my league. I've been told by people that I sandbagged all last year so I can be most improved this year... which is pretty ridiculous. But that's what you have to deal with.

I don't care what other people think, and hopefully you won't neither. Enjoy your bowling.

All that matters is that you are improving and enjoying the game. I've pretty much learned to let comments from other teams roll off my shoulders. I bowl to do my best every time I hit the lanes, regardless of my handicap. I've found that some people who have been angry with me in the past and have called me sandbagger are now very respectful since they've seen me sustain my improved average over some time. If I would have lashed back at the time then we wouldn't be friends now.. just ignore people like that, everyone has to have an excuse as to why you're winning and they're not. Remember that when you lose though and be a good loser, set an example.

I get excited for every league but I enjoy my Friday leagues because I know I have no work the day after lol I'm starting to pop bigger series last Friday I took a 2nd game vacation as I shot 248-160-266. I'm due for a 700 series and that is my goal tonight. We were tied for 1st and took 3 out of 4 points, not bad considering we are only carrying 3 bowlers and taking a vacant. It's been a lot of work, timely scoring but we have a chance all be it a slim one atleast for the 1/2 as this is a high rolling league with some great bowlers.

On the subject of beer and bowling I bowl in 3 leagues and only drink on one (Weds). That is my best league with my highest average and the league I rolled 299 in 3 weeks back. I think a beer or two settles me down, too much takes away from focus. maybe I should have oe or two tonight? lol Good luck all!

Good luck Mike. The subject of alcohol and bowling came up a while back in another thread with some delightful posts as a result. Strangely (or not) most report that a couple of beers (or poison of choice) does seem to have a beneficial effect on your scores, I know that almost all of my better scores have been achieved with a few "Performance Enhancing" brews under my belt. It tells me that I really need to relax my bowling a tad! Moderation, though, is the key and be very careful if you are driving. For that reason alone, I rarely have a drink at the alley, but occasionally I get a lift with another bowler...
Good luck to all, League for me tomorrow... can't wait!
Cheers
Allan

Huh! Just checked back on the thread I mentioned... started by one Silent Mike!! Beer and Bowling in The Bowler's Lounge if anyone wants to look it up.
Good one Mike.. have one for me as well.LOL.