Show300,
Well your right i'm not sure if im ready or not for them. I just said that cause i took a 10 year lay off and just came back in August and finally comming out of my slump. Not in the Average range as some of other on here in the 200's yet. So i still have some aspect to work on.

But you are right. I should try it out. I get more experience on differnt oil pattern and make my game better. Yeah i think its $17-20 is the league fee.

I think bowlers who go into a league such as the PBA Experience should be honest with themselves, and perhaps Brandon is being honest with himself. Two months ago I would've jumped at the chance to bowl in a PBA Experience league to see if I could average 190 or above. Now? Heh...nah, don't think so. I'll save them for later.

I didn't bowl in PBA Regionals or the Masters 250 because of a lack of confidence. Sure, I averaged 200 for the past 3 years on a somewhat tough shot, but I didn't want to look like an idiot, even at the expense of experience. But that's just me. My wife kept prodding me and begging me to bowl in another regional but I wasn't comfortable with my own game.

If the league is hdcp and you understand that your avg is going to go down at first (15-20 pins is the norm), then there's no reason to wait IMO. I joined the sport shot league, and while most of the bowlers are higher avg than me, it has helped my game more than most of my regular practice sessions.

For one, all of the bowlers are higher avg, and since I'm observant and have a few nice guys I learn a lot from them. I also have a coach for a doubles partner (by luck), so that helps as well. But even with those factors aside, the pattern gives me nowhere to hide, so to speak. When my timing is off, I won't hit the pocket. Period. Same for when I miss my mark. I've learned to make better adjustments on the lane, how to deal with identifying old habits, how to narrow my focus with a smaller margin for error. And after Monday night I know exactly what's still on the list of things to work on at practice. As a result, after 16 or so weeks I'm currently the most improved in both leagues I bowl in, by a fair margin.

Sure, there is some mental prep you have to do, and sometimes it can test your confidence, but if you go into the league knowing you'll struggle more than on a house shot, it can be a great tool, and a great experience (yuk yuk).

I understand what you're saying Brian...but we're not talking about a PBA Regional or Masters Tournament. I've averaged 200+ for 2 seasons in a house that if you mention it to 90% of the bowlers in my area you'll hear nothing but bad about. It is truly one of the two toughest houses in L.A.

I know guys who won't even try go there to bowl a tournament, much less carry a league. I'm not saying I'm ready for the PBA experience just because I have been able to average 200+ for 2 seasons in such a house, but what I am saying is that I also won't allow myself to shy away from a challenge without ever putting forth at least an effort.

I'm certain I won't be the only one 'looking like an idiot' on certain patterns...on others I might look genius. I agree with Chris wholeheartedly, it's about making proper adjustments, minimizing errors and not hiding behind a shot you already know how to play. I figure if I can have even moderate success on the PBA patterns, then I will excel at the local 'house shot' tournaments and regular league nights...but that's just me.

Well, I used to bowl in a tough house when I first moved here, and I carried a 195 average in it the year I bowled in one regional. It was by far the toughest house around and I worked my tail of to carry tat 195. Nobody with an average over 170 ever came to our house to bowl in a tournament because they knew they couldn't hit it. I could go to another house and easily hit my average without even trying.

I now bowl in a house that has a little bit of area, but not a lot. There is an out of bounds beyond 5 board so that keeps everyone from playing bumper bowling. If you don't have hand, you need to stay in the Track area which is from 8-14 at the heads and 4-9 at 40'. Those with some hand can play further inside but nothing past 20 unless you're playing tight with a lot of revs.

I don't have aversions to tougher shots or PBA shots because I don't want to carry a 220 average just because I can hit between the gutter and 15 board. On those easy shots, you cannot possibly know if you're making quality shots on those conditions unless you are really tuned into your ball reaction and targeting to tell you what's happening. On a flatter shot, you know when you goofed and you might have a 5% chance of being around the pocket if you missed your mark or came out of the ball wrong.

Fireside Lanes in Sacramento will be starting a PBA Experience League next week; 2/15. It will be on Thur. evenings, 6:45pm, open to youth and adults and a 1/2 season long.

Erin

Darn, I run brackets for the Travel league on Thursday nights at 9 PM whereever they are. I would have liked to join that league and test my skills against the PBA shot.

Mike

Last I heard Mike it was going to be a singles league, no prize fund. That's so the Jrs can participate too. I know the scratch travel league bowls late on Thurs, so I guess none of those bowlers (which would be more interested in such a league then your basic handicap bowler) will be able to participate. Maybe if this one goes well they'll run a summer league too.

One of the concerns I heard discussed was that more open play bowlers complained about the open play lane conditions after the last sport league was attempted, then wanted to try them out. But if anyone can pull this off, Jack at Fireside can.

Erin

If it is a singles league and starts at 6:45, what are the chances of it being done by 8 or 8:15?

That would depend on whether it's 3 games or 4, if they switch games every game (or after two), and on how many they put on each lanes. Sounds like a call to the center for specifics.

For example, our sport shot league is trios, four games, and they switch after two games. We start at 7:30 pm and they finish between 10 and 10:15.