Last week was my 8th week and I haven't recieved anything yet either. We start the Cheetah on Wed. night. I can't wait.(LOL). I am going to try not to do so much with the ball and see what happens. I'll post up on Weds.

Unsanctioned sport leagues = sandbagging when sanctioned as normal league

As for dues, I pay $20, $10 National, $1 State and $9 local, that's men. Women are $16.50, I'm not sure of the entire breakdown, other than $10 national, maybe $6.50 is just local.

Learned something last night on the Scorpion. I used my two Lane Master balls for the most part over 6 games. I had mixed results, and I found it was mostly me. As I would slow down to let the ball react on the longer pattern, My arm would not be straight through the backswing. I would bull my hand behind me and lose the shot and target. Also, when I released, and somehow realized I was off, I would hit on the ball, trying to compensate. I couldn't hold a line for more than 3 shots without this problem surfacing.

I am sure, this was a big problem I developed last Summer in PBAX, and it hurt me throughout the year. Speed and maintaining speed was the issue. When I would go below 16 mph, the problem came up. If I maintained 17+ mph, I was able to keep my arm straight with better results.

At least, I saw it happen when it did, and was able to stop it in a ball or two.

I'll see if the problem carries over to league on Wed.

Here's a couple of questions for everyone (yes, I did participate in a PBAX league in early 2007)...

- Do you think people who bowl this league need multiple balls to be successful?
- Do you think this is a good league for bowlers to start out in vs. a THS league?
- Would it be better to market these leagues towards our Youth bowlers, therein building a better base to accept PBAX, then expect normal THS bowlers to not only bowl in these leagues but wish to continue bowling in them?

Just curious. Thanks!

Welcome Joerevs300, as you'll soon notice this site isn't like some others that you probably once frequented.



Having never really bowled in one of these leagues I can't really say. I know some on this site have tried to just change surfaces, but still using at least 4 different balls.



I think it would be better for bowlers to start out on a house shot. They can learn some of the fundamentals of both bowling and how leagues work before trying something more challenging.



This would depend on how good of, if any coaching is given to the Youth. The same could be done with Adults though. One poster on this site has on several occasions mentioned that the two PBAX leagues in his area are ran by PBA members and I mean those that were regulars on Tour, that help the bowlers out during league. Having the fundamentals, and then some more advanced skills are needed for those patterns to be successful and have fun on these harder patterns. Of course its getting either Youth or Adult to actually listen.

In any case I don't think these leagues will stick around for long, the novelty will wear off on most, especially those who can't compete on them and refuse to change which is the bulk of the bowling population.

No due to the fact that you will NEVER get the entire country to adhere to a Sport of PBA pattern only in their centers. In order to do this USBC would have to do a 360 degree turn around and actually care what the centers are doing, having the local associaitons doing zero lineage again and withdraw center certification to those centers that do not bring their lanes and machinery into compliance. Instead they have moved in a totally opposite direction in the last 10 years. OK, so that's the center issues.

As for the bowlers. This game is a lot about confidence. And I think there's a hefty dose of confidence that high scores help a bowler. It keeps them rejoining leagues, keeps them practicing and keeps them FROM quitting. Once a bowler gets to a certain point they realize that they are not as perfect as the pros, and just a couple visits to a sport or PBA condition will show them this.



Our PBA experience league is Jr/Adult. This is because the youth program in that center is very strong and sends many Jr Gold kids to tournaments each year. Because they youth are involved, there's next to no competition or prize fund. Therefore there are almost no high level bowlers that involve themselves in it. Even in total this league has less then 20 people (youth included) in it. This league did not pull youth bowlers from other centers in the association.

Good questions though.

Erin

Absolutely. The ball has to match up with the lane condition.




We have almost lost a generation to easy House Shots. People complain when there is the first indication of extra oil on the lanes. They don't know how to bowl on harder shots. They like the big scores and the funnel to the pocket.



The Youth is the future of the SPORT. Most recreation and leagues, for that matter, are NOT sport, but for fun. Start with the Youth and we may see a return to true competition with skill.

Most House shot bowlers do not bowl in these leagues. I have heard of PBAX leagues with 16-20 bowlers, in a house that has leagues for hundreds during season. Why burst your bubble?

PBA practice tonight on the Chameleon. This House oils the first 6 lanes for bowlers to practice. When I got there, only lane 1 was being used. I took 3. Lane 1 was done after my first game, and the desk added a younger threesome who would rather drink, grope and fool around than a serious bowler. Lane five got a few more teens as well as lane 6.

Where are the more serious bowlers?

Bowled 3 more games and quit. I usually bowl 6, but couldn't stand the fooling around while I am trying to be serious. I complained to the desk, who had a younger guy, not the usual men. He didn't seem to care that the PBA lanes were being used by anyone. There were plenty of other lanes open, but he usually fills from left to right.

To me, those lanes should remain sacred. Frustrating!!!!

Lets face it, the more serious and higher level bowlers are not going to bowl on any condition "for the experience". They will do it for money, but not for experience.

If the sport or PBA league is not set up to significantly reward supreriour performance in the way of monetary gain, you are not going to get the higher level bowlers to participate.


In our PBA league that's all you have is just mid skill bowlers and the Jr Gold juniors. Its basically there to help groom the Jrs, not as a competative venue. Therefore you don't see much support from the high level bowlers, since there's nothing to be gained by them bowling. Especially when most of them participate or have participated in Regional PBA stops in the present or past. They don't want to pay the extra $15 to sanction and the league fees for no prize fund and have to bowl with the juniors and any other Joe Bowler that may or maynot have a clue.

Erin

I think putting these patterns down for youth bowlers or new bowlers would be the best way to do it. If someone only bowled on this, they wouldn't know any different. It would be like people bowling in the 70's or earlier. There was no wall back then and people didn't complain about it. That's all they knew. If this was all a new bowler knew I think it would help them greatly.