I was bowling at my local center last night and I have a question about something the gentleman next to me did. He came in with a four ball roller and sat down and put his shoes on. Then he did something that just amazed me. He proceeded to dump a large pile of baby powder right in the middle of the floor? I understand that it was for his shoes to slide better, but is that allowed? By the time I was done (he was still bowling when I left), he had it tracked over most of the seating/score computer area. I wouldn't have wanted to be the person bowling on this lane after he left. I think I would've went flying down the alley. I am relatively new to bowling so I didn't say anything, not knowing whether this is a normal occurrence. Maybe the guy cleaned it up really good after he was done, I don't know. I can't imagine it would be very easy to get all that off the floor. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive about this and way off base. Just looking for someone else's thoughts on the matter. Thanks.

Welcome to the site, baby powder is not allowed in the settee area, you can put some on your fingers and then wipe your fingers on your shoes then wipe your shoes on the carpet, but not leave powder all over the bowling center. Someone could get seriously injured, like me.

That's terrible etiquette, illegal in sanctioned play, and I would have notified the staff immediately.

Two things: It could cause others to slip if they step in it, and if carried down the lane, it cakes up the oil.

Welcome to the site.

That Terrible. Putting it all over the settee area. I seen people use it put never seen some just dump it all over so anyone can step in and Track it all over.

Welcome to the site falcn63.

Totally bad form, and very dangerous to unsuspecting bowlers who happen upon that area later in the day. Maybe he cleaned up after himself, although unlikely. Unfortunatly you get that in all walks of life. People that think the world revolves around them.

Problem is that nobody ever has any sack and tells the guy what a tool bag he is.

Welcome to the site Falcn63.

As for your situation, during sanctioned bowling such as tournaments and leagues that is illegal. During open bowling its up to the center to take care of this. After all they can be held liable if someone was to slide too much, falls and gets hurt. I seriously doubt he cleaned it up, I've came across similar circumstances on lanes I was bowling on. Its very dangerous, I have shoes that I can adjust my slide by changing the sole and heel and once or twice had to use the set up with least slide, when I'm normally toward the other end of the spectrum at the same center.

Personally, I like that is total BS. He shouldn't need that much powder on his shoes unless he is dancing in puddles between frames. At most he should only need a little, unless he as size 26 feet. And even then if you take a wire brush to your shoe it should take off any excess or wipe the shoe on the carpet or something like that. You should've told someone at the lanes and then subtlely mentioned that he's an @$$ and he should've already had his gear prepared so that he could perform when he got there and not possibly kill someone with his carelessness.

What the hell was that guy thinking? In my experience even just a little powder is slippery enough for an unsuspecting person to fall on, but a freakin' pile? I work at a center and I'm fairly sure that guy would get kicked out and maybe temporarily banned, it's happened many a time.