I have been told by the Pro Shop operator that it is the fastest way to become a better bowler. Now I'm not a very good bowler to begin with. I am all over the place with my scores. I can have games on one night (THS) of 161, 175, 118 and then bowl the next day with scores of 207, 218, 188 and then still come back the next day bowl 130, 140, 121.

So as you can see I'm not very consistent. I'm not sure why I'm not very consistent, but I'm not.

Anyhow, I guess what I'm asking is would I be wasting my money? Or do you think it could actually help me?

I should add that I do actually do better when there is oil involved. When the lanes are a medium oil or drier I tend to over hook the lane. My speed is medium and I'm more of a stroker with low to medium revs. I do bowl with a fingertip drill with a pin-in ball.

Brian, it's not only the amount of oil but the length and spread of oil too. Keep in mind that if you have a deficiency in your game, release, delivery, speed, accuracy, they will show up twofold.

Atochabsh and I agree that the best way to bowl in a PBAX is where they provide training on the site while you bowl. Watchful eyes are great to identify potential problems and recommend corrections, that the bowler doesn't realize.

Even if you don't fix any problems, you will amass a list of them that you could work on for the future. So, yes, this may help you. But, go into it wanting to learn and improve.

I just recently finished up my pba experience league. I honestly think that it would be a great idea to join one of these types of league. I fluctuate around 200 avg on my THS at my local house. The pba leagues showed me how inaccurate I actually am. I really need to work on accuracy to become a more consistent bowler. The PBA patterns chewed me up. Enough said. It's definitely worth the experience tho.

I'm with Dennis on this, the only way a PBAX League helps is if you are getting coaching with it. The fastest way to get better is a good coach not bowling on difficult patterns. The difficult patterns will show how inaccurate your are, but without a trained pair of eyes to watch, point out what is causing it and help you fix it, how much will the patterns really help?

Also with PBAX League, go in with an open mind, the pattern might not play at all like the information fliers say they will play. Most centers don't have the same machine and do the same procedure needed to let the pattern play. So don't be surprised if it plays a lot like the house pattern.

I'm nearing the end of my PBAX league and we do not have anyone helping us out or watching over us. And there's not a bowler good enough to tell you how you should be playing the lane or what you're doing wrong physically. I really wish there was someone certified to help us with our problems when they show up, but it's a league of only 10 people so it's hardly worth it to have someone like that.

Amateur, the 2 Houses with successful PBAX leagues, have them run by pros. The pros job is to help and train. You can get immediate help or stay after for a private session.

That is why all of the others failed for lack of interest. These 2 have tripled in bowlers. In fact, there have even been honor scores recorded. 300 on a PBA Pattern. Wow.

Is that just your area or are you saying there should be two houses in any area that have PBAX leagues run by a pro or certified coach?

A PBA Exp league will only help you if you know what you are doing wrong when you throw a bad ball and what you did right when you throw a good ball. Without the existing knowledge of how to move on the lanes, how to repeat shots, know when and when you are not hitting your mark and breakpoint a PBA Exp league can be nothing but frustration.

Just being in the league will not make you a better bowler. You have to have knowledge or ongoing tutoring to guide you in how to recognize mistakes and inconsistencies. If you are as you say, "all over the place" then a PBA Exp league will only exploit that more. Personally I don't think anyone under 190 should be in a competative (bowling for points with score) PBA Exp league either handicapped or scratch.

You should also know that you will have to pay an additional $15 a year to do this on top of your regular USBC sanctioning.

Erin

[qutoe]I have been told by the Pro Shop operator that it is the fastest way to become a better bowler. [/quote]

I strongly disagree with this. IMO, the fastest way to become a better bowler is to engage in a bi weekly private coach, practise 4+ days a week and do that for about 4 months (maybe even two months). You'll get better. That is providing that the coach you engage has a knowledge of lane transition, good sense of ball choice, and spare shooting formulas.

Erin