Never heard of fines. You must bowl with people or in a house where this is common?

I've known this complainer for 5 years now. He really hasn't been one of my favorite people. But, his wife is a real sweetheart. I see her often at the lanes, as she bowls in 3 leagues there, and is an officer in each. They have been having some marital difficulty, and it seems this guy carries his problems over to the lanes. That's too bad. I have a suspicion who may be the cause of their troubles.

Sometimes, people forget that this is only a game. A competitive one, but, still a game. And, some people just can't face the fact that there will be times where you don't win. The real effort should be in trying. Not, belittling or disturbing others.

My thoughts go back to when I Coached Soccer, and especially in the younger groups, you instilled a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that the kids really tried their best while on the field. That's what mattered.

There were times where this guy may have been the team highest bowler on a night, and he would say to his teammates, "You know guys, I could use some help on this team." Or, "Do I have to carry all of you?" I just passed it off as a weird sense of humor, that wasn't funny. But, when he started to verbally harass my teammates, I felt it necessary to put a stop to it.

I've heard of fines before for striking equipment, but never been in a league that has done so. Its a rarity for me to see someone do this. I've seen some people that just tap something with their hand/fist so lightly that they wouldn't even break an egg, but when it can be heard from 6+ pairs away that's not good.

I'll agree that trying to do your best its what's key, winning and losing is secondary. Sure its nice to win, but not at the expense of bad sportsmanship.

As for the comments about needing help, or carrying the rest of the team, my team will make comments like that to each other joking around. We rarely are bowling well as a team, usually only two or three out of five of us. Normally its my brother when he's not bowling so well saying he's tired of carrying the team and needs to see what the rest of us can do. We are always trading jabs at each other.

Cal,
Looks like your game is coming back. Good going. It wasn't too long ago you talked about quitting. Glad you didn't.

noone's had a warning in the past few years from what I understand. I bowled in it three years ago, before they had that rule, and there were at least 4 people I remember who constanly who hit/kick the return. then again none of those people are bowling at my house anymore

Thanks Dennis, quitting was never really a real option for me, just the frustration talking but I'm glad I didn't either. I did take the summer completely off from bowling but that was more monetary reasons. I think some of my issues currently mainly centers around getting used to the heavier bowling balls. I know I still need to get with a coach to help get a few things refined, including things I've worked on and are better than they were.

Cryssen, I'm guessing the fine system has worked then if there have been no warnings the past few seasons and the problem bowlers are gone. A few seasons ago, in a former Saturday league I did a few bowlers would occasionally kick the return when they screwed up a spare attempt, one was the President of the league.

My summer league had fines for cursing loudly, kicking the ball return, and for throwing things. Warning, then $20, then $40, then out of the league. No one ever got a warning for the 2 summers that I bowled in it. It keeps the hot heads quiet.

Well after my lesson with my coach on Saturday morning, I bowled with the wife in our mixed league Saturday night. I had a decent night, not great, but I felt in time for a change 175,213,210 for a 598.
On Sunday morning I went and practiced with a few teamates and did better 237,210,202 for a 649... I'm hopefull
Hopefully my coach has gotten me off the schnide, and I'm looking forward to the week ahead.

Just got back from week 5 (position night!)...

I simply could not get my ball to hook. Every ball I released headed more or less straight down the lanes, moving 2-3 boards, tops. Not a single strike in the first game, but I picked up most all of my spares. Ended the game with a 130. A few pins over my current average, because of the good spare game, but still frustrating. My team won the first game by over 100 pins.

The other team went to smoke between games, along with one of my teammates. As my other teammate and I sat at the lanes relaxing, I had a thought about my ball not moving. Everyone else was having no trouble getting any hook, but I've been struggling with it the past few weeks...why?? I thought about my release...and had a lightbulb moment. I realized that my ball wasn't moving because it wasn't getting very many revs. I thought about that, and realized that the ball wasn't coming off my thumb first, which then lent me to realize I wasn't keeping my hand behind the ball. I went up to the approach, stood on the 23rd board, looked at the second arrow, and kept telling myself to keep my wrist more cupped, and to come up the side of the ball. The ball left my hand, hooked beautifully into the pocket for a strike. I *finally* realized what I had been doing so wrong. I ended up starting the second game with 4 strikes in a row.

Of course, it can't all be good, can it??? My spare game vanished in the second and third games. My strike balls from then on were much better...all pocket hits (except for a few where I lost focus and pulled the ball), and I finished the day with a 170 and a 136, for a 436 series. My team took all seven. Plus, the lanes were giving away 9 free practice games to the person who bowls the most pins over average in the second game. I went 44 over in the second with that 170, so I stand a pretty good chance of winning them!!

A great night for me, even if the scores don't quite reflect it. If I can figure out how to keep my spares more consistent, even when I'm rolling strikes, I'll have that first 200 game I've been lusting for very soon. I'm going to go practice on Thursday to reinforce what I figured out tonight...hopefully I can bring my camera and post a video for some critique.

The government fiscal year changeover has kept me too busy to post on here, so here's a brief synopsis of my season up until last week.

Basically I had eight 200 games and 4 under 200 games, but my average wasn't above 195 at all. After the first game of the season I realized I was trying to force a line that didn't exist and in doing so I was really having to control too much of my motion, so I moved right about five boards and everything was so much better. My spare game has been off and on so that hasn't helped either.

After a week off two weeks ago during which I was thinking about my approach at times I realized that some of my problems were coming from the ball diving too hard into the pins. I was in the pocket consistantly, but the ball was diving so hard that I was leaving odd spares. So last week I reduced the amount of cup I had on the ball during my armswing which resulted in the ball reading a little earlier but the hook was longer and smoother. After a ringing 10-pin in the first frame of the first game I hit the next 11 for a 279, then 214 and 218 after having some small problems early in the second and third games reading the lane changes. Total was 711, only my fourth ever 700 series and second ever without a 300 game. Best thing was I didn't even have the highest series on my team, as one of our guys shot a 722.

Next step is to see if I can carry that into tomorrow.

Our team's in 1st place! We're rolling well, and I'm learning how to adjust to the lanes better. Next improvement for me is to focus on getting off to quicker starts.