Ok, joined a sport league because I was sick of crying about dry conditions and I also wanted to test my skills. Join a league that is scratch and puts out Kegel Sport patterns for $16 a week. First week I am so happy I shot well. All amped up to Master the pattern the next week. Show up and shoot 2 good games, and feel confident with the choice of line and ball. This is such a treat because I can finally use my Virtual to its full potential. We bowl 2 games on one pair and 2 games on a random different pair. Here is where it goes down hill. This OLD guy is throwing an "epoxy" ball. Not to mention he throws with a reverse roll so it goes half way down the lane and then changes to the other direction. This guy is in his early 60s. He insists that there is no oil on the lanes while he continues to wipe is ball down after every shot. This guy is all over the place too. There is no avoiding his. I tried for like 3 shots then he crossed me anyway. I was looking at his ball and you can clearly see that there is a 40 to 80 grit sanding pattern on his ball and the pin is actually melted into the balls surface from being sanded too much. He said the ball looks like that because he soaked it in water. Why does 1 guy have to ruin it for 3+4+3= 10 people? If you suck why join THIS league. There is no difference from pattern to pattern if you throw a rock down the lane. Has anyone else run into this in either league or tournament? If so what did you do? I don't think it is fair for 10 people to loose the pattern because of 1 bowler. I am going to sand my ball down to 180 and play just left of where ever he plays next time I face him just to mess with him. This seems like a waste of $$$.

Before on of you say to learn to play a different line let me say I did. I played 40 to 20 - 22 only to have him keep throwing Jersey towards the end of the night. It was unplayable except for maybe a plastic ball but why have to throw plastic on an expensive shot because of one bowler???????

If your that guy please chime in and tell the forum why you are so selfish? Please tell us all why you don't care about our sport. Tell us why you are so old and still throw the shot of a 3 year old with a 6# ball. Please I would love to hear from you!

im sorry, i still throw like a 3 year old. i would just talk to him about it next time you see him, old people can be mean at times, just dont get too out of hand and get him a house ball if he needs it ;]

You look like Robert Smith compared to him. He thinks he is cheating the system by using that ball. Spoke with him and asked why he used that ball and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. The other guys on the league hate this guy. They say he sands it more each year. He thinks it makes the ball curve because it is dull. HE THROWS IT BACKWARDS!!!!

i feel your anger, if he makes me look like robert smith he must be that bad. you should tell him the only thing he is cheating is himself.

40 to 20? So you lofted the left gutter for the breakpoint to be left of the pocket? Also, who cares if there's a bad bowler on your league, he just adds more to the prizefund. And don't blame your bad bowling or lanes breaking down on one guy- it just looks like you're looking for a scapegoat.

Have them check his ball to see if it meets certs, if its that old and sanded to death, probably wont? if it is a sanctioned league.

From what I remember about the epoxy ball, it didn't soak up the oil as much as the virtual or other modern balls, so don't be surprised if it doesn't break down as much next week even if you aren't on the same lanes as him.

What makes these patterns so difficult is they don't put down as much oil in the middle of the lane as on a house shot. This way it forces you to move around and play the lane different.

Did you try playing up the gutter? If so what was the shot like out there, and was the ball making it to the end of the pattern or hooking early, or not hooking at all and picking out the 10?

This is for the OP:

TBH, I really can't see why you are upset about this person bowling on the league. Think of it as a challenge. He has just as much right to throw his money away as you do to win it. So win it.