I've been a member here for almost 3 years.  I've learned more about bowling than I ever thought existed.  I've got 13 balls and shoes the replaceable heels and soles.  I take 6 balls to league in my 6-ball roller, confident that I'm prepared for anything I might encounter that night.  Apparently I've passed the bowling bug on to one of my teammates.  He now has the 6-ball bag and 6 balls.  Knows NOTHING about bowling other than just throwing it hard up the gut and change balls if it doesn't strike (even if he misses his mark by 5 boards), and he has been just kicking my *ss!!  He's a teammate and I should be supportive, but d*mn it!!  It's really p*ssing me off!!  

I've spent these 3 years learning the nuances of this sport.  When to move, how to move, changing hand positions, playing different lines....I've raised my average 13 pins despite seeing the weirdest freakin' conditions than I've seen in my time at this center.  Meanwhile, he's just zipping it up the gut -- hit's the pocket and carries.  Hits it Brookie and carries.  Hits it through the nose AND CARRIES!!  AHHHHHH!!! Last night, he's got the front 8 going in the 3rd game...It was a really good game with only 2 brooklyns.....Throws first ball in the 9th, and goes through the nose leaving a 10-pin.  Misses the spare by about a ball.  Comes back not understanding why the 10-pin was even standing.  "It wasn't that bad!" he says.  I'm thinking it could have been worse.  

I know I'm being a freakin' whiny baby about this and I've got no problem with it!!  We won last night and, in a team setting, that's what's important, but.....my fragile, little ego has taken a hit and I need to vent!!
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Nollster

Summer league
Winter League

Nollster - How old are you?  That's a serious question and I understand if you want to retain some anonymity and not answer or answer via PM.

I understand how you feel.  Take the same situation and extend it to where said teammate has a PBA card and everyone in the house consistently praises him for being a better bowler than you.  Imagine how that would feel.

These types of situation used to really get under my skin in a bad way.  So much so, it harmed my own focus on what I was doing.  When I realized it, I saw that I had two choices - continue to be bitter about it, or roll with the punches and focus on my game.

How to "roll with it" is different for anyone who chooses that path.  Personally, I just laugh and cheer them on (especially when they're on my team) and treat them as a fellow bowler who is just doing the best they know to knock pins down. Not everyone seeks the path of higher knowledge.

When it is someone on the other team and they're a loud braggart on top of all of this, there's nothing like a real-life ignore list.

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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King  : Kill the back row