Author Topic: League Bowling as practice - Sandbagging - Fine Line (Read 7253 times)

txbowler · « **on:** March 04, 2011, 04:38:29 AM »

As a followup to the using plastic in league as your primary ball topic currently being discussed...

I do not practice very often. Maybe a couple times a year. And most of the upper tier bowlers that I bowl with do not either because 1) They have jobs, 2) they have families 3) Practice costs $4 and up a game. So the end result is sometimes league becomes practice. You are trying a new ball out on league, or you are working on your game during league. For example, you are playing the gutter with you least aggressive reactive reactive when you should be swinging it deep inside but you know you need some work on your straight up game.

So my questions are:

1) Does anyone else do this?

2) Is it really sandbagging?

Xcessive_Evil · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2011, 12:47:35 PM »

1) I do, while bowling a scratch league and still managing a 215 avg.

2) I don't think so. Most of the tourneys I bowl are scratch. Even when I do bowl hdcp I at the most get 10 pins anyway.

I stone 8s and 9s like its cool...

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2011, 12:54:24 PM »

My goal is to score as high as possible when I bowl.

Sometimes you have a bad night and get discourage and just want to be done and leave. Others are the opposite. If your only bowl one or two nights a week and don't practice other wise your average will reflect that. Even if you spend that night trying out a new ball some, or playing a different line you should still score close to your average if you have a spare game. So it is all in what you make of it. If doing something different that night, or that week improves your scores the following week it all balances out.

I hate to go practice because I do not have a bowling center that is within 20 minutes of me. Then you get there and the shot is horrible and near impossible to work on what you came to work on. Plus the fact that your paying way too much to try and bowl on this crap. Been there done that way too often.

Still, the most important thing you can get out of it is work on spares.

Be good, or be good at it.

Edited by kidlost2000 on 3/4/2011 at 1:56 PM

milorafferty · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2011, 01:17:13 PM »

I think it depends on how you handle it actually. Do you "sit-out"/take a blind when there is a position round or during sweepers? Or do you go all out and try to score your highest games, maybe even using a diffent ball? If you only try to bowl well when your team needs the effort, or when there is money to be made, then YES that is sandbagging.

The Ballreviews Ignore User feature, Learn it, Love it, Live it!

spmcgivern · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2011, 01:22:20 PM »

I would think most people are guilty of using a new ball even when the shot dictates otherwise. Once again, it all boils down to intention. I don't see working on certain aspects of your game during league as sandbagging. But along those same lines, if you are always working on your game and when the moment arises you need to string a couple or you are bowling for first or any other situation where you may want to score higher, and you suddenly change to a different shot for that situation, then there is a little gray area in my eyes.

I consider myself to be an honest bowler. Being called a sandbagger would bother me when I know I do my best everytime out. But I am also guilty of trying a different ball or line as a fill ball in the tenth many times. Does it really change the outcome, not really. But it could account for up to a 1 pin difference in average so I am sure someone would find a reason to get bent out of shape.

I am not a pro-bowler, but I do play one on BallReviews.com

nutsforbowling · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2011, 01:48:29 PM »

I see no mention of thinking of one's teammates. I know if I was spending $20-25 a night to bowl I would hope that everyone on my team is trying their hardest to win, not just working on their game. But in this day and age of just caring only about yourself it doesn't surprise me.

i say you he dead!!!!!!!!!!!!

milorafferty · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2011, 01:52:59 PM »

I noticed that as well. I just assumed he didn't give a crap about his teammates opinion. I know I wouldn't be on a team with someone who had so much confusion about what is and what isn't sandbagging.

nutsforbowling wrote on 3/4/2011 2:48 PM:
I see no mention of thinking of one's teammates. I know if I was spending $20-25 a night to bowl I would hope that everyone on my team is trying their hardest to win, not just working on their game. But in this day and age of just caring only about yourself it doesn't surprise me.

i say you he dead!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ballreviews Ignore User feature, Learn it, Love it, Live it!

txbowler · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2011, 02:20:03 PM »

On a THS, I would argue that you can play 3-4th arrow with aggressive equipment, or 1st-2nd arrow with weaker equipment. Some nights I intentionally play with the weaker equipment. On a THS, you still don't miss the pocket.

I'm still trying the execute the shot to the best of my ability.

Zanatos1914 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2011, 02:38:16 PM »

Did he say bowling cost $4 a game? With a league card it should be $1.50 right? I wouldn't practice either with it costing that much.. Bump that -- 3 games cost $12 -- Pass

2 Fingers 4 Life
I Am The 3 Fingers Nightmare

storm22 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:35:37 PM »

Around me, even with a league card it's $3 a game. Then you have to get there before 5 to practice because they're oiling for the leagues. I can't afford to practice. I bowl two leagues. A fun league with my wife and friends and a money league on Sundays. I use my fun league for practice. In the end it costs as much and at least you get some $ back at the end.

Balls in the bag and order they come out:
#1-Anarchy #2- Virtual Energy #3- Virtual Gravity #4- Gravity Shift #5- Big Hit (spare and really dry)
#6- Teal Rhino Pro (oldie but a goodie)

al_g · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2011, 08:07:20 AM »

I don't practice as often either and sometimes practice in league for the exact reasons you stated. And Xcessive_Evil's response fits me perfectly.

Xcessive_Evil wrote on 3/4/2011 1:47 PM:1) I do, while bowling a scratch league and still managing a 215 avg.

2) I don't think so. Most of the tourneys I bowl are scratch. Even when I do bowl hdcp I at the most get 10 pins anyway.

I stone 8s and 9s like its cool...

For the detractors who will automatically assume I'm selfish and hurting my team or others:

1. I enjoy the team part of bowling the best. Who we're bowling against on a particular night will effect whether I use it as practice or not. I would never put myself above my teammates. I always try to bring my A game against the better teams so I don't hurt the team. Since we only bowl in scratch leagues handicap is not a factor.

2. You're assuming my teammates don't know I'm doing this and we haven't discussed this topic. Wrong. Some of them do the same thing. We enjoy bowling together but understand if someone's going to a tournament they may need to work on something and we're OK with that. In fact our team might take a hit in league before we go to Nationals because we're all practicing and that's OK with us. If you're doing that and your teammates don't know then it's a different issue.

3. Let's face it, most of us bowl on China. If I'm practicing a different line or on my accuracy does it make that big of difference if I have 3 boards to hit(even though I'm trying to hit one) as opposed to 5 to hit the pocket? Over the course of a season I really don't see using league as practice effecting my average more than 3 pins, if at all. On that occasional night during the season where the shot changed or is "tougher" that's when my practice pays off while others are complaining about scores and the shot not being the same. So in the end it's probably a wash on average.

Edited by al_g on 3/5/2011 at 9:49 AM

spmcgivern · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2011, 04:35:53 PM »

If you are using this average for tournaments, then I would have to disagree. To me, what you are describing is average control, just with a different way of describing it. You "practice" different lines and different balls based on some tournament coming up and only if you are going to be bowling someone of a higher caliber do you decide to bring out your "A" game? It doesn't matter if the league is scratch, you will still use this average for tournaments and that is where the advantage can be taken.

And if you do this in one league, my bet is you do it all leagues you bowl to some extent. And since your whole team does this, then I bet you are able to fall under the cap in that league also based on this "practice".

Maybe I am taking this further than the average person. I see too many people who practice "average control" and are willing to admit it, especially in TCBA. However, I don't know your whole story and I am making assumptions based on your reply. But anyone who says they bring out their "A" game only when they think they need it is a sandbagger in my book.

al_g wrote on 3/5/2011 9:07 AM:I don't practice as often either and sometimes practice in league for the exact reasons you stated. And Xcessive_Evil's response fits me perfectly.
Xcessive_Evil wrote on 3/4/2011 1:47 PM:1) I do, while bowling a scratch league and still managing a 215 avg.

2) I don't think so. Most of the tourneys I bowl are scratch. Even when I do bowl hdcp I at the most get 10 pins anyway.

I stone 8s and 9s like its cool...
For the detractors who will automatically assume I'm selfish and hurting my team or others:

1. I enjoy the team part of bowling the best. Who we're bowling against on a particular night will effect whether I use it as practice or not. I would never put myself above my teammates. I always try to bring my A game against the better teams so I don't hurt the team. Since we only bowl in scratch leagues handicap is not a factor.

2. You're assuming my teammates don't know I'm doing this and we haven't discussed this topic. Wrong. Some of them do the same thing. We enjoy bowling together but understand if someone's going to a tournament they may need to work on something and we're OK with that. In fact our team might take a hit in league before we go to Nationals because we're all practicing and that's OK with us. If you're doing that and your teammates don't know then it's a different issue.

3. Let's face it, most of us bowl on China. If I'm practicing a different line or on my accuracy does it make that big of difference if I have 3 boards to hit(even though I'm trying to hit one) as opposed to 5 to hit the pocket? Over the course of a season I really don't see using league as practice effecting my average more than 3 pins, if at all. On that occasional night during the season where the shot changed or is "tougher" that's when my practice pays off while others are complaining about scores and the shot not being the same. So in the end it's probably a wash on average.

Edited by al_g on 3/5/2011 at 9:49 AM

I am not a pro-bowler, but I do play one on BallReviews.com

Track_Fanatic · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2011, 05:22:25 PM »

Just buy yourself a lifetime open bowling pass thru the big 'B'. Oh wait, they don't offer those anymore. Glad I jumped on that back in the mid to late 80's. What a freakin' steal! Did anyone think open bowling would cost so darn much nowadays?

chatnboy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:23:39 PM »

for those of you who live near a brunswick house...going to bowlbrunswick.com and signing up for their email newsletter allows you to get discount coupons!!!!you might get a hour free of bowling or 1.49 games before 6pm or 1.99 games after 6pm.check it out and practice your behind off!!!

Go hard or go home!!!!!Bowl your best...ALWAYS!!!

bass · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2011, 10:40:16 AM »

It really depends on your situation.

Personally I was 2nd high average in a house last year at 237.

This year I am still 2nd high average at 226.

What changed?

A couple of things for starters.

The center installed a new more efficient furnace.

No resurfacing of the lanes.

Their oiling machine is acting up and they will admit to it if you ask them.

So if you look just on paper you would think I am sandbagging.

But in all honesty for the conditions I am bowling under I am more than satisfied with my scores.

Has sharpened me up to be an even better weekend warrior.

Almost all things are better when they come from Texas.Except maybe the USBC. LOL

Author Topic: League Bowling as practice - Sandbagging - Fine Line (Read 7253 times)

txbowler

League Bowling as practice - Sandbagging - Fine Line

Xcessive_Evil

Re: League Bowling as practice - Sandbagging - Fine Line

kidlost2000

Re: League Bowling as practice - Sandbagging - Fine Line

milorafferty

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spmcgivern

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nutsforbowling

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milorafferty

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txbowler

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Zanatos1914

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storm22

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al_g

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spmcgivern

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Track_Fanatic

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chatnboy

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bass

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