Author Topic: What's wrong with bowling? (Read 2001 times)

Re-Evolution · « **on:** June 14, 2003, 11:05:17 AM »

Pretty much everyone says it is either the ball technology or lane conditions, either too much, too little, too easy, to hard as I have come to find out by reading posts on here.
But I think an even bigger problem than that exists. It seems that a lot of bowlers are always complaining that one condition or another is unfair to their style regardless if they are a cranker or a stroker. Most houses I have bowled at have a medium christmas tree pattern that makes the playing field about as even as it can be. What are they supposed to do to please everyone? Lay out multiple patterns every night and label the lane from stroker to cranker. I don't think so.
I think that a lot of what is hurting this great sport is this increasingly bad attitude that is getting put out there by all the finger pointing and complaining, don't complain and just adjust. When that opponent is getting cheap strikes don't say to yourself that lucky !@#$%^&*()_+, be happy for him and feed of off his energy, after all his bowling has no affect on your average and we all have nights that we spray the ball all over and still score well. Nobody likes being around when everyone is complaining. Haven't you ever had a job that when you first started you really liked, but after awhile you began to hate it because everyone else was always complaining and their attitude influenced your thoughts. It has happened to me and this is the same thing. Nobody likes being around when people are always complaining and I have never heard anyone say I quit because I was too good at it and more than likely they have a lot of time getting to that level so if they quit it is wasted time.
These are the things that are pushing me away from the sport anyway.
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STORMIN1
STOP COMPLAINING & START ADJUSTING!

Edited on 6/15/2003 2:11 AM

10 In The Pit · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2003, 02:51:51 AM »

Put me on the list of complainers, although I normally complain within reason. My house puts out a shot that a slow speed, high revving bowler loves, or that someone who rips the coverstock off of the ball loves. Myself, I'm a tad below average to average on revs, medium-high speed, and I've had to move over to play pretty much a down and in shot. Even with these adjustments, I find that I tend to overpower the lane conditions because of the 42 feet of oil on super smooth synthetics. I've backed down my ball speed to the point of interfering with my timing, I've about run out of room adjusting towards the right, and I'm using maxed out dull particle equipment to try to cut through the oil. Basically, I'm already doing all that I can to combat the lane conditions, yet I still face the dreaded out of bounds on any ball that floats outside of the 8 board.

I keep reading about all of these bowlers here who post of wall shots and "easy" conditions, and I get kind of jealous because I don't find the same things in my area. I drive a pretty good hike each league night to bowl in the house that I bowl in, because the house is extremely well maintained.....however, I find the shot pretty difficult for me, and my averages prove it. I could bowl in a different house, but I like bowling in the house where I'm already bowling at.....I just don't match up with the lane conditions that well. There are lots of other bowlers in this same house that do match up to the lane conditions, and their averages do prove this to be the case.

I guess that in my case, it comes down to jealousy. I don't find the conditions that I can take advantage of like most others here, so I whine about it. But, at the same time, I feel like I've EARNED every honor score that I've shot in that house too! I'm proud to wear the Eagle 300 ring because I shot the 300 on a condition that isn't even my "c" game.

Back a decade ago, I did bowl in a house that had a nice walled up shot, but my game overpowered even the wall shot that the house had. If I could take my current game, and bowl on the same lane conditions that I bowled on back about 10 years ago, I could rack up some honor scores too.

I'll leapfrog off the soapbox now.....color me "GREEN" with envy. Ribbet, ribbet, ribbet.

Belgarion · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2003, 09:21:37 AM »

10 in the Pit. Are you sure you aren't from around here? lol I had the exact problem all year this year. Silly long oil with carrydown moving in right after practice was over. My avg dropped 15 pins this year (though some of that is the fact that the down and in fluff shot does not favor my timing and some was because I developed minor tendonitis in my wrist). I tried everything under the sun and when I finally got a stronger ball they cut back the oil volume and opened up the lane a bit like they always do for summer. So we complained a bit and got them to put out a tough shot for the summer scratch league

But now the league I am bowling has some seblance of a 37 ft sport shot with crazy volumes of oil that entire 37 ft and it carries down like crazy. Like last week I through 2 or 3 shots straight up 14 with a Carbide LRG and missed the headpin on the right side (I am RH).

What I really think the problem is is the fact that some houses try to lay down shots that really are not compatible with their lanes. Or that is the problem I seem to have. In the 3 weeks of this league no one has shot 800 (4 game league), and the high game is right around 220. Half the league avg'd 215+ in the fall and 2 of the guys are in the top 150 in All Events at ABCs (one of whom through a 300). I like the tougher shot because it gives me a chance to win some points against these guys and win some pot games with some low scores, and I like the challenge it presents, but it is almost silly because after the first game, even the heaviest particle equipment won't move up the boards and there is no such thing as a consistent reaction inside anywhere.

I am not a fan of the wall shot, but I am also not a fan of the shot that truly favors 1 type of game over another. I have fought all year with area and only having 2 or 3 boards on a house shot (when others are complaining about only having 7 or 8!) and now have 0 area on this new shot. But I won't quit because I always like a challenge and the opportunity to make my game better. Scores are good, but I tend to agree with people that they just don't feel as good when you are spraying the lane everywhere knowing that game 250+ would have been 180- on a different shot.

I guess I am no where near on topic now but I didn't get much sleep and have to drive 10 hours to Knoxville today, so my mind is only semi-funtioning...lol

seadrive · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2003, 09:56:30 AM »

quote:
If I am in a fiesty mood and hear someone complain about the condition, I am very apt to say to them "This condition just shows how limited your game is" Then, I duck. Bones

I'm not as brave as you are, Doc.

My summer league is using PBA pattern E right now. The crying and moaning never stops.

I overheard one of the better bowlers in the league telling his teammates that this shot is for old senior bowlers who throw the ball down the middle of the lane. I almost peed my pants when I heard that one!
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

Game In a BoxLC · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2003, 05:06:00 PM »

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T-GOD · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2003, 06:07:04 PM »

What's wrong with bowling is that it never stays the same. Or, at least long enough for us to know what to work on. One minute, there's long oil, next short oil, urethane balls, then resin, now particle, sport shot, 6th arrow shot, then they're walled up.

Which is the right way..? Is there a right way..? Is there a wrong way..?

Do we just keep changing everything so more bowlers can win..? Where does it end..? How do we teach the young bowlers..? What do we teach..? That what you learn won't be there the next time..!!

What is the game of bowling..? Just a big guessing game, with how the lanes will be oiled today..? Shouldn't there be standards..? To me, that's just why it's a game. =:^D

SrKegler · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2003, 06:42:52 PM »

Sometime T-God makes sense.

I think everyone would love to see more standardization between houses just so we could look at averages and figure out where we stand in the bowling world.

While it would be nice, there is just too much difference between houses to make it practical. Look at all the different type surfaces available, then factor in age of the lanes, humidity in the house, type of oil used, etc, etc, etc. There are just too many variables to be considered.

Even if it was possible, we then have the problem of enforcement. Current ABC requirements are to have a minimum of 3 units of oil on the lane. I wonâ€™t mention names but there are quite a few houses in Texas that wonâ€™t even follow that minimum. Not a drop of oil outside the 10 board. Is the ABC going to take a chance on losing bowlers by pulling a houseâ€™s sanction, not very likely.

Until ABC steps up to the plate we are going to be in the same boat. The house is going to put out the shot that stokes the ego of the majority of their bowlers. Namely those in the 180 average range.

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~~~SrK - Have balls, will travel

Strike300 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2003, 04:05:59 AM »

10 in the Pit I think you are my long lost twin brother

. We seem to fall in the same categories. I complain about the conditions but in fact it's not the lanes fault its ours. Maybe you should invest in a coach or find a pro-shop driller to watch your game and drill a ball that will fit your game or the pattern. A good bowler doesn't match any certain condition they find a way to work with it. Thats why Walter Ray Williams cashed so many times this year. He can play the third arrow or the third board. I'm sure a switch in hand-positions or worst off a ball will help guide you to the pocket.

Author Topic: What's wrong with bowling? (Read 2001 times)

Re-Evolution

What's wrong with bowling?

10 In The Pit

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

Belgarion

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

seadrive

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

Game In a BoxLC

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

T-GOD

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

SrKegler

Re: What's wrong with bowling?

Strike300

Re: What's wrong with bowling?