Different people have different life philosiphies. (SP?)
My husband could be going to tournaments more with my son and learning the newer shots but he has gotten to the point he enjoys bowling well but he has nothing to prove and doesn't want to do that kind of stuff all the time.
This summer we bowled the dutchman as a family, he didn't put in for the bolony bank, he would've been in the top 30 if I added right. He did place in 2 events but we were there for fun.
and to compete, but to him it's not all about who's best. He knows on a good day he can shot 700's and bowl well. He's got the kind of confidence he knows he can if he wants, been there did that kind of attitude.
When he was younger, first tournament he bowled was handicap and he won. Back then we traveled after a scotch doubles tournament in our area, we had our fun.
My son would love to become a pro. He enjoys competition and money. Being at different tournaments is an awesome way to meet all kinds of folks. You learn who the real competitors are because you recognize them from other places. Then you have the locals who'll try because it's at their house and assume it'll be the same and most get angry when they can't bowl it because it's not their normal oil pattern. I've bowled on a pair with guys like that and love it. My nasty side, bowling around my normal ave and beating this hot shot locals. I don't understand lane conditions enough to bowl better but it doesn't hurt my game as much as the ones who get into a rut with the same oil.
Different folks bowl for different reasons, I just got out of a league of lady bowlers who do it supposedly for fun. They get angry and curse when they bowl badly but when I bowl a 200 and whine because I opened twice it should've been bigger, they have the nerve to say but you hit over ave. It's about fun, we're a fun league. They don't care for my attitude and I don't care for them. To me fun is doing something you enjoy doing for fun and the pleasure is doing it to your best ability. I hate to end up with a bunch of women who bowl for a social night out, sit and gab and not really pay attention and when they bowl bad whine. Heck for a night of pure gab, I'll play board games or go to a church event.
Only real fun I had in that league was the nights we were put right next to the men. The gals didn't like that, and a lot of the men didn't either. The ladies were loud, distractive and not as curtious as should be in my opinion.
Me, I'd sit and watch for the guys who shoot similar to me. If I was struggling, I knew which guys to try and immitate. Had a 245 one night because one of those guys next to me was hitting, I changed my line to match his.
IN leagues, I'm there to first compete with myself to do my best and to beat someone better than me. If someone with a much lower ave. beats me I applaud them and respect it, I encourage them to learn by that good game. I love to try and help beginners to bowl better.
One guy around 21 started bowling this past fall. I'm not a very good coach. He was bowling well, He'd hit 170's and some bigger games but I noticed a bad flaw in his approach. I discussed it with my son and some others who watched him. Most had the attitude, he's having fun, doing well, let him alone. Some agreed he'd probably be better off fixing it. One night while he was practicing and doing well, I pointed out his flaw. I explained how I bowled several years before someone told me my 3 step was going to keep me back. I was in a rut and not interested back then fixing it but they were right. At 49 I worked on it and found I am much more consistent. BUT I also did point out, it was a matter of choice and style. Maybe the flaw would someday be his signature and not hurt him.
