Haven't bowled in a league since 1998 (for several reasons, mostly personal), and am just getting back into doing some serious practice for about 6 months now. In practice I feel I'm actually bowling better than ever, which is most likely due to the fact that even though I haven't physically bowled in a long time, I am always bowling in my own private little bowling alley (my mind--yes, I am an AVID bowler, even when not bowling).
From 1983 through 1997 my overall average was about 225 (and yes that does include the 1980's when lanemen were still experimenting with hand sprayers, and the advent of the "short oil", which initiated the Blue and Red Hammers--my all-time favorites).
I read all these posts of "higher averages" nowadays. From personal experience, this has always been a pet peeve of mine, as this complaint has always been a constant. True there weren't as many bowlers averaging super high back in the day, but there were always bowlers who were, and those who weren't but could (sand-baggers sound familiar?).
Let me stop my rambling by saying that the more things change, the more they are the same. I still love this game, its eccentricities, and all of the eccentrics that populate this wonderful SPORT!
And oh yes, I think when I get back to bowling in league again, I will still be averaging about my normal.
