I'm talking about the attitude in general. I'm not sure where everybody else is getting all this stuff that I'm either not saying or not implying, my point gets lost in all the rabbit trails that get created. I theorize about a lot, a lot of what I talk about has happened, yes, but I'm the kind of person that likes to be prepared. I see things that happen, and I see existing and potential problems and want to know how to deal with them better.
There are plenty of people that have all kinds of honor scores and don't have an attitude at all. On the other hand, there are plenty that get an attitude or think they're all the sudden a coach themselves and in doing that they cause a lot of problems for other people. I don't like seeing that, I want to know what I could do to fix it. I also have to quite frequently deal with people with the attitude that come in and want a ball, want a certain trick drilling, or complain about what they have and the lanes, the shot, etc. I want to help everybody, so I don't care about the attitude or the ego or whatnot, but when it prevents me or someone else from helping them, that's what I have the problem with. If they want a ball or a drilling or something to fix their problem, when the problem is mechanical or mental, I'm not going to give them a bandaid, because that just compounds the problem. If what they need is a mechanical adjustment, I feel like I'm doing a couple things. Helping them find the problem, and saving them money. Yeah I could sell them a ball and make some easy money, but I'm not in this for the money. Some people are just convinced it's not their fault though because they have an honor score. I never try to "force help" on anyone, but when they come and ask, and then resist, it puts me in a bad spot.
On the other hand, I often have to help try and undo problems they caused other people by trying to coach them or giving them bad advice. It also creates some pretty uncomfortable moments when these people come into the shop and try to do my job right in front of me, but offer horrible advice or suggestions. Another bad situation.
I also do have quite a few people pick my brain only to go someplace cheaper. It usually ends up bad and they spend more money having us fix it, but I'm just about getting people going in the right direction.
Some of it is venting, but some of it is bouncing ideas and thoughts off people. Sharing opinions, having debates, a lot of it is theoretical. What I say here is a far cry from how I operate in every day life. This is like "home" for a bowler. This is where you argue and debate, and let everything go loose and just hang out. But just like I don't leave the house without a shower or being presentable, I don't take all this to the shop. Most of the customers I have like me because I'm easy going, not pretentious, what matters to them matters to me, I'll go out of my way to help anybody, and because I can explain things with regular words instead of trying to impress them with fancy technical terms. Far cry from how I seem here, right? This is a different crowd though. I like to debate, to throw controversial stuff out there, to get way past honest about touchy topics. These arguments here really help me out, I can't count how many problems I've avoided with customers because of the things I've learned from people here. I get all kinds of reactions, perspectives, thoughts, ideas, angles, concepts, etc., just tons and tons of good stuff here, and that helps me adjust to every customer I have in a heartbeat. This is just a lot of training and preparation here, so I don't mind having pissing contests, yelling, fighting or scrapping here, because I've already run through the vast majority of scenarios with people here.
I'm super passionate about bowling, but that doesn't translate well very often. You don't make any progress with anyone if you're pissing them off, lol so if I piss people off here and judge reactions, I can reduce the likelihood of that happening in my every day dealings. It's not like I intentionally be an ass just to get something out of it, but sometimes I do try to light a fire to see where it goes.
Giz,
I'm not sure what you are after. You talk about this bowler who won't take any coaching because he has had a 300. Ok. Why do you care, or think he needs some?
There are bowlers with very unique approaches that a coach may or may not have tried to adjust when they were young who turned out to do quite well on their own...Ted Hannahs & Michael Lichstien (probably spelled it wrong).
Do you see potential in this bowler? Why does he get under your skin? At least it appears that way on this forum.
In any bowling league I have ever participated in, team-mates opponents or even bowlers on adjacent pairs that know each other, make comments/suggestions about something someone is doing wrong or needs to change when they are struggling or just out of the blue.
My team members will tell me "slow" when they think my ball speed was too low. They have no idea if I did it intentionally has part of a move I made on the lane or not.
We are all "mini-coaches" in that aspect.
Also how would you feel if someone came to your shop and took an hour of your time discussing balls and layouts, and then proceeded to order it online and drill it someplace else based purely on your discussion.
Sometimes that's what coaches go through. People want their analysis and suggestions for "FREE".
I am kinda rambling all over the place because I'm not sure what you really want.
We all think we know something about bowling, and we all offer opinions. And sometimes we offer them whether we were asked or not.
And in all cases, we probably don't know everything we are talking about.
Heck, I've been bowling for almost 40 years. Using a 5 step approach for the last 30, and just last week, started my approach with the wrong foot. And of course, all 4 of my teammates yelled "balk" from the pit.
I guess I am asking what you are seeking from us here on the forum? Or are you just venting?
