Hi Beer League and All - I have found this to be an interesting POST.  I have read it several times.  You grew up in the 1990's forward.  You started bowling in the times of the Strokers and Crankers.  Mostly Urethane equipment. No 2 Handers and no super Crankers.  We did have Super Power Players. So here we are 30 years later.  You have your game!  Participate in tournaments and leagues that favor your age.  To maintain your skill level go and see a High Order Coach.  The coach may see issues that can help you score better.  You cannot coach yourself!  Play your game not the other guys game!  Best of Luck - Strikes and Spares - Silver Level Professional Coach, almost Gold Level, Denny O'Neill

As others have said, participating in leagues and tournaments that match your skill set is key to enjoying the sport.  Trying to compete at a level that is way above your skill level can be masochistic.  It can also be a learning experience, but many times will just be frustrating.

There is a time and place for every bowler to have an opportunity to participate, regardless of skill level.  It is just a matter of matching your skill with the correct type of competition.

I have bowled in house shot, no-tap tournaments where card carrying PBA members entered and absolutely destroyed the field (shooting 1200 for 4-games).  The first time I figured it was just a fluke.  The second tournament where that happened was the last one I bowled in at that center.  I am a decent bowler, but not a strike machine like the PBA bowlers.  It is just a matter of learning when and where you can be competitive.  I have since stopped participating in any tournaments.  I would have no issue entering a local tournament if someone needed a teammate and invited me to join their team, however I am done seeking out and traveling around to tournaments.  Bowling is much more enjoyable just sticking with league and an occasional open bowling practice session.

I realized over the past couple weeks that I just don't enjoy it anymore.  I think its time to step away for awhile and regroup.  I find myself immediately going into W.G.A.F. mode once I get tapped.  I'd rather sit and B.S. with my buddies then have to throw another rock down the lane and wait for it to come back so I can shoot at the 2, 4, 9, or 10 pin.  Maybe I'll change my tune in the fall.  I've had a lot of good times and met a lot of good people over the years bowling ... but right now I would have more fun setting all my bowling balls in a field and lighting them up with my .30-06. (if I could find ammo) 

Quote from: BeerLeague on February 26, 2021, 08:54:32 AM

I realized over the past couple weeks that I just don't enjoy it anymore.  I think its time to step away for awhile and regroup.  I find myself immediately going into W.G.A.F. mode once I get tapped.  I'd rather sit and B.S. with my buddies then have to throw another rock down the lane and wait for it to come back so I can shoot at the 2, 4, 9, or 10 pin.  Maybe I'll change my tune in the fall.  I've had a lot of good times and met a lot of good people over the years bowling ... but right now I would have more fun setting all my bowling balls in a field and lighting them up with my .30-06. (if I could find ammo) 

I'll admit I have felt the same way as you, and stepped back a bit. But for me it was less that I got burned out than I wanted to get my kids going in the game as well. So when my league folded, I simply didn't find another league to bowl in, though I stayed current with USBC. The drawback for me is if I bowl tournaments now, since I don't have a fairly recent established average, I'm coming in at the scratch average for the tournament (which is okay, since I average around that, +/- 8 pins), and the tournaments I've been in are adult/youth, so I'll still be bowling scratch while the kids get the handicap.

But with COVID going on now and CA effectively having been shut down for a year, I've got that itch again; and it didn't help that I saw every alley open when I went back to OKC and Omaha 2 weeks ago.

So the break will definitely help, but I've been where you are.

BL.

Gold County Bowl in Sutter Creek is open daily at this time. They send me text messages weekly, they even have glow bowl on Saturdays.

This is a common comment from many bowlers once they get older.  I have a family member in a similar mindset, also considering retiring from bowling at the end of this season.  They no longer have fun, almost detest having to bowl, and just generally have developed a dislike for the game.  I have a teammate as well who has said that once they can no longer average 200 or better they will be retiring from bowling, as it will not be worth it to them to continue.

I still enjoy bowling as I enter my late 40's.  There are good days and bad days.  However I have pretty much stopped bowling tournaments.  They are not worth the entry fee and time.  My enjoyment of bowling has improved since foregoing tournaments and only bowling scratch leagues.  Handicap leagues, even sanctioned handicap leagues, are nothing more than a social free-for-all that I do not have the patience for as I get older.  Five-man leagues are also no fun.  Doubles and trios, for me, provide the perfect balance of competition and flow.

I have seen a lot of 2-handers bowl just as poorly as traditional bowlers and leave their share of corners.  The "right ball" issue effects them just as much as everyone else.  All of those guys will be in the same boat when they get older.  Their body will start to hurt, their rev rate will drop off, and they will wonder why they subject themselves to it.

I'm turning 48 this year. Interestingly enough, I switched to two-handed bowling about a year ago and while my scores certainly didn't go up, that wasn't the reason I switched: I switched because I find two-handed bowling easier on my body.

My right wrist had gotten to a point where I couldn't get out of the first game before I was experiencing a lot of pain. Since the switch, my wrist doesn't hurt, I was able to get rid of the knee braces I had to wear and I feel like I've added at least 10-15 years to my bowling timeline.

Watching revs go through the roof is fun, but losing ball speed creates different problems. But that has kept things fresh for me -- new challenges.

Jess