Author Topic: What are we paying for? (Read 3605 times)

9andaWiggle · « **on:** February 05, 2005, 04:56:45 AM »

Every time I see posts talking about making the shot tougher, taking down the "wall", and putting "credibility" back in the game, someone always posts a response along the lines of "I don't pay my $20 a week to shoot 170's and feel bad about my game".

Well, pardon me, but what exactly is the bowling alley selling? If you pay only $1.50 a game, should you get a lower score? And if you pay $10 a game, should you be guaranteed 279+ every time? Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I thought the bowling alley just rented you a lane to throw your ball on, a few pins to try knocking down, and a machine that will reset the pins and send your ball back to you (and now, scoring machines that will add your score for you). Isn't it YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to practice and LEARN how to score well! Pay your money and bowl on whatever condition you are given. If you still can't beat the next guy who is bowling on the same condition, then YOU NEED TO PRACTICE SOME MORE! The bowling alley DOES NOT OWE YOU ANY SCORE!

Sorry for the rant, but isn't it rediculous to think bowling alleys OWE us good scores? Is there no pride left in practicing and achieving good scores on a multitude of conditions?

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9~

"Fastest Chicken in the South!"

RaginCajun · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2005, 01:10:59 PM »

Great post
I totally agree with you
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You're not obligated to win. You're
obligated to keep trying to do the
best you can every day.

comy24 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2005, 09:26:46 PM »

amen to that 9, I enjoy different lane conditions, be it dry one week or wet the next and so on. I love the challenge to try and conquor what ever condition is out there from week to week.
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Having fun no matter how I bowl

nd300 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2005, 09:59:52 PM »

Good thoughts on a very polarized topic. Once,while talking to the owner of the lanes where I bowl,he asked me what I thought of the oil pattern. I told him that it didn't matter to me,and he proceeded to ask me what I meant. I replied that if the lane oiling machine didn't work right and the oil pattern was applied wrong then that was something that I couldn't control.
However, if the oiler worked correctly and there was a legitimate shot out there and I didn't score then that was my fault and no one else's.
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Chris
"Face it,Flounder---you threw up ON Dean Wormer!!"

azguy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2005, 03:46:28 AM »

I agree, it is not up to the house to GIVE us a good score, that's up to us. The only thing I expect from the house......respect....I give you money, use your equipment, now treat me like a person, better still, learn what customer service means.

At the lanes I use (military run), they seem to treat you like you OWE them, you are there because they LET you be there. Some of the people are nice, it's management that acts like it's a pain in the a@@ to be there. You took them away froma a nice meal and that's how they act toward you.

All I ask, is respect and customer service. If, or when, I have a crappy score, that's MY doings, and not the house.

my 2 cents are up.
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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.

mycroft009 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2005, 07:27:04 AM »

All I ask for is the same shot across the house. Not fair to have one set easey and the other hard. But I can live with shooting on a hard shot. In fact I enjoy it becasue I can make spares unlike the crankers, so when its hard I usually do better

MSC2471 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2005, 02:13:47 PM »

I find the contrast interesting because my Monday house charges higher lineage and open play prices per game, and you hear the most complaining when people don't shoot their normal 650-750 series per week....yet in my Tuesday house which is cheaper, you see people cheering each other on and when someone shoots a 600 series, everyone is happy to see your accomplishment. I don't think a bowling center owes me anything except clean conditions as I walk into the center, hopefully decent food and decent personalities from the staff and owner (if he or she comes down to the lanes all the time).

I pay what I pay and I shoot what I shoot- I can't blame anyone else but myself when I bowl badly.

Matt

Strike300 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2005, 02:15:59 PM »

I have to agree with Bones. You should see when the 200 ave. guys don't have their normal shot bust out crying like babies. You'd think they were the ones that could adjust. They should man up and get some versatility.

NOTHUMB · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2005, 03:24:13 AM »

The object is to knock down more pins than your opponent. If a person is so self absorbed that they forget that fact---well then are they are bowler or a guy who bowls?
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Only Losers Feel Pressure
www.thetimekillers.com

Wylie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2005, 10:10:18 AM »

quote:
You should see when the 200 ave. guys don't have their normal shot bust out crying like babies. You'd think they were the ones that could adjust. They should man up and get some versatility.

They are called House Hacks. Put them out of their element and they are no better than most average bowlers
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KYLE

IF IT WILL, IT WILL...SO BE IT!!!

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2005, 10:20:03 AM »

This is my second attempt, Sawbones. My first reply didn't come out right...

Here is my thoughts on the open bowler who can toss one game and leave compared to the league bowler who has signed up for 30+ weeks. For one, the open bowler throwing the plastic house ball will probably not even think about the lane condition. They are more concerned with just keeping it down the middle and knocking down some pins.

As for the league bowler, I was implying tough(er) but playable conditions. IMO, if a league bowler went to open bowl and walked out because he didn't like the conditions, then he is a fool for not taking advantage of an opportunity to practice and improve his game on a condition that is outside his comfort zone.

Should the league bowler expect the same condition every week? No, I don't think so. The league bowler should expect a clean environment, courteous employees, and well maintained equipment that won't cause unnecessary wear/damage to his bowling balls. As for the lane conditions, if the aforementioned details are taken care of, odds are good that there is a playable condition on the lane.

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9~

"Fastest Chicken in the South!"

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2005, 10:26:12 AM »

quote:
Jim (jkiser01) and I bowl in the same league and every once in a while you will see the lanes react similar from the onset. Most times though, there are pairs that contrast to what's out there. Could be open bowl prior to the league and they didn't oil, or they oiled and people are still bowling. But I would like to think that with the money being charged, we'd all be on the same condition.

It's been my experience that there are always pairs in any house that seem to play a little different, even after being conditioned in the same manner. Sure, open bowlers before league would have some to do with it, but I also think that the building itself will lend to differences on the lanes. Colder or warmer spots (such as lanes against outer walls vs. innermost lanes) and any air currents formed from the heat/air/ventilation systems can also affect the lane conditioner. How often do you go into a house and hear about how "lane X always seems to play about 2 boards different from lane Y"? It just happens - even in houses where I know the owners have tried to make it as consistent as possible.

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9~

"Fastest Chicken in the South!"

Laybzz74 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2005, 10:33:37 AM »

I pay for an opportunity; to practice, to strive for perfection, and to be in the environment that I've grow to love over the years !!! My 2 cents ...

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DAMN, I LOVE this game !!!

Robb in 1000 Oaks
LAYBZZ74@AOL.COM

Pinbuster · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2005, 11:55:06 AM »

I pay to bowl on lanes that conform to the rules of bowling, i.e. that are level, proper gutter depth, etc.

I pay for lane machines that run (within reason) without breaking down constantly, that do not destroy my equipment, and that sets the pins according to the rules of bowling.

I pay to bowl in a clean environment.

I pay for counter help, pin chasers, and mechanics that can resolve any problems I may have with the equipment.

I pay for the opportunity to bowl in competitive league environment.

I pay for lane conditions that resemble maintained lanes. Look at Bob Hansonâ€™s reply for a more detailed description.

One thing I believe has changed over time is the condition of approaches since they have gone to synthetics. Iâ€™m amazed that enough places havenâ€™t been sued by bowlers sticking and/or slipping and falling down on synthetic approaches.

We have a new house in town that put in Pro Anvilane approaches. They are horrible with probably 50 percent of the bowlers who transferred there from the old house sticking. Their solution was to tell everyone to buy slide socks.

When you have shoes that work everywhere else but there it would appear that they have the problem. If you need a slide sock then they should provide it. I already had one so it didnâ€™t affect me but I have heard lots of grumbling.

Jesse James · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2005, 12:06:55 PM »

This is an interesting topic. I hear a lot of 200 avg. bowlers complaining about the shot in a specfic house all the time. Usually it's along the lines of.."that House is so crappy, I lose 10-15 pins in it, everytime I bowl there. I'll never set foot in that House again". To me, this just means it is a challenging shot. I can't wait to get back there to try my hand at conquering it. As long as the lanes are fairly consistent for EVERYONE, I have no problem with the type of shot laid out, be it a tough one or an easy one. But don't lay out a reverse block, with hvy oil in the outabounds, and then have the Baby Bumper Special on a pair right next to me!! That don't get it.

Author Topic: What are we paying for? (Read 3605 times)

9andaWiggle

What are we paying for?

RaginCajun

Re: What are we paying for?

comy24

Re: What are we paying for?

nd300

Re: What are we paying for?

azguy

Re: What are we paying for?

mycroft009

Re: What are we paying for?

MSC2471

Re: What are we paying for?

Strike300

Re: What are we paying for?

NOTHUMB

Re: What are we paying for?

Wylie

Re: What are we paying for?

9andaWiggle

Re: What are we paying for?

9andaWiggle

Re: What are we paying for?

Laybzz74

Re: What are we paying for?

Pinbuster

Re: What are we paying for?

Jesse James

Re: What are we paying for?