As a kid when I first started bowling I just loved to bowl....24-7. When I was 15 I had improved and had gotten my avg. up tp 210 with my trusty Vector II. From their I figured that in a few years I would be on the tour and making all kinds of money as a pro....Hey I was young...lol. Then as with most all young lads, I met a girl, fell in love, etc. etc. etc. Then I joined the military...
Now I am divorced, out of the military, and have been bowling again for about 4 years. I am 28 now and have arthritis in my wrist (broke it when I as a kid). I am always looking to improve my game and have done so over the past couple of years. I am starting to catch up with the better bowlers in the city although there are a bunch of really good one's here.

 Nowadays, it's like I'm trying to make-up for lost time. To see how good I could have been. I know that going pro isn't an option now as I do not think that my wrist could hold up to the amount of games you need to throw to be competitive. Make no mistake, I practice a lot about 70 games a week including leagues. Just don't think I could do it over the long haul. I really don't think that I would anyway, even I if I were good enough and had no wrist problems.

 I think now I pretty much just want to be respected for my game, bowl in the bigger tournaments and have a shot in them. Also, I think that I would just like to show improvement every year. I think that sometimes I over-do it and expect too much out of myself. I am a bowling sponge/dork...lol. Anything bowling anytime. When I am "on" I am going to put up numbers anywhere on anything, but there are times when I can just over-think, over-do, and try to control the balls reaction all 60ft., because I "know to much".

I guess what I am asking is what are your goals? Not to avg. 2xx, or be a pro, just what do you expect from yourself and what you want your peers to think about you as a bowler. When I am 85 (hopefully) I want to be able to walk into a center and have people nudge each other and say there is a guy who worked his a#@ off day and night to become one of the best bowlers I have ever seen. Hopefully, they will be doing it by the time I am 35...lol.

Good post, I don't remember seeing one quite like this before...

For me, I'm slowly coming to realize that I've probably peaked and low-mid 190's for avg is as good as I'll ever be.  I don't have the desire to spend $3 a game for 100 games a week to improve the fundamental flaws that are engrained into my game.  Therefore, my goals at this time are to 1) Learn to accept that this is it.  My game is what it is, and there are others out there who'd like to be as good as I am - so I shouldn't be totally disapointed in my skill level.  2) and this one is the most important... Since I am not willing to spend the $ or the time to greatly improve my game, I have to learn to enjoy bowling as a recreation again.  I get too frustrated over my mistakes, and wind up not having fun because I'm upset with myself.  Since I am not willing to work on improving those problems, I've got to learn to accept that they will pop up once in a while and bite me.  and lastly... 3) If I do go to tourneys, I'll have to accept that it is merely a trip to enjoy, and that I will have no chance at winning against the hardcore scratch crowd, and the cappers who shoot low 600's will take my money just the same.

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9~

My goals don't have to do with numbers.  I live in a town, Las Vegas, where an above average number of professional amateurs live, and that makes the competition pretty steep.

I have a goal to be accepted as part of their circle, not necessarily get a big ego over it or even to hang out with them, but to just be recognized by them as someone they can't take too lightly.  Right now, with my 204 avg I am just another face in the crowd.

My other goal is to bowl in a PBA tournament.  Make a living?  No.  I want to do it because a bunch of people early in my bowling adventure said I would never be able to do it.  

Funny thing is, now that I am eligible to bowl in the PBA as a guest, that drive has lessened a bit, partially because I continue to see how really really good these guys are.  But I think I will do it this coming year just to say I did.

Growing up in the 60's and 70's there was only one goal..PBA. Saturday afternoon was spent watching the PBA and then going out with my Dad and trying to imitate what you just watched. Well it took until I was in my 40's to have the money to get my card, but I did. Now the goal, get myself to the level to compete and cash in the Southwest region. No tour goals, I have a family and a good job and the road is for the kids. Maybe in another 5 years the senior tour will have grown and be worth some time. Outside of that, enjoy the game, maybe win a few more tournaments (won my first singles title at the age of 44) and continue to learn the game.