first time at league.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

a friend and i just joined a small 8-10 team, 4 person per team league on monday with a 190 average cap..
our two team mates that we were put together with didn't show up, so we were somewhat lost in the woods.
we dont have book averages so it was kind of weird at first, cause you can kind of feel everyone checking out what we're capable of or how we bowl.
but i had a great time, and over the first few games we kind of warmed up to the team we were playing against.

my friends first game was 217, and the last two games he bowled were in the 120s haha. i dont know what happend. he was the only one bowling the inside.
i bowled the first two games in the 150s and my last game was a 213.
i dont know if it was the nerves or what.....but the first two games i was muscling the ball, throwing really fast, pulling it left, not really allowing the ball to hook enough for angle.
then the last game i realized it and tried to slow everything down.

in the end it was great fun, and im looking forward to doing it weekly.

is there any tips that anyone can give us in terms of league bowling vs public bowling?

[ecub]

In league bowling, there's more pressure, of course. The oil pattern will move around, since you have 8-10 bowlers bowling in the pair. If you want some pressure, bowl with a friend. I started a thread regarding it here...
http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/13745-Want-more-pressure-during-practice-bowl-with-a-buddy

[e-tank]

things ive pick up as im in my first league:

-oil on lanes is much different than open bowling

-get comfortable with the pressure of being in the league

-socialize with other members

-learn how to adjust to the changing conditions

-talk to some of the staff before games to get some insight on lane conditions

-have FUN! In the end, this isnt the PBA masters its just a league

[Tokes]

Just a couple other little extras bowling etiquette is way more important on league. Try not to get or watch out for the overly negative or angrily loud negative person it makes some feel uncomfortable lol (have a couple on my league).

[sukeetoshyoo88]

ecub,
my friend thats on the team with me still owes me half a bowling ball.
we bet first to get 200+ gets half a ball.
and first person to average 200 gets a whole ball. <- did this once but he wasnt there...dammit.


e tank,
seems like the lanes transition alot faster.
we were short two guys which i dont know how they bowl. but im gonna guess its gonna be moving atleast 10-15 maybe more? boards over the 3 games.

tokes,
hope the two teammates are cool and easy to get along with.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

well we got our results back from the previous week, and we came in third!! and my friend hadthe highest handicap game

[e-tank]

Nice! Also one other tip that at least in my league is usually true : they dont know anything about adjustments or changing conditions so they just play the same line all night and blame the ball for not striking. What ive noticed is that most right handers in my league play the sameish line so when it gets burnt up just move a little left and youll have your own line to yourself with fresh head oil

About the moves over the games, i used my HRR for all three games last week and i ended up moving i think 10 boards by the end. If i switch to a polished though after the first game or so i can play i similar line the whole game

[Gunz1911]

I definitly fall into the category of "unable to read the lines" But I have never bowled on a league lane. What would be the best way to practice bowling on freshly oiled lanes, like they do for leagues? Right now I just go to the bowling alley after work to practice on the open lanes.

[noeymc]

play down the middle theres always oil there

[sukeetoshyoo88]

i noticed that alot of the league players play 1-2 arrorow. except the bigger younger players.

well our team mates came back this week, so we actually had a 4 man team this week.
im not sure if we won wiht handicap, but our team didn't do too well this week, and the other team was averaging in the 180's scratch.(we were probably in the 150's or lower scratch)

i averaged a 191 with a 223 game. after guttering the first couple frames in practice and in the first game, the second game i strung a lucky 6 strikes, spare, strike, and then a 8 split, and a 7-10 split in the 10th...hahaha man that was disappointing.
then the next game, i couldn't strike on the right, but was almost perfect on the left. the right lane i kept leaving pocket 10 pins.....what does that mean?

[americantrotter]

then the next game, i couldn't strike on the right, but was almost perfect on the left. the right lane i kept leaving pocket 10 pins.....what does that mean?Probably that the pattern broke down differently on the right lane. Either a different adjustment or ball was needed. (If you watch the PBA league you see it happen to the Pros in a very pronounced fashion)

[billf]

I definitly fall into the category of "unable to read the lines" But I have never bowled on a league lane. What would be the best way to practice bowling on freshly oiled lanes, like they do for leagues? Right now I just go to the bowling alley after work to practice on the open lanes.

Offer to pay the alley extra to put oil out then have nine other bowlers come bowl on the lane with you.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

man, had a semi-horrible night at league last night. my average is dropping, and with little handicap im not doing my team any good..
bowling the second shift league is difficult....i was going coast to coast with my versa-max during the 3rd game.

[Judy clemons]

don"t be so hard on your self that is what we have teams for to hold us up. when your having an off night the first thing to ask your self is am I focused and following through
chances are that will be a part of your issue and only you can remedy that by recognition.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

thanks for the advice judy.
i always try to just look forward, and even though they're care free, it never feels good to bring the team down.

well we ended up playing the same team back to back in two weeks.
there was a oil to the inside on the 4th arrow, and was able to play comfortably all night with out trying to launch the ball or throw out my arm.
the first week we lost all four points, and this past week we won 3 of the 4 i believe. (it helps having a team handicap of 147 vs their 60)
they're probably one the best teams in the league and we were able to beat them with out handicap the first game!