Kids have a huge effect on me

[Josch]

I've learned this week that bowling near kids really lowers my scores. Unfortunately I can't really avoid them in league because I'm only 15 and still qualify as youth. In my youth/adult doubles league they're not really a problem since most are well behaved and decent bowlers since it's a sanctioned league. I'm also in a kids only league. This is the fourth year I've done it and in the past it's usually extremely small and the youngest is rarely under 10. Last year it was just me and 3 friends I've known for years. Unfortunately this year it's much larger than usual and about half the kids are under 10. They bowl extremely slowly, get mad when they don't do well, and never get off the lane. The worst is my friend's 6 year old sister.

On top of already being really slow bowlers, on the team we bowled against on Wednesday 2 of the 3 kids were bowling another game 2 lanes over with one of their parents at the same time as league, the other person being my friend's little sister, who used the ramp for the first 2 games. It took almost 2 hours to bowl 3 games with 5 people on 2 lanes. I was stressed out and did not bowl well because of it. My scores are below.

http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh542/armada120/Screenshot_2013-06-26-15-23-36_zps24a1c696.png (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/armada120/media/Screenshot_2013-06-26-15-23-36_zps24a1c696.png.html)
The app glitched for the first game. The score was a 158 if I remember correctly.

After league I went to bowl my 6 free games I get for being in 2 leagues (6 free games a day is the main reason I joined both leagues). I was not around children but instead an older guy who bowls everyday. My scores were much better.

http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh542/armada120/Screenshot_2013-06-26-15-23-25_zps1d0a1978.png (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/armada120/media/Screenshot_2013-06-26-15-23-25_zps1d0a1978.png.html)
Again the app glitched. I don't remember what the first score was and I'm too lazy to calculate it.

Yesterday I got to the alley about 20 minutes after they opened and because of this there was no one around, specifically children. Absolutely great day. I messed up the score on the third game. It was actually a 248. 8/ in the 8th, not a strike.

http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh542/armada120/Screenshot_2013-06-28-13-11-43_zps5295ca90.png (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/armada120/media/Screenshot_2013-06-28-13-11-43_zps5295ca90.png.html)

Today I went bowling again and unfortunately my friend brought his sister. She was on the lane next to us and spent the entire time she was there whining about how she's terrible at bowling, walking on our approach, even after I'm lined up to bowl, and singing along to the music. After they left I bowled three more games myself. Unfortunately after half a game, a group of kids was put directly next to me. With them being there I started to do worst. With the kids around I couldn't concentrate on my spares and my scores suffered.

My friend and his sister were their for the first three games, alone for most of fourth game, other kids showed up when I started leaving opens in the 4th game.
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh542/armada120/Screenshot_2013-06-28-13-11-43_zps5295ca90.png (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/armada120/media/Screenshot_2013-06-28-13-11-43_zps5295ca90.png.html)

I plan on pre-bowling the rest of the kids only league for the rest of the summer. I think it was still worth it as it was $120 for 10 weeks, three free games a day through the end of August, and a $30 voucher in the proshop.

[classygranny]

I don't care for bowling close to kids either, but when I have to - I try and use the "opportunity" as a learning experience and really practice on my "focus". Try it, sometimes it works, other times - I just pack up and go home.

[Josch]

I was really trying to focus but after listening to my friend's sister complain for an hour I was too frustrated.

[Greenday]

Don't bowl with your friend's sister next year.

I hate bowling near kids. They are, in general, loud and obnoxious.

[billf]

I'm older so instead of getting upset, I teach them.

[classygranny]

I'm older so instead of getting upset, I teach them.

I'm probably older than you, and I wouldn't mind doing this - BUT, they don't want to learn, nor do they even listen, AND THEN the parents find out and think you are disciplining them and they chastise you. NO THANK YOU! If I can't concentrate, I ask to be moved or I leave.

[billf]

I had a group of 4 kids next to me today. Three signed up for the youth league that starts the Saturday after Labor Day. They didn't even know that youth leagues were available.
They had fun and learned a little about etiquette and targeting. I let one of the kids run up on the approach while another was trying to convert his spare. He saw the difference in focus when somebody does that. None of them ran up on the approach out of turn again.
Targeting was easier to teach as most beginners target the pins. Change their target, let them convert some shots and then they buy in.

[WolfGirl1980]

To Me its not just just kids who drive me nuts on the lanes when there around me when I am trying to focus its anyone who doesn't know bowling etiquette gets on my nerves I tried telling them once and teaching them but they didn't seem to care cause just messed up this guy's 300 game he had going on it was on The Tuesday Night Have-A- Ball League that I am on now but that was on my first one this is my second time on one a Have-A-Ball League.

[bowlerRob2]

Bowling is a game of distractions unless you are in a very high level tourney. Recreational bowling is usually going to have its distractions. In my case, an adult league there are two drunk cougars that get louder and more obnoxious as each night progresses and they are just the peanut gallery (they don't bowl). I have learned to tune them out. Point is, distractions of some kind are always there in recreational bowling even though it may not be just kids.

[J Anderson]

My dad told me that when he started league bowling back in the 1940s, there was no lane courtesy. It was a duckpin league back then, and doing things to distract your opponents during their approach was considered fair game. I think my dad specialized in starting his approach a split second after the guy on the other team so he would be moving in his opponents field of peripheral vision. Others would do things like drop a ball on the approach, or cough loudly.

[e-tank]

for me its just being nervous about what theyre doing when im about to start my approach or getting into my back swing. Also when kids like to play with the balls in the ball return while balls are coming out into the rack