Do you bring them or leave them?

[Blomer]

When you go to bowl, do you have a locker there or do you bring your equipment with you? I generally bowl at one center so I leave my stuff in my locker which can hold 3 balls, shoes and other misc equipment. The locker only costs $16 for a full year. Actually longer as I have never been notified to pay up and has been past a year. I just got two new balls, IQ Tour Nano and the Rocket so I have been looking at getting a new bag to carry everything. On occasion I bowl near a friend so I bring a few balls with me, but never the full stock.

[foreverincamo]

I have too much money tied up in my equipment, plus I bowl in multiple houses, so I always carry my equipment. With what the family owns equipment-wise, I had to buy a new vehicle that would hold 5 bowlers and 6 bags holding 9 balls.

[epiepenburg]

I bring my equipment with me. While my house has lockers, they don't have enough room for my gear. Plus id rather have my gear at home so I can maintain, clean, or adjust surface.

[SRB57]

I always take my equipment with me. Like other said I like to clean and maintain my stuff.

[RobLV1]

I bowl in three different centers, so I take my equipment with me, bring it home and clean/resurface it as needed. My wife bowls in two different centers, has two different sets of equipment, leaves it in her locker, and only has it cleaned/resurfaced when I threaten her with something major. Any other questions...

[Hampe]

I have a locker that holds a 3 ball bag at the center I play at the most (actually 2 lockers, one for my wife that I also use to put my other two balls in as well when I have them there). The other center I play at doesn't have any more lockers available, but there is a corner of the center where a lot of bowlers just leave their bags, and I usually leave my 2 ball bag there. For normal league play I'll just take my spare ball and shoes with me and play with the 2 sets of balls at each center (I don't drive so....). If I'm playing a tournament somewhere then I'll take all my balls home with me after league that week.

[Stormed1]

As I bowl in several different centers I take my equipment with me. As my wife and daughter only bowl in one center they both have lockers there

[jab5325]

Currently, I don't have a locker.

I used to utilize one, but it got to be a PITA when I'd bowl at other centers. Plus, the place where I used to have my locker "lost" my dad's ball, which was also in his locker, during a "renovation".

The center I bowl at now is very old, and you'd be lucky to fit 2 balls and a pair of shoes in the locker--it would be pointless.

[vdubtx]

My bowling balls live in the trunk of my car, so obviously I take them.

[bobforsaken]

I keep a bowling ball or two and a old pair of shoes in the locker for impromptu visits as I'm coming home from work. But generally I bring my good shoes and equipment home with me.

[Ryan1700]

I am not telling you your business at all, but I would advise not leaving them in the trunk of your car. Seen many many balls destroyed by the temp fluctuations. I live in Texas and I've seen the heat blow them up and I've heard cold is just as bad.

[vdubtx]

I am not telling you your business at all, but I would advise not leaving them in the trunk of your car. Seen many many balls destroyed by the temp fluctuations. I live in Texas and I've seen the heat blow them up and I've heard cold is just as bad.

In Texas as well. Garages are wonderful things. :)

Garage at home and parking garage at work. No major temp fluctuations going on. Even when 100+ out or below freezing.

[NewToBowling]

Left my bowling ball in garage here in Denver. It had expanded and thumb hole was definitely bigger. Eventually went back down but from now on my bowling balls stay indoors for storage

[Aslan]

I keep a bowling ball or two and a old pair of shoes in the locker for impromptu visits as I'm coming home from work. But generally I bring my good shoes and equipment home with me.

I keep an old urethane ball and a pair of shoes in my trunk in case I get the urge to bowl a few frames during lunch or on the way home...but generally I lug my equipment back and forth to the center. I bowl in lots of different centers so it doesn't make sense to store it at just one place.

[swingset]

Always take mine with me, I clean my equipment at home on the spinner...locker does me no good. Plus, I bowl at different houses so no point.

I did for a year or two rent a locker at a house I practiced at so I could keep 2 balls there to throw for drills...but it got pointless.

[Aslan]

The ONE time I SHOULD have rented a locker was in Laughlin, NV. I had to keep rolling and carrying 6 balls back and forth for 3 days…up and down stairs, up and down escalators and elevators…a long walk between hotels and through the casinos.

But;
1) The lockers didn't seem big enough.
2) I like to "work on" my equipment (insert inappropriate image) between practices.
3) There was some sign near the lockers that said they had to be emptied every night…which would defeat the purpose to some extent.

[BowlingBoards.com]

I bowl in three different centers, so I take my equipment with me, bring it home and clean/resurface it as needed. My wife bowls in two different centers, has two different sets of equipment, leaves it in her locker, and only has it cleaned/resurfaced when I threaten her with something major. Any other questions...

Honey, if you don't let me clean/resurface your bowling balls, I swear I'm going to... leave the toilet seat up!!

[Perrin]

I take all mine with me. bowl in multiple centers so...

[Mark O]

I take mine with me as well due to bowling at multiple centers. I wish I could just leave the bag in the trunk though, too darn cold in the winter for that!

[Aslan]

I take mine with me as well due to bowling at multiple centers. I wish I could just leave the bag in the trunk though, too darn cold in the winter for that!

I have the opposite problem. I'd like to leave a ball in my trunk just for when I happen across an alley and decide to bowl a few games. But I've had to make that an old urethane ball from 20-30 years ago because it just gets too darn hot to leave a reactive resin ball in my trunk.

[larry mc]

I always take my equipment with me. Like other said I like to clean and maintain my stuff.

same thing for me , plus id need 4 lockers lol

[Mark O]

I have the opposite problem. I'd like to leave a ball in my trunk just for when I happen across an alley and decide to bowl a few games. But I've had to make that an old urethane ball from 20-30 years ago because it just gets too darn hot to leave a reactive resin ball in my trunk.

Man I would kill for that right now! It's currently 16 degrees with ice and snow all over the place, we could use a little heat! Either way though it's no good for a ball and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall when I tell my teammates to not leave their equipment in the car and every week they leave their equipment in the car!

[Aslan]

Man I would kill for that right now! It's currently 16 degrees with ice and snow all over the place, we could use a little heat! Either way though it's no good for a ball and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall when I tell my teammates to not leave their equipment in the car and every week they leave their equipment in the car!

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

[Amyers]

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

The problem with league bowlers not practicing as your looking at it wrong (at least for them) They aren't out to improve as bowlers as much as to just enjoy themselves and have a good time. Now what I find strange is when its those people who are complaining about how much they won or where they placed in the league. I bowl with a guy on my Sunday night league who is back bowling for the first time in ten years this year he comes over to me every night after league to complain about how poorly he has bowled and where he is in the rankings. I have offered to let him practice with me on different nights more times than I can count always get the same answer no!! but we expect things to change?

[Aslan]

Thats true. The vast majority of league bowlers are there just to drink and have fun.

BUT...IF THATS THE CASE...then you (they) give up the right to complain about their scores. If someone came up to me on league night and started belly aching about a bad series...I'd just ask them, "Were you throwing well in practice this week?"

And when they respond with a blank stare...thats all the answer I need.

[Amyers]

Thats true. The vast majority of league bowlers are there just to drink and have fun.

BUT...IF THATS THE CASE...then you (they) give up the right to complain about their scores. If someone came up to me on league night and started belly aching about a bad series...I'd just ask them, "Were you throwing well in practice this week?"

And when they respond with a blank stare...thats all the answer I need.

I agree but it's not even unusual I think I actually listen to more complaining about scores from the ones that don't practice than those that do.

[Mark O]

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

Are we on the same team? Haha I feel like you just described a lot of what I deal with on a weekly basis! The majority of the team is dreadful on their corner pins and will constantly watch a reactive ball hook past it and curse as they missed yet another one! Then there is a guy who throws it 20+ mph and constantly wonders why his ball doesn't hook and leaves 5-7 and 8-10 splits on "pocket shots" They don't understand why I wipe my ball after every shot, clean it after every set, and get it de-oiled and resurfaced, they consider it to be a waste of time. And when they complain about their thumb hole being too big or too loose I ask if they want tape and I'm told no I just need to grip it a little harder until my thumb swells *smacks head*

I definitely agree with Amyers that I feel most people are just out once a week to have fun and enjoy themselves and that is all fine and good. But it is those people who I feel you hear the most complaints from on a weekly basis and you just want to grab them and say if you want to improve and fix these things you are complaining about then get out and practice and try to learn at least a "little" something about it!

[Ryan1700]

Another reason I bring mine home is sometimes I like to get them all out and surround myself with them in the living room floor and shine em up (basically just play with them like a 6 year old with his toys). I am recovering from a recent wrist injury that will keep me down for 2 more weeks ( and kill our league chances) so it's all I have left dammit!!!! Sad face