I know I'm in the wrong in this situation...BUT...

[Aslan]

So here's the scenario:

I'm practicing for sweeps in Vegas and right next to me and my bowling partner the alley puts a party of like 4-5 people.

The people were having fun...it's Vegas...they weren't beligerant or rude or anything...just having fun.

The PROBLEM is....ONE of the ladies in their group...seemed to be overly dramatic...no understanding of bowling etiquette at ALL. She would post her shot by doing stupid poses...take selfies...run up on the approach when it wasn't her turn...stand over in our lane area while others were bowling...just really, really bad bowling etiquette...worse than any kid over the age of 6 that I've ever seen.

:mad: So I started getting mad...but I tend to let casual bowlers alone because I don't want to be the reason they get turned off to bowling or don't become league bowlers....(because league bowlers are all jerks who take things too seriously, etc...).

BUT....as I was about to take a shot...it's her turn....and I'm waiting patiently for her to throw...and she does....probably into the gutter....and I'm still waiting...and she's up there doing a little dance and acting the fool...and I'm still waiting....and waiting....and after about 1.5 minutes....I said to myself, "Screw it!"

I then just took my shot with her standing there.

As I did....with her flailing about acting a fool....her right arm hit me in the left shoulder. Now, I'm 5'11" 220lbs...her arm didn't even distract me from making a good shot. And as I left the approach...I didn't even say anything. Her teammates were kinda apologetic....but I acted like I barely noticed it.

But SHE noticed it. Lets just say she wasn't so excited and out of control the remainder of the time I was there. I don't think I "hurt" her. I mean, I bet her arm hurt way more than my shoulder did...but I think it was just the psychological factor of it. I mentioned to my bowling partner that I probably shouldn't have done that...technically I shouldn't have bowled with her standing there...and it was stupid from the standpoint that I could have injured myself had she jumped around and landed in my lane not to mention injured her...but I was trying to send her a message." My bowling partner said, "well....I think she got the message." Because....she was still having fun and everything and wasn't hurt...but she was more mindful of us as we finished up our practice.

So...I got the response I wanted...but probably (in retrospect), that wasn't the best way to do it.

[Jessiewoodard57]

Think I would have done the same. Woke her up that's all. Maybe she learned something from this

[HowDoIHookAgain]

I would have just told her to get the hell off of the approach (in a nicer way than that, though). And if she didn't listen, I would have asked whoever was at the counter to switch me to a set of lanes FAR away from the party.

[Amyers]

Can't say I disagree with you here. There is a line between having fun and screwing around and taking away from others enjoyment. It's not just important that she have a good time you need to enjoy yourself too. If she's in your lane or spending more than 30 seconds on the approach she got what she deserved.

[fordman1]

Were you paying by the hour or by the game? Why would you not try to get moved to another pair? You were on a pair weren't you? I thought you needed a pair of lanes to practice? Maybe you should have tried nicely to explain a little bit of bowling etiquette. I get mad in league when we get 10 minutes for 10 bowlers and they take 1 just standing on the approach. IT IS WARM UPS THROW THE BALL AND GO TO THE END OF THE LINE!

[JasonNJ]

I've been bowling every Mon and Weds night after league ends with my buddies for about a year now and every so often we get a group who are clueless about lane courtesy. One of my buddies will get fed up and kind of angrily explain lane courtesy and that usually solves it. Or if we get a group of heavy drinkers next to us we'll just move pairs. No point in trying to talk to drunks.

[taxexpert2]

I do get very exasperated with bowlers who engage in such antics. I noticed at one alley they actually had a list of the 10 most common items of bowling courtesy for people to take with them. How many will is a good question but at least they were out there for the taking and reading. I was impressed.

[Blacksox1]

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?



Change lanes?
Ask for a lap dance?
Start a fight?

[manke]

Were talking about practice i mean practice you guys need to lighten up. If you are getting upset move lanes but that is a little ridiculous to get up there and possible hurt yourself of her.

[Amyers]

Were talking about practice i mean practice you guys need to lighten up. If you are getting upset move lanes but that is a little ridiculous to get up there and possible hurt yourself of her.

No the real issue here is he let it get completely out of hand before he did something and it ended up being what he was trying to avoid to begin with. The possibility of someone getting hurt.

I was bowling at one of the houses I bowl a league at now. This house has two different crowds. An older crowd serious bowlers and then the university kids that come over late in the evenings. The wife and I were there practicing when they put this group of tools next to us who I knew were going to be problems before they ever put there shoes on. Three guys two gals sure enough one of them trying to fling a 6 lbs. ball thumbless at 90 mph. Actually flips the ball on my lane on his second shot. I let it go next guy comes up he's falling all over the floor sliding around like an idiot. I look over at him after the third time and nicely explain if he would slow down and use the heels they would brake him.

The thumbless moron then proceeds to throw a ball that goes down the lane that's not being used. My wife is up super slide decides to hop up there and almost hits her sliding around all the way on her lane. He then does the same thing to me actually bumping my leg. I calmly go over to my bag get a piece of tape out and put it on the approach between our lanes and call all three of the guys over. I calmy ask them if they see the piece of tape they say yes and I tell them it's there to protect thier sex life for the next few years.

They get a strange look on thier faces and ask how that is and I tell them the next time one of them or thier balls cross that tape they will never get any again. They ask why and I told them That after getting punked by a 40 year old fat white guy in front of thier girls they are done for the rest of college. They didn't even finish thier game.

[Jessiewoodard57]

Last night my team was practicing for today's league . The man next to us would speed bowl...as soon as his ball came back he would grab it and head to the approach needless to say many times one of us was already in the middle of our approach. highly irritating at one point I had to yell for him to stop because he had opened in the 10th (3rd ball) and he was ready to throw before the rake came down and cleared the pin deck. could not switch lanes all the rest where in league play so I just adjusted to every time he threw his ball I would bowl as soon as he returned to the ball return. Some folks just don't get it!

[Aslan]

The problem in non-league situations is that you have to walk a fine line. Nobody that loves the game wants to be the person that soured someone on bowling. And you always have to balance a good chance to teach about etiquette with a bad time to teach about etiquette. And how you do it, also plays a big part.

In retrospect, I should have politely asked her to leave the approach or just waited...depending on whether I felt she'd take my suggestion/request positively or negatively.

But you have to be careful. I remember teaching my daughter and her little friend one day during open bowling and one guy bowling next to us got agitated and said something to me to the effect of, "maybe you should also coach some etiquette!" Now, under other circumstances (not having 3 8-year old girls with me that I was responsible for)...that guy would have gotten a very, very negative reaction for his unnecessary comment. But, since I was bound by some responsibilities (and thus couldn't risk a confrontation that results in me getting arrested)...I simply apologized and tried to let the girls know that you need to wait while the people on the lanes next to you are finished, etc...

The problem was...the WAY that guy said it...he made the kids feel bad when that was really unnecessary. He could have simply taken me aside and mentioned it and no harm no foul. So, in retrospect, in my situation, I probably could have handled it differently and got the same message across.

[billf]

At yesterday's high school practice we used lanes 5-10 purposely leaving 11 and 12 open so I could video everyone and check timing, knee continuation, etc. Lanees 1-4 were empty and the idiot woman who works days put an open (senior league) bowler on lane 11. I also work there part time. The manager (owner's son) is the head coach. He didn't say a word. After practice I ripped into her. My best line of this one sided conversation was "You're so stupid I'm surprised you can remember to breathe"

A couple of seasons ago a group of teen girls came in. The league didn't take up all the lanes so I gave them a lane with two lanes between them and the league. I still had to make two trips over there due to the screaming, running around etc.. The second trip I came with half off coupons for Cosmic bowling later that night. I explained that is when the screaming and all out fun was allowed but they had to be respectful of the bowlers who were paying to play and playing for money (prize fund lol). They get a copy of my schedule and bowl Cosmic at least once a month when I'm working.

[TVan]

I understand all of this is frustrating, I really do but I guess it just doesn't bother me that much. My GF wanted to go bowling one evening and she isn't a bowler at all. We went to a busy place and had a family next to us. The one kid kept hitting buttons on the scoring machine (which was quickly disabled by the counter) and running in front of us on our lane. I even had to stop once and thankfully I had only taken a step and not started my swing. Parents were mortified.

[billf]

Open bowlers don't bother me. Stupidity bothers me. Bother me even more when I'm the stupid one.
Most people don't realize the safety issues with bowling. They don't think "that 200 pound guy swinging that 15 pound ball could really mess up my 3 year old's skull" or "when little Johnny's fingers are on that ball and the next ball comes flying up the return and hits them he will get hurt". It's just human nature.

I want everyone to have fun and be safe. Luckily with this being my fourth season with the youth league I now have plenty of little helpers throughout the center. Nothing grabs the parents attention or the 5 year olds like an 8 year old explaining how and why certain things should or shouldn't be done. Funniest thing I've seen in awhile was an 8 year old telling an adult that thought he was being over protective "If you don't think it would hurt then let me hit you in the face with it". I was laughing the whole time I was walking him away from there. About five minutes later that lady came over, apologized and bought his lunch.

[Aslan]

Yeah. It's less of a safety issue with adults and drunk teens...but it's a big concern with little fellas.

In my original example, believe me, her arm hurt way more than my shoulder did.

And people really don't understand that once you take that first step...that's 215 pounds of person in stride...and I can't just "stop". I 'might' be able to avoid hitting a kid if I decide to save him by taking a spill myself into the ball return or something...but I can't really do anything about the ball swing. And I'm 5'11"...when I'm getting low and my leg kick is working...and I'm shooting at a right side corner pin or 6-10...my leg can easily kick over to the other approach. If you're standing there dancing like a friggin Gumby...and my leg sweep knocks you off your feet...it's not gonna be pleasant.