Spare ball placement when not in use.

[Blomer]

So at my center, there is no rack below the ball return to place balls. Not the balls being used are on the ball return. Usually balls are either laced on the cups or rings that people bring and place under the ball return or place the balls on the small stable space between every set of lanes resting on the cup holders. But I recently just joined a team from a sub to now a full time team member and one of the Gus places his spare ball on a cup right on the floor between the ball return and the score table, where people usually walk through. Drives me nuts. Someone can easily trip over it.

Thanks for letting me vent!

[Timmyb]

If he's on your team, then I'd have a talk with him. If that doesn't go well, then I'd later on "accidentally" kick his bowling ball so it goes about three or four lanes down. Now he has the attention of the entire bowling alley.

Yes, my methods usually lean toward the extreme side, but I've noticed most people need that......

[bowl1820]

If he's on your team, then I'd have a talk with him. If that doesn't go well, then I'd later on "accidentally" kick his bowling ball so it goes about three or four lanes down. Now he has the attention of the entire bowling alley.

The one more likely getting attention is you when you "accidentally" kick someones ball. (especially if you don't scramble to get the ball back.).


Yes, my methods usually lean toward the extreme side, but I've noticed most people need that......

True, But be prepared for the day when someone decides you need some prodding.

[Tony]

Where I bowl there are no lower rails (brunswick 2000 returns) to place extra balls, for the most part people keep spare balls on cups, or on thumb hole, on top of the partition between lower and upper settee area or in the 2 large cube spaces (each fit 2 balls) built into partitions or on unused chairs in lower area if no one is using them.
I have never seen anyone put them on the floor in between lanes or in the walking path around the scoring pod or ball return, that's a very poor idea.

[Tony]

If he's on your team, then I'd have a talk with him. If that doesn't go well, then I'd later on "accidentally" kick his bowling ball so it goes about three or four lanes down. Now he has the attention of the entire bowling alley.

Yes, my methods usually lean toward the extreme side, but I've noticed most people need that......

Having a talk with him sounds like a reasonable approach, kicking his ball may or may not be a good idea depending on the guy, I have bowled with more than a few hot heads that would not take that well, but of course, there's also the relative size of the kicker, the closer he is to the size of a tree, the more he can get away with.
I would however consider apologizing in advance to the idiot "in case I kick your ball" because it's in the walk path, then proceed with kicking and tripping over it every frame, plus getting the rest of my team to follow suit. I'm pretty sure that will get all but the most stubborn guys to move the ball.

In an extreme case each team captain in many leagues can call a meeting, you could do this and take a vote to enact a rule against placing the ball in this area. Generally this rule remains in effect until the next league meeting where it's voted upon by the full membership.

[Timmyb]

Having a talk with him sounds like a reasonable approach, kicking his ball may or may not be a good idea depending on the guy, I have bowled with more than a few hot heads that would not take that well, but of course, there's also the relative size of the kicker, the closer he is to the size of a tree, the more he can get away with.
I would however consider apologizing in advance to the idiot "in case I kick your ball" because it's in the walk path, then proceed with kicking and tripping over it every frame, plus getting the rest of my team to follow suit. I'm pretty sure that will get all but the most stubborn guys to move the ball.

In an extreme case each team captain in many leagues can call a meeting, you could do this and take a vote to enact a rule against placing the ball in this area. Generally this rule remains in effect until the next league meeting where it's voted upon by the full membership.

Bowl, all of that would be taken account of before attempting to"kick" the ball, including the possible damage to my own foot. I have been approached when I've left my own spare ball on the rack, which I've always handled graciously, and usually with a bit of embarrassment, as I do pride myself on bowling etiquette. I only mentioned it as a possible recourse in the event the guy turns out to be a douche.

Tony, I think your idea is much better than mine! There is always the old stand-by of telling the league secretary, but that has a few drawbacks as well. You could get pegged as the league snitch. Or, in the case of my league, you have a secretary who tends to side with the bad guys, and has the worst etiquette I've ever seen in a 60+ year old man. Our house also has extra racks incorporated into the scoring table, so this isn't usually an issue. We still have guys who leave their equipment on the seats, because they feel they need to have the entire contents of their 4-ball bag out on the lanes. Two balls and a towel/rosin bag should be the limit. That being said, I've never had an issue with calling someone on ill-advised bowling behavior, politely. If polite doesn't work, I'm not shy. I'll tell the person to remove the offending item, and then go straight to the house if it's not followed. If I find your towel on top of my ball, it's gone, no warnings.

[foreverincamo]

Luckily where I bowl league we have a two-tiered rack that holds 10 more balls. Otherwise a spare ball needs to be out where it's not in anyone's way. Tripping over a loose ball could ruin a night and end up in a lawsuit these days.

[Jekyll & Hyde]

i seen people put their spare balls on seats that are not being used or like a back table

[larry mc]

just ask him 2 move it .. i keep mine in the bag with false hope of not needing it

[billf]

Our house is tiny. The rack only holds ten balls with ten bowlers to a pair so a lot of balls are on the floor by the score keypad. Sucks but it's the hand we were dealt. I love going to other houses and seeing all the room and amenities they have.
BTW, Beaver-Vu in Beavercreek Ohio has the best pizza, TP Lanes in Bellefontaine the best cheeseburgers, Western Bowl in Columbus has great and plentiful nachos....see the trend? lol