Pet Peevs of Team your Bowling Against

[Blomer]

Last night we bowled against a team who was a lot of fun a good bowlers. However, these two guys kept bugging me. Little things, but....
1. Every time these two guys bowled, they had to get some easy slide for their thumbs. The powder kept getting all over the place and just annoying. I mentioned how they could use thumb tape on their thumb to help them get out and they seemed surprised about the tape.

2. Same two guys took forever to roll their ball. After getting their ball from the return, the take about another 20 seconds to roll the ball.

3. One of the two guys used a very old cotton towel. This towel is barely staying together, in fact the towel drops little strings all over the place. He places his towel on other people's bowling balls and then on a chair n front of everyone. This towel is filthy.

Just venting. Anything that bugs you?

[ep1977]

Last week the other team had a guy that poured a pile of baby powder on the table about 3 times throughout the night. He would dip his thumb into the powder before every turn and by the end of the night the entire table was covered in powder. Another pet peeve is when the other team thinks it's fine for them to take all 4 seats at the table.

[bowl1820]

Last week the other team had a guy that poured a pile of baby powder on the table about 3 times throughout the night. He would dip his thumb into the powder before every turn and by the end of the night the entire table was covered in powder. Another pet peeve is when the other team thinks it's fine for them to take all 4 seats at the table.

Do you only have one table?

[1VegasBowler]

My pet peeve is the Human Rain Delay.

This is the bowler on the other team that has an average of about 150 and takes forever standing on the approach as if they're some sort of great bowler.

[Jaescrub]

I like to use ultra slide when I bowl but I keep it in my pocket and only use a little at the start of a game and I don't get it everywhere. my pet peeves are.
1. Long smoke breaks. Just be ready
2. Sloppy drunks. I like drinking too but learn your limits.
3. Hitting or kicking things when your mad the ball return is not why you missed the pocket it was that you had too much to drink and thinking about a smoke break.

[fordman1]

I agree with Vegas about something?? If you don't know what to do before you get up on the approach and have to keep moving around and twitching, looking at your hand etc. take up golf. Their ability doesn't matter. But maybe after going through all your rituals and taking 30 seconds to finally start your approach and still missing the head pin will drive me nuts.

Not crazy about Brooklyn hits, nose carry's and messengers.

[ep1977]

Do you only have one table?
Yep each pair only has 1 table with 4 chairs in this particular 40 lane house.

[AlexNC]

Long smoke breaks. Bowlers who don't pay attention to the rack, both before and after a ball (not noticing missing pins before shots, or errors/malfunctions after shots - "I don't know which pin it was")

Also, bowling at any leave during warmup, though its the common thing where I bowl.

[NewToBowling]

Only pet peeve are slow bowlers. This summer bowled against a 90 avg player who literally stood on the approach and stared at the pins for a good 30 seconds each and every time. Since she hardly got strikes it was two tosses every time.

Last week we were that last pair left as the other team was slow to bowl also. Hate being the last ones left

[fokai73]

I don't like bowling in leagues with 5 man teams and 4 man teams. I enjoy trio or doubles leagues cause slow play isn't a problem. I sub in a 4 man team league once in a month and I have to realize these people are here to socialize. Out of the 96 bowlers in this league, there are only 6 to 9 bowlers over 205 and 218 being high. So it's a family fun type league.

Some times we put ourselves in situations (join a league) that we can't help, so we need to relax and be chill......

BUT! having bowlers that take long smoke breaks, talk to a friend 7 pairs away, hang out at the bar, chasing the child, use baby powder for their shoes, STAND ON THE APPROACH FOR 20-30 SECONDS!!!! OR TWO LANE F"N BS IN A HANDICAP LEAGUE!!!! I got tired of all of it. I'm the clown in my league, I bowl seriously but have fun doing it - enjoy making people laugh. BUT I DON"T CAUSE NO SLOW PLAY!!!! In golf I'm more understanding, but in bowling, there is no reason to wait on somebody to get to the pair. Unless you're over 70 years old. I see guys checking the humidity, the earth axis tilt, and temperature while standing on the approach with their ball in your hand. Making sure their elbow is angled 5* and not 6 degrees. Yes, I hate slow play.

[ep1977]

I forgot to mention my biggest pet peeve: Resetting the rack during the 10 minutes of warm up time.

[ep1977]

Only pet peeve are slow bowlers. This summer bowled against a 90 avg player who literally stood on the approach and stared at the pins for a good 30 seconds each and every time. Since she hardly got strikes it was two tosses every time.

Last week we were that last pair left as the other team was slow to bowl also. Hate being the last ones left

I agree and hate being the last team left. Unfortunately we are last every week as 2 out of the 4 guys on my team are extremely slow!

[fokai73]

I forgot to mention my biggest pet peeve: Resetting the rack during the 10 minutes of warm up time.

why do people do that? when I know an individual would do this and he is behind me during warm ups, I let him go to give him a full rack.

btw, thanks for saying "warm up".... it's not practice in my opinion.

[Amyers]

I guess I'm easier going than you guys about the time thing. I honestly don't care unless it gets to the point that I have to go find you every other turn. Now the powder and easy slide crap I can't stand either.

[ep1977]

why do people do that? when I know an individual would do this and he is behind me during warm ups, I let him go to give him a full rack.

btw, thanks for saying "warm up".... it's not practice in my opinion.

If I'm behind someone gong to reset the rack I'll step up and ask them to shoot it as is but I don't always catch them in time. It's a huge waste of time.

[zacks]

One guy in one of my leagues will grab a house ball and bounce it on the ground when he's upset. That can be annoying. I've also seen one guy punch the back of the screens in the seating area and broke a cover.

Also don't like it when people are sitting there having social hour when their name has been flashing on the screen, especially when person A bowls before person B and is yapping to person B. Then person A goes to bowl, finishes, comes back and continues to yapping with person B. Hello person B? Yerrr up!

Lastly, I haven't worked hard to be a 200+ bowler to have people say "nice game" after I bowl a 170.

[panbanger]

I guess mine would be people who throw their shot then walk in to the next lane while watching it roll. I do this sometimes if the next lane is empty, but some people seem to do it no mater what's going on. Probably an accident waiting to happen.

[fordman1]

Pan it might be annoying but it is legal. Zack people who do that are trying to be good sports. Maybe you should to. You don't shake the other teams hand at the end of the night? Say nice bowling or nice bowling with you? In many cases you don't mean it but it is called being civil.

[drlawsoniii]

Pan it might be annoying but it is legal. Zack people who do that are trying to be good sports. Maybe you should to. You don't shake the other teams hand at the end of the night? Say nice bowling or nice bowling with you? In many cases you don't mean it but it is called being civil.

How the hell is that legal?

[Amyers]

I guess mine would be people who throw their shot then walk in to the next lane while watching it roll. I do this sometimes if the next lane is empty, but some people seem to do it no mater what's going on. Probably an accident waiting to happen.

Here comes another bowl1820 rule book reference lol. I haven't ever seen a rule that prevents it. I believe half the bowlers on my Wednesday night league finish in the other lane and yes I do find it somewhat annoying though.

[bowl1820]

Here comes another bowl1820 rule book reference lol. I haven't ever seen a rule that prevents it. I believe half the bowlers on my Wednesday night league finish in the other lane and yes I do find it somewhat annoying though.

As far as I know there is no USBC rule that prevents it, But it is kind of mentioned in the "Etiquette Information" in the back of the rulebook:

"Try to remain in your approach area while delivering the ball."

Now if you run out a shot and you cross the foul line on the other approach it is considered foul.

You also got watch out if you run out a shot, not to touch the wall (if your on a end lane) past the foul line that's a foul also.

[Mike White]

Here comes another bowl1820 rule book reference lol. I haven't ever seen a rule that prevents it. I believe half the bowlers on my Wednesday night league finish in the other lane and yes I do find it somewhat annoying though.

The rule is more of a "what if".

If the wanderer makes contact with you while you are making a legal delivery, your shot would be considered void, and shot over again.

It happened to me years ago.

I was playing deep inside on the right lane.

The bowler on the left lane, after completing his shot, while on his own approach, came back very close to the ball return and was swinging his arms because he just got "robbed".

One of his arms and my left arm made contact while I was making my approach.

Since it was my first ball of the frame, the solution was to re-rack to full, and start again.

There doesn't seem to be a penalty for the wanderer.

[Tony]

I forgot to mention my biggest pet peeve: Resetting the rack during the 10 minutes of warm up time.

Are you talking about people that throw their strike ball and then reset the rack and step aside (rather than throw their second ball) and let the next bowler take their turn ?

I bowl with quite a few guys the will do this, as they just want to find their strike line and not waste time throwing at spares, I have no problem with it, and I do it myself from time to time.

[Tony]

I guess mine would be people who throw their shot then walk in to the next lane while watching it roll. I do this sometimes if the next lane is empty, but some people seem to do it no mater what's going on. Probably an accident waiting to happen.

I have seen people do this but in some leagues where one lane courtesy is in place it could be a problem.

[Tony]

If I'm behind someone gong to reset the rack I'll step up and ask them to shoot it as is but I don't always catch them in time. It's a huge waste of time.

On the lanes I bowl at if you do the reset at the right time it will never setup the spare and will instead return to the full rack, it actually saves a fair amount of time vs actually throwing the second ball too.

[1VegasBowler]

Tripping the foul light works wonders as well.

[Tony]

The two most annoying guys I bowl with:

Guy A, waits for 2 lanes clear on either side of him, then stands motionless like a statue for about 10 to 15 seconds before he delivers the ball.


Guy B, also waits for 2 lanes clear, pauses a few seconds on the approach for delivery, his issue is after the pins are down he continues to stand at the foul line for another 5 to 7 seconds, long enough that if it's not a strike his ball is back on the return when he gets back to it, often he is still up there when the rack is set for the next ball or bowler. One of our guys a couple of years ago yelled at him "go sit down, no more pins are going to fall down".

To give guy A credit he never complains out loud about having to wait and he is a high average bowler 240's

[Mike White]

Tripping the foul light works wonders as well.

Making sure the foul lights are working properly doesn't seem to be a high priority to the proprietors.

Moonlight and open play bowlers don't care if they aren't functional.

It seems even many league bowlers would rather ignore rules about the foul line.

[bowl1820]

The rule is more of a "what if".

If the wanderer makes contact with you while you are making a legal delivery, your shot would be considered void, and shot over again.

It happened to me years ago.

I was playing deep inside on the right lane.

The bowler on the left lane, after completing his shot, while on his own approach, came back very close to the ball return and was swinging his arms because he just got "robbed".

One of his arms and my left arm made contact while I was making my approach.

Since it was my first ball of the frame, the solution was to re-rack to full, and start again.

There doesn't seem to be a penalty for the wanderer.

Which is why you should wait for players on either side of you to leave the approach before making yours.


In the above example that's covered under the Dead Ball Rule.

Rule 8 – Dead Ball
When a dead ball is called, the delivery does not count and the correct pins must be respotted. The player is allowed to rebowl that delivery. A ball shall be declared dead if any of the following occur:

e. A player has physical contact with another person or moving object as the ball is being delivered and before delivery is completed. In such case, the player has the option to accept the resulting pinfall or have a dead ball called.

[1VegasBowler]

Making sure the foul lights are working properly doesn't seem to be a high priority to the proprietors.

Moonlight and open play bowlers don't care if they aren't functional.

It seems even many league bowlers would rather ignore rules about the foul line.

No argument from me on any of that.

All I'm suggesting, is, during the 10 minute warm up it's not a bad idea to trip the foul light for the person behind you to have a full rack.

And I'll admit, that, if the person in front of me leaves a big split and doesn't trip the foul light, I'll hit the reset button.

[JaxBowlingGuy]

Making sure the foul lights are working properly doesn't seem to be a high priority to the proprietors.

Moonlight and open play bowlers don't care if they aren't functional.

It seems even many league bowlers would rather ignore rules about the foul line.

I don't believe he was checking to see if they worked. Certain Brunswick centers you can reset to a full rack during practice by tripping the foul light.

Throw shot, don't strike you foul and it skips the spare shot and just sets a new rack. Usually the same machine will also reset spares if a pin gets knocked down by the machine or sweeps it for some reason. All you do in that situation is press reset.

My center doesn't do any of that but almost all I have bowled at in central FL atleast has the foul light reset.

[zacks]

Zack people who do that are trying to be good sports. Maybe you should to. You don't shake the other teams hand at the end of the night? Say nice bowling or nice bowling with you? In many cases you don't mean it but it is called being civil.

Maybe my post came off the wrong way but I am a good sport. I high five everyone on the other team, say nice shot, say nice game, nice bowling with you, shake hands, wish people good luck. I certainly mean it when I say it too. Why say something you don't mean? But if a 200 bowler shoots 170, or a 140 bowler shoots 110 I don't say "nice game" because I know to them, it was not. I may try to encourage them some way with something like "you'll get it next game".

If someone says nice game to me when I have a bad game it just doesn't feel good. I know it's said with good intent, so I say thank you, but the topic is pet-peeves and I wish people would glance at the score sheet and realize I'm not happy with a game like that.

[AlexNC]

Excessive lane courtesy during the warmup time.

[ep1977]

Excessive lane courtesy during the warmup time.

I give zero lane courtesy during warm ups.

[Mike White]

I don't believe he was checking to see if they worked. Certain Brunswick centers you can reset to a full rack during practice by tripping the foul light.

Throw shot, don't strike you foul and it skips the spare shot and just sets a new rack. Usually the same machine will also reset spares if a pin gets knocked down by the machine or sweeps it for some reason. All you do in that situation is press reset.

My center doesn't do any of that but almost all I have bowled at in central FL atleast has the foul light reset.

I didn't assume that he was checking.

I was just saying that the option to step on the foul line is ineffective at those locations were the foul lights are non-operational.

[AlexNC]

I give zero lane courtesy during warm ups.

It seems silly to waste time with it. For whatever reason it seems the norm here. Between that and the shooting at leave we are lucky to get 4 shots.

[Tony]

Tripping the foul light works wonders as well.

Most of the time I think they leave them off because of too many issues with false fouls.

[1VegasBowler]

Most of the time I think they leave them off because of too many issues with false fouls.

There is only 1 center here in Vegas where I have witnessed that. While it's very possible the others do as well, I have never seen an issue with the foul lights here.

[Tony]

Most of the time I think they leave them off because of too many issues with false fouls.

I think I was in too much of a hurry, should have specified:

"At the center I primarily bowl at" they leave the foul alarm off because of issues with false fouls, "so the trick to use the foul light to reset the pins won't work"

Wish the foul alarm worked, it would be a handy trick ( I wasn't aware of ) to be able to use.

[Amyers]

No argument from me on any of that.

All I'm suggesting, is, during the 10 minute warm up it's not a bad idea to trip the foul light for the person behind you to have a full rack.

And I'll admit, that, if the person in front of me leaves a big split and doesn't trip the foul light, I'll hit the reset button.

I would have to find a center with working foul lights for that to be effective. I bowl in four different centers here 2 the lights don't work at all, 1 is hit and miss, and the last one if they are on just go off randomly so they keep them turned off.

[Amyers]

Maybe my post came off the wrong way but I am a good sport. I high five everyone on the other team, say nice shot, say nice game, nice bowling with you, shake hands, wish people good luck. I certainly mean it when I say it too. Why say something you don't mean? But if a 200 bowler shoots 170, or a 140 bowler shoots 110 I don't say "nice game" because I know to them, it was not. I may try to encourage them some way with something like "you'll get it next game".

If someone says nice game to me when I have a bad game it just doesn't feel good. I know it's said with good intent, so I say thank you, but the topic is pet-peeves and I wish people would glance at the score sheet and realize I'm not happy with a game like that.

I feel the pain there it happens to me all the time too.

[NewToBowling]

Maybe my post came off the wrong way but I am a good sport. I high five everyone on the other team, say nice shot, say nice game, nice bowling with you, shake hands, wish people good luck. I certainly mean it when I say it too. Why say something you don't mean? But if a 200 bowler shoots 170, or a 140 bowler shoots 110 I don't say "nice game" because I know to them, it was not. I may try to encourage them some way with something like "you'll get it next game".

If someone says nice game to me when I have a bad game it just doesn't feel good. I know it's said with good intent, so I say thank you, but the topic is pet-peeves and I wish people would glance at the score sheet and realize I'm not happy with a game like that.

I think it's just a natural reaction or response at the end of games and they aren't even thinking about it. Kind of like cashier asking you if you found everything ok. Just small talk

[fordman1]

I give zero lane courtesy during warm ups.

No lane courtesy during warm ups.

Practice means just get loosened up. Find a general idea of a line and not hurt anything. I don't even set my feet for more than a second.

All the leagues at my center let a bowler bowl a frame, get a strike go to the end of the line. Leave a spare shoot at it. Most shoot at a 10 or 7 pin the first ball then throw a strike ball.
I liked the one center that didn't give any pins during practice. It went fast and you got plenty of shots.

[Sche3067]

I agree with Vegas about something?? If you don't know what to do before you get up on the approach and have to keep moving around and twitching, looking at your hand etc. take up golf. Their ability doesn't matter. But maybe after going through all your rituals and taking 30 seconds to finally start your approach and still missing the head pin will drive me nuts.

Not crazy about Brooklyn hits, nose carry's and messengers.

just had a guy on the other team who got 6 strikes in a row with a Brooklyn all with different angles . It is remarkable how lucky people get.

[Mike White]

I think it's just a natural reaction or response at the end of games and they aren't even thinking about it. Kind of like cashier asking you if you found everything ok. Just small talk

A while back I went to the pet store and picked up just a big bag of dog food.

The cashier asked... Will that be all for you?

I said... no, it's for the dog.

[Mike White]

just had a guy on the other team who got 6 strikes in a row with a Brooklyn all with different angles . It is remarkable how lucky people get.

Oh, like you were never the guy with low skill, and high luck.

[fordman1]

Maybe we are lucky around here but I can't remember the last time we had foul lights not work.

[Mike White]

Maybe we are lucky around here but I can't remember the last time we had foul lights not work.

People who bowl in, or run tournaments tend to think rules are important.

If you bowl in places that tend to hold tournaments, you're much more likely to have working foul lights.

[LOUVIT]

where do I start, first I have an issue which I brought up before about a lady on my team who is never on or near the approach when her name is up there. then when she finally picks up her ball she has to watch and clap for everyone around her. other teams so far only a few guy's who just bug me, nothing specific or too much to mention....

very strange because everyone loves me....lol

[Aslan]

I forgot to mention my biggest pet peeve: Resetting the rack during the 10 minutes of warm up time.

- Added to my pet peave list, people who get annoyed when I reset the rack in warm-ups (explained below).

First, I'm old and usually not in a good mood...so my pet peave list will be quite large.

In no particular order:

- Old ladies that count bowling balls on the rack and refuse to bowl if there is one more ball than there are players.
- Old people that keep asking your advice...but never once listen to it and keep doing the same stupid crap over and ever again...just ***ching about it constantly.
- 2-handed bowlers and crankers
- People that make ball changes for no actual 'good' reason
- Bowlers that complain when the league dues or USBC dues go up $1....yet they'll order $60 worth of shots each night
- New bowlers that want to bowl really fast.
- Guys (and gals) that flip their middle fingers to the pins...as if the pins intentially kept them from striking...just to spite the bowler.
- Smoke breaks, bowlers disappearing for numerous activities, etc...
- Anyone throwing Motiv bowling balls
- Anyone throwing a Vis-a-ball or throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball
- Sandbaggers and anchors that throw shots in the gutter when their team has the win locked up
- 32oz diet cokes costing $2.25 at the snack bar but like $4 if I order them from the bar
- My ball coming back with black marks all over it (from the belt)
- Bowlers that leave their bowling equipment in the trunk of their car during 90 degree weather...causing they're swollen BOWLING balls to get stuck in the ball return and the mechanic has to open up the floor to retrieve it.
- The teammate that is ALWAYS late...so almost every week you have to blind them out, then unblind them when they finally arrive.
- Getting a straight in the poker hand...and always losing to 4 of a kind or a full house

...and about 40 more I can't think of right now....

[stargell1]

After reading all these complaints, I can see why I quit league bowling lol.

Some of my pet peeves,

People who would rather be on their smart phones than bowl.
Smoke breaks
2 handed bowlers
4 and 5 person teams

[J Anderson]

First, I'm old and usually not in a good mood...so my pet peave list will be quite large.

My peeve is people who are younger than I am who call themselves old. This is of course because it messes with my delusion that old is at least 15 years older than my current age.

[JasonNJ]

Here are mine and these are actual people in the league I bowl in.

1. The Social Butterfly - Person more interested in talking to people 4 lanes down than to watch when it's their turn to bowl.
2. The Anger Management Bowler - Person who gets angry when he doesn't strike and kicks the return.
3. The Whiner. - 110 Avg bowler who comes and whines about how bad she is bowling and how good she bowled last week when she bowled a 140.
4. The Accuser - The person who comes and asks me for tips and then doesn't follow your tip and says, "I'm bowling bad, I'm not going to listen to you any more"
5. The Oblivious - Person always forgets to check lane courtesy even though it's 6 months into the season.
6. The Jinx - When working on a long string of strikes is always the person to come over and say, "Wow you got X strikes in a row"

[Jconner91]

Thank goodness my bowling alley has the foul lights turned on in practice. I havent bowled in a league yet that people take two shots in practice in a row. My mens league has the rack reset after every shot and with 5 people on each team it is definitely needed.

[1VegasBowler]

As a smoker myself, I understand the need to have a few drags as long as it doesn't hold up the game.

Personally, I keep very close tabs on the pair I'm on to make sure that I do not slow the game down in any way. If that means going back 4 or 5 more times to finish my smoke, then so be it.

But I do understand when there are those who are going to get testy when a smoker takes their sweet time to have that entire smoke and totally change the pace of the game, and that aggravates me as well.

In truth, anything that changes the pace of the game aggravates me.

[ep1977]

Thank goodness my bowling alley has the foul lights turned on in practice. I havent bowled in a league yet that people take two shots in practice in a row. My mens league has the rack reset after every shot and with 5 people on each team it is definitely needed.

Having the rack reset after every shot is great!

[NewToBowling]

Sometimes (by mistake I believe) the center will have the rack reset after one shot. That might be a good idea. Of course everyone starts screaming at the front desk to switch back to normal mode.

[Mike White]

Having the rack reset after every shot is great!

There is a limit to how effective this would be.

At the beginning of the frame, there are 10 pins on the deck, and another 10 or 11 in the machine being picked up and positioned in place to provide the next frame.

Once you bowl fast enough that not all 10 pins are ready in the machine, bowling any faster doesn't give you a faster frame rate.

You may find that you get a faster shot rate by having people throw 1 ball regardless if it's full rack or not, compared to the automatic reset after each shot.

Maybe someday bowling will be done with a hologram of the pins so the reset can be instantaneous.

[ep1977]

Maybe someday bowling will be done with a hologram of the pins so the reset can be instantaneous.

Will we be able to adjust the pin carry? lol

[Mike White]

Will we be able to adjust the pin carry? lol

Yes, but it's by how you throw the ball.

Or did you want a mode called "I hit the head pin, I deserve a strike"

[Aslan]

My peeve is people who are younger than I am who call themselves old. This is of course because it messes with my delusion that old is at least 15 years older than my current age.

Well, I used to accomodate you...but with all the 20-somethings buzzing around...I can no longer hide the fact that I am in fact "old". Not to mention, my knee sounds like a garbage disposal chewing up glass, my back is one sneeze away from putting me in traction, and if I forget to wear my tennis elbow velcro thingy...my right elbow will hurt so bad that I'll wince when picking up a paperback book the next day. I can only hide the obvious for so long...sorry man...


After reading all these complaints, I can see why I quit league bowling lol.

If ya "quit league bowling"; you've "quit bowling". Attending a nephew's birthday party or bowling while getting drunk because the pool tables are all taken...does not constitute "continuing to bowl".

[JaxBowlingGuy]

Well, I used to accomodate you...but with all the 20-somethings buzzing around...I can no longer hide the fact that I am in fact "old". Not to mention, my knee sounds like a garbage disposal chewing up glass, my back is one sneeze away from putting me in traction, and if I forget to wear my tennis elbow velcro thingy...my right elbow will hurt so bad that I'll wince when picking up a paperback book the next day. I can only hide the obvious for so long...sorry man...



If ya "quit league bowling"; you've "quit bowling". Attending a nephew's birthday party or bowling while getting drunk because the pool tables are all taken...does not constitute "continuing to bowl".

Strictly bowling tournaments and only throwing games during the week to work on form is no longer "continuing to bowl"?

[zacks]

Completely forgot my number 1 pet peeve. People who carry pitchers of beer through the seating area and spill all over the place.

[J Anderson]

Well, I used to accomodate you...but with all the 20-somethings buzzing around...I can no longer hide the fact that I am in fact "old". Not to mention, my knee sounds like a garbage disposal chewing up glass, my back is one sneeze away from putting me in traction, and if I forget to wear my tennis elbow velcro thingy...my right elbow will hurt so bad that I'll wince when picking up a paperback book the next day. I can only hide the obvious for so long...sorry man...

Okay Aslan, I will acknowledge that while you're chronologically younger than I am, physically you're at least as old or older. I shall refer to you as "old man" from now on.

Personally, I'm still a disciple of the great american philosopher, Satchel Paige, who said, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you was?"

[fordman1]

OK lets see, young guys who complain about too much or too little oil. Or how lucky we are.
They are right.
Our lead off man in 73 and just had a partial knee replacement on his slide knee

Our 2nd bowler is 65 and had a liver transplant 6-7 years ago and takes more pills than anybody I know.

I bowl 3rd and since 1999 I have had a
heart attack-heartbypass
Diabeties
High blood preasure
Colon Cancer with 6 inches removed 6 months of chemo
Lung cancer with 5 pieces removed 6 months of chemo
I missed about 12 weeks with these.
2 1/2 years ago I tore my hamstring and missed 6 months and it bothered me for another year.
The Anchor is 75 and fairly healthy.

I guarantee no one in the league looks forward to bowling the old guys "us"

Yet they are right about us being lucky :)
Never quit or give up.

[stargell1]

Strictly bowling tournaments and only throwing games during the week to work on form is no longer "continuing to bowl"?

Lol, according to his logic if a tennis player doesn't do leagues, they don't play tennis.

[fordman1]

Wouldn't someone get hurt with a 5 man team in Tennis? What does tennis have to do with bowling?

[stargell1]

Wouldn't someone get hurt with a 5 man team in Tennis? What does tennis have to do with bowling?

I played leagues in Both sports and coached tennis in college. Both are individual and team sports.

[Mike White]

Wouldn't someone get hurt with a 5 man team in Tennis? What does tennis have to do with bowling?

http://www.marcofolio.net/images/stories/fun/imagedump/demotivational_posters/teamwork.jpg

[Salem]

We have a guy who always swears and throws things. It is usually something like a towel but last thursday he threw his wrist support on the floor. I told him to calm down and he tried to stare me down. Then he told me where to go and how to get there. So I told him that he is looking like a jerk and calm himself before someone gets hurt. He knows I am a bouncer and I reminded him this is a game and that nobody is playing for a million dollars. I also reminded him that I would kill for his average. He did calm down but this is an ongoing issue with him. Every week he freaks out and it seems to be my job to calm him down. I took the league president last week that this guy needs a talking to.
The other issue I have with other teams is the long smoke breaks. It slows us down and takes me out of my groove. Then the same people take forever to throw their ball. I swear it took 2 minutes one night. I am a beginner and to me these both issue show a lack of resprect for the game.

[stargell1]

We have a guy who always swears and throws things. It is usually something like a towel but last thursday he threw his wrist support on the floor. I told him to calm down and he tried to stare me down. Then he told me where to go and how to get there. So I told him that he is looking like a jerk and calm himself before someone gets hurt. He knows I am a bouncer and I reminded him this is a game and that nobody is playing for a million dollars. I also reminded him that I would kill for his average. He did calm down but this is an ongoing issue with him. Every week he freaks out and it seems to be my job to calm him down. I took the league president last week that this guy needs a talking to.
The other issue I have with other teams is the long smoke breaks. It slows us down and takes me out of my groove. Then the same people take forever to throw their ball. I swear it took 2 minutes one night. I am a beginner and to me these both issue show a lack of resprect for the game.

Smoke breaks in leagues should not be allowed. It's disrespectful. It's not an issue in tennis leagues because no one who plays tennis smokes.

[Mike White]

Smoke breaks in leagues should not be allowed. It's disrespectful. It's not an issue in tennis leagues because no one who plays tennis smokes.

It's quite a stretch to say NO ONE who plays tennis, smokes.

[2rott]

Last year we had a very elderly person on one of the teams that had to be helped on the lane every time she bowled. After throwing the ball she stayed at the line & had to be coaxed back by a relative. Whoever was on either side of her, had to put their ball back down because of the long wait. If you were up at the line before her, she was not held back by that relative & you would have to wait again. The league is probably some kind of therapy for her, but I'm not sure if just bowling on the open lanes, non league time, would do just as well.
With this said, I didn't hear too much grumbling by others because we're all sympathetic to her plight & I wonder if I would be in the same situation someday.

[NewToBowling]

It's quite a stretch to say NO ONE who plays tennis, smokes.

In tournament settings or if there were tennis "leagues" I'm sure majority would not take smoke breaks between sets. In bowling it seems to be the norm.

[zacks]

Thank goodness my bowling alley has the foul lights turned on in practice. I havent bowled in a league yet that people take two shots in practice in a row. My mens league has the rack reset after every shot and with 5 people on each team it is definitely needed.

So my house has the lights on in warm-ups and you can trip them to reset a full rack if you don't strike. 97% of the bowlers in my leagues will do this as a courtesy to the guy (or gal) behind them as the rule in our house is one shot, then move to the end of the line. The 3% that don't usually are newer bowlers that tend to forget to do it.

I'm bringing this topic back up because last night something happened. I bowl with my fiancee, my friend, and his fiancee. My friend's fiancee threw a non strike, started to turn and walk away, then quickly remembered to trip the foul light just in time.

A guy on the other team had some words under his breath that were loud enough for everyone to hear, something like 'it doesn't matter, just keep the line moving'. He didn't look at anyone when he said this so everyone just kind of shook it off and moved on.

Next lane over, my friend's fiancee throws another non strike, hits the foul lights immediately, guy throws is arms up. No words, just body language with some attitude.

One more time, non-strike, the habitual foul and again, guy goes nuts. He doesn't really say anything comprehensible, just over-dramatically throws his hands in the air and mumbles to himself. We were a little baffled, as he just grabbed his ball and went to throw.

I told my friends fiancee to just leave whatever slop is left for him, because maybe that's what he wants.

He settled down for the next couple shots, then towards the end of warm-ups, he ended up behind me. Now I didn't notice this and when I left the greek church I hit the foul line. Uh-oh. He went ballistic. 'Why did you hit the foul lights? You're not supposed to hit the foul lights.'

I said, 'What, you wanted to practice shooting the greek church?' 'Yes' he said. 'Sure you did.' I sarcastically said back.

Now I know I didn't handle this the best way, but he never said anything to us about not fouling in front of him, and never actually said anything directly to any of us until he said that to me.

I asked his teammate a little later (other two team members were absent) if he goes ballistic like that every week and why if for some reason he wants to shoot at slop he doesn't just use 'his big boy words' instead of being rude with attitude, especially to the girls on our team.

He responded, because the machine is faster if it cycles regularly and it's in the league rules. The first one is mostly not true, and the second one was never mentioned in the league meeting, so I'm requesting a copy of the rules because the other two leagues that I bowl in in our house have no such rule (I have those rules, just not this league).

I corrected him on the first one, the machine is faster to sweep and spot a fresh rack unless two shots are thrown fast enough to not let the pins replenish, in which the difference is negligible and the next person is usually not ready that fast anyway (including the guy throwing the fit!).

The rest of the night the other guy never high-fived anyone, never acknowledged anyone, never spoke to anyone (not that he had been acknowledging anyone prior to this anyway). I'm not sure if this is the guy's normal attitude or not. I know of him, have seen him around, but haven't bowled against him since probably 2010 or so when I was in this same league before (for only one summer season).

I'm just thinking if the guy has an issue, or even just a preference, why not speak politely first instead of just giving attitude? The thought crossed my mind that maybe this guy has a mental or social disability.

The reason for my rant is not only to rant, but to ask if I'm the one out of line here?

Sorry if I went a little off topic.

[Amyers]

I myself got a little pissed off last week we were on lanes 1 and 2 and the ball returns were not working properly. This is an older house and there are only enough room on the rack for 11-12 balls before there is an issue. Their were 5-6 instances where my spare did not come back even though I stopped to wait on it a bit so my teammate said he would get it. I guess he forgot or maybe it wasn't back by the end of his turn. The first I got a "too many balls on the rack" even though the rack wasn't dangerously over loaded I didn't think anything about it and went back and removed it. The second time it was "someone get there d*** spare off the rack" and I explained what was evident that the ball returns were not functioning properly and that I didn't want to hold the game up for 5 minutes every time I threw the spare. It happened to a couple of other bowlers too and finally in the third game I got " Get your d*** spare off the rack directly at me" Where I finally exploded and told him he could remove my spare himself or I'd happily store it up his a$$ the next time he cursed in my direction.

It wasn't like the rack was dangerously overloaded or that it wasn't happening to the others also it just seemed to have more problems with my spare than the others. I did strike out the last 5 balls and we took 2 out of 3 so I left with a :)

[zacks]

I myself got a little pissed off last week we were on lanes 1 and 2 and the ball returns were not working properly. This is an older house and there are only enough room on the rack for 11-12 balls before there is an issue. Their were 5-6 instances where my spare did not come back even though I stopped to wait on it a bit so my teammate said he would get it. I guess he forgot or maybe it wasn't back by the end of his turn. The first I got a "too many balls on the rack" even though the rack wasn't dangerously over loaded I didn't think anything about it and went back and removed it. The second time it was "someone get there d*** spare off the rack" and I explained what was evident that the ball returns were not functioning properly and that I didn't want to hold the game up for 5 minutes every time I threw the spare. It happened to a couple of other bowlers too and finally in the third game I got " Get your d*** spare off the rack directly at me" Where I finally exploded and told him he could remove my spare himself or I'd happily store it up his a$$ the next time he cursed in my direction.

It wasn't like the rack was dangerously overloaded or that it wasn't happening to the others also it just seemed to have more problems with my spare than the others. I did strike out the last 5 balls and we took 2 out of 3 so I left with a :)

I think sometimes people have a bad day then try to take it out on others. Sometimes people are just always grumpy.

Sometimes if there are a lot of balls on the rack, instead of waiting for my spare ball I'll grab my strike ball and bring it back with me or put it on the bottom rack if the other side is clear of others bowling. Though sometimes I go for my next shot and can't find my strike ball. Lol.

[billf]

1. Super slow bowlers
2. Really loud music
3. Bowlers that complain when they throw a flat shot and leave an 8-10, 7-9, single pin. etc..

On a side note: Our scratch league has been for warm ups one and done. We don't reset the rack. Next guy has no obligation to attempt the spare but don't reset the rack. Like, seriously, do you really need the pins to tell if you got back to the pocket? These are 5 man teams and we get probably 10+ rolls each. Our men's handicap league use to be shoot your own spare. You were lucky to get four rolls. Two seasons ago I brought it up at the league meeting and this one now is also one and done. Now the better bowlers don't feel like they are getting punished for throwing strikes during warm ups.

[fordman1]

I blew my top last Friday when the lead off man on the other team went out side and took a 5-6 minute smoke break after the 1st and 2nd game. We had to go looking for him to get him back. Then he had the balls to go out after the 4th frame of the last game and that was when I went out side and yelled a bunch of F bombs and read him the riot act. I explained in no uncertain terms that he was not special and had no right to make everyone wait while he indulged his filthy habit. He was upset but kept his mouth shut for the most part. After we finished he came up to me and apologized. I think he really was sorry. That ended it!

[zacks]

I blew my top last Friday when the lead off man on the other team went out side and took a 5-6 minute smoke break after the 1st and 2nd game. We had to go looking for him to get him back. Then he had the balls to go out after the 4th frame of the last game and that was when I went out side and yelled a bunch of F bombs and read him the riot act. I explained in no uncertain terms that he was not special and had no right to make everyone wait while he indulged his filthy habit. He was upset but kept his mouth shut for the most part. After we finished he came up to me and apologized. I think he really was sorry. That ended it!

Some people simply don't get it. They're oblivious to the fact that 5, 6, 7, 8 other people are sitting and waiting on them.

[NewToBowling]

Some people simply don't get it. They're oblivious to the fact that 5, 6, 7, 8 other people are sitting and waiting on them.

That's the thing. He probably didn't think he did anything wrong or nefarious. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt and calmly explain to him the situation. You usually resolve issues better with honey than vinegar

[fordman1]

The honey was applied the 1st time we had to wait and went looking for him. Patience is a virtue, I am not virtuous.

[zacks]

Honey can keep them oblivious, sometimes vinegar is necessary.

[chrono00]

I blew my top last Friday when the lead off man on the other team went out side and took a 5-6 minute smoke break after the 1st and 2nd game. We had to go looking for him to get him back. Then he had the balls to go out after the 4th frame of the last game and that was when I went out side and yelled a bunch of F bombs and read him the riot act. I explained in no uncertain terms that he was not special and had no right to make everyone wait while he indulged his filthy habit. He was upset but kept his mouth shut for the most part. After we finished he came up to me and apologized. I think he really was sorry. That ended it!

I don't see 5-8 minute smoke breaks between games being a problem. I have smoked off and on for years and In between games is when you go and do that....no big deal. Taking 15-20 minutes to start the next game is a problem though which will sometimes occur.

However going out in the middle of the game like that is in acceptable. Even if everyone is off and has to shoot 2 balls a frame on 5 man teams that game should t take more than an hour to shoot. If you can't go one whole hour without a smoke you need to reevaluate your life. And yes I get that drinking makes u want to smoke more because I drink while bowling. But the only time I have ever had a smoke in the middle of the game was when there was a lane malfunction or some issue that was clearly going take 5-10 minutes to fix

[fordman1]

The lead off man on our team steps up as soon as the anchor man on the pair finishes. The score is written down and off we go. No more than 30 seconds, max 45.

[stargell1]

Silliness of bowling leagues to take smoke breaks. They don't take smoke breaks in other sports.

[Amyers]

I don't see 5-8 minute smoke breaks between games being a problem. I have smoked off and on for years and In between games is when you go and do that....no big deal. Taking 15-20 minutes to start the next game is a problem though which will sometimes occur.

However going out in the middle of the game like that is in acceptable. Even if everyone is off and has to shoot 2 balls a frame on 5 man teams that game should t take more than an hour to shoot. If you can't go one whole hour without a smoke you need to reevaluate your life. And yes I get that drinking makes u want to smoke more because I drink while bowling. But the only time I have ever had a smoke in the middle of the game was when there was a lane malfunction or some issue that was clearly going take 5-10 minutes to fix

I am a smoker too I don't take 8 min. but may take 5 between games it gives everyone a chance to run to the restroom get a drink refilled. idk what's up with the idea that bowling's supposed to be a speed sport. I know some guys who think this way but I've never got it. Even in a higher end league I'm there to compete but have fun doing it. if it takes an extra 15 minutes at the end of the night who cares? If your life is that tightly structured you need to make changes.

[fordman1]

If your team doesn't suck you should get 5 minutes to smoke between games. I was talking about much more than that. Just be there when it is your turn. We have a lot of pot collectors in our league who have to pull lucky strike, lucky digit and mystery and have to wait on them some times. They are doing something for the league. Not doing it selfishly for themselves. If you are writing in bracket scores, high game or Texas holdem OK.

[zacks]

2-3 minutes between the anchor's last ball and the lead off first ball is all you need. That gives each person 5-8 minutes to take care of business (bathroom, bar, smoke break). If you're taking more than that, it's not a smoke break while bowling, it's a bowling break while smoking.

If you have to wait an extra minute for people in the first frame, that's not a big deal, but once the first frame is complete, everyone should be ready when their name is up.

[manke]

If you are outside smoking you are not being curtious to your fellow bowlers. If they are not there they should get a zero for the frame.