10th Frame Etiquette

[Voltin]

Sorry for the incoming wall of text, scroll down to the bottom for the short version and question.

So while bowling our position round this evening in my trio league we ran into some drama. As is usually the case with position rounds we had a couple of tight games. In the first game we came back from a deficit of around 40-50 pins to win a game by a slim margin (4-5 pins). The second game was equally as close, except that they almost came back from a 40-50 pin deficit, again we won by a small margin. In both cases it came down to the final bowler of both teams. In the first game we need a high count to win, and the second a mark and 2.

Well in both games, it just so happened that the other team's anchor went first. This was of his own accord because the second person of our team (me) was still bowling. In both cases I was working on finishing out my frame, and his team mates had already finished. Out of courtesy our anchor let the guy bowl out his frame, before he went up to bowl.

At the end of the second game after our guy bowled a strike on his first roll, the other guy storms off in a fit to go have a smoke. When he comes back he complains very loudly (so that we can hear) to his wife/teammate. He says that we are cheating by "chump" bowling and are waiting to see the score to see exactly what we have to roll to win. He also says that he will be looking into the bylaws. Needless to say this sucked all the fun out of the evening, and we all just kinda bowled our last game really fast.

After reading over our league bylaws, and then re-reading (parts of) the USBC rule book, I fail to see anything that includes this. Our bylaws state: "No unreasonable delay in the progress of any game is permitted. If a player or teams refuses to proceed with a game after being directed to do so by a league official, the game or series shall be declared forfeited." As I understand it this mirrors the USBC rules.

Redux: Other team's anchor goes first in 10th frame, our anchor give him courtesy by bowling out the 10th frame and then rolls. Our team wins by tight margin both times. Other team's anchor complains we are cheating.

So my questions for the community:

1) Do you believe what our final bowler did was unethical or cheating?
2) If done intentionally is this illegal? unethical? Again not the whole team but say the last person only?
3) Do you bowl the same in the final frame, or extend courtesy especially in tight games?

I should say that we ended up winning out, and destroying them in the last game by 170 pins even though he rolled is best game.

[littlelegs]

1) Nope.
2) Nope. It can help or hinder. Knowing the score you have to beat isn't always an advantage as it then puts pressure on the shot. Some 'may' benefit a little, others won't.
3) Not usually. Perhaps sometimes teams do when playing us but it's so unimportant in my mind that I've never taken much notice. Generally I simply play at a pace that suits me. Some nights I may let the person bowl out but usually I simply take my turn on each ball. The exception being I'd let someone with a string of 9 bowl the 10th out so that I don't disturb their rhythm.

[J Anderson]

If your anchor was deliberately trying to get only enough pins to win it would be cheating. I know very few bowlers with the skill to do this successfully on a regular basis. Most of the time trying to do this results in not getting enough pins and losing.

In my leagues we extend normal lane courtesy in every frame. The exception is when someone has the front nine. Then the bowlers to either side of him or her will let that bowler finish first. I have a problem with this since I wasn't aware of it until last year, and I don't really pay attention to how anyone is scoring on other lanes.

I think the other teams anchor is just a sore loser. Had your anchor observed normal courtesy, your opponent would have probably complained that he should have been allowed to bowl out.

[littlelegs]

I think the other teams anchor is just a sore loser. Had your anchor observed normal courtesy, your opponent would have probably complained that he should have been allowed to bowl out.

I think that's exactly the point. Never been into the sore loser thing. I like to win. I bowl to win. But...I bowl more to beat my personal bests than anything and the team winning is just a bonus. A handicap league is far more about the social aspect (and maybe practice with some friendly competition thrown in) than about winning. If we lose...oh well. There's always the next week/half a season/season. And especially if it's a handicap league....pft...it means almost nothing other than a couple of extra bucks end of season.

[Voltin]

The guy was being a bad sportsman all night well before the 10th frame. He was bowling well under average all but the last game, so I am sure that is main factor. I agree that is puts pressure on the final bowler. The fact of the matter, in this case, was that the rest of our team set up our anchor to be able to win with a less than perfect frame, through a spare, double and 9 in the first game and similar series the next.

I am glad that others agree. I, personally, am a stickler for rules when it comes to me and my team. I would never knowingly break any rules, or allow any member of my team too. But by the same token, I would never call another team out for anything less than an egregious rules violation. My opinion is that I am there to have fun, challenge myself and of course bowl in a competitive environment. This guy on the other hand is there to make everybody's evening miserable (including his own team's.)

[The Mayor]

Everyone is correct, there are no rules against what was done. If it was such an issue for their anchor bowler, he could've thrown his first shot in the tenth and sat down until your anchor bowled. I don't really see a reason to let someone finish out a frame if you're already standing by the approach. That does seem a little fishy, but it's not illegal.

There are always people who will take league way too seriously. It just comes with the territory.

[vgw]

I actually am going against the grain here, sorry as I am just speaking my peace. The anchor should have bowled a shot when it was his turn. By not doing so, the anchor is mirroring what all the other sandbaggers do out there and just get enough to win knowing the score. It doesn't matter if it is scratch, handicap, or pot games. Where I bowl, there are just way too many baggers out there and it's getting ridiculous. If the opposing bowler bowled a strike in the first shot, your anchor needs to bowl his first ball if it is his turn. If the opposing player has the 2nd shot (spare attempt) when it is your anchor's turn, I will only bowl if I know I can get my ball shot in without delaying the other player. But waiting out for the opposing team to finish the full 10th frame before throwing the anchor's first shot is uncalled for. There are exceptions, but the way you explained it, I would not think this to be an exception.

The frame should be bowled pretty consistent with all the other frames. Did your anchor allow the opposing anchor to bowl out each of the other 9 frames?

[Voltin]

To clarify, he wasn't standing at the approach ball in hand. He was sitting back behind the approach in the seating area. (Our center has an elevated approach and bank of 4 chairs behind the approach.) To be fair the football game was also on, so he was probably distracted / wanted to watch the play.

Also I know this wasn't bagging, the guy has a 140 average and would have LOVED to strike out in the 10th as would everybody else on our team. We all believe our averages suck and would to love to raise them, so this definitely was not about bagging.

As for consistent play through out the rest of the game, it sort of depends on courtesy around the pair and the speed of the frame. There are times when our 1st bowler and the anchor are up at the same time on each lane and times when their anchor and 1st bowler were up at the same. There are also times when our entire team is just sitting there waiting for their bowlers to get back from smoke breaks or w/e.

In the future I think we will just be a little more conscious of pacing to make sure this doesn't happen again.

EDIT: Also I believe he extended courtesy to allow the bowler to keep his rythmn, much as others say they do with those working on a 300.

[JerseyJim]

So my questions for the community:

1) Do you believe what our final bowler did was unethical or cheating?
2) If done intentionally is this illegal? unethical? Again not the whole team but say the last person only?
3) Do you bowl the same in the final frame, or extend courtesy especially in tight games?

I should say that we ended up winning out, and destroying them in the last game by 170 pins even though he rolled is best game.


Absolutely not, their anchor could have waited until your anchor got up to bowl. In our league, if there is a close game then the anchor on the left lane has the option to make the anchor on the right bowl first. This was adopted after a couple of arguments as to who bowls first. It works, however you'll always have someone complaining. It's the nature of the beast. I'm not sure that I understand what you're asking in your last question.

[got_a_300]

We have a sore looser on our Wednesday night league and he gripes about everything if his team mates do
not bowl all that good he gripes about that a little. Now when the opposing team they are bowling against
bowls good then he really goes ballistic on the gripping and if they happen to bowl under their averages he
accuses them of sandbagging so there is no reasoning with this guy. Now as for the original question(s) I'd
have to say no to the the first 2 questions and I bowl my 10TH frame just as I would bowl my 1ST through
9TH frames. I give 1 lane courtesy to the right side and left side of me so if no one is up on either side I just
get up and bowl and not worry about how many pins is needed to win because I go for strikes and not to try
for just a few pins to win because to me that is just plain old cheesy to do.

The sore looser gripes if you hit a perfect pocket hit and get a strike and look out if you happen to hit a high
flush strike or a cross over strike he just goes off the deep end of gripping on those hits. He is the main reason
I almost didn't start back bowling on Wednesday nights this season.

[JerseyJim]

The sore looser gripes if you hit a perfect pocket hit and get a strike and look out if you happen to hit a high
flush strike or a cross over strike he just goes off the deep end of gripping on those hits..

Those are my favorite bowlers to bowl against. It's so dang easy to get into their heads.

[littlelegs]

Those are my favorite bowlers to bowl against. It's so dang easy to get into their heads.

I soooo enjoy beating those guys. We have one team like that in the Sunday league and it makes me try just that little harder. It's genuinely the only team I play against where winning is a huge pleasure rather than just a nice bonus :)

[JAnderson]

1. No
2. No
3. Yes - I think it's more exciting when you get back and forth lead changes all the way through the 10th and the anchor bowlers

[vgw]

what happened to those jerk comments that were posted earlier?

But yeah, beating sore losers puts icing on the cake. I rarely cross over so I don't normally get Brooks, but just enjoy winning cleanly. I really hate losing close games myself.

[got_a_300]

I really hate losing close games myself.
I do not mind losing close games or even losing by a wide margin as long
as I know that I have bowled my best game and did not cause the loss by
missing a single pin spare. If I'm the cause of a lost game I allow myself to
get upset with myself for 1 minute between games then I shake it off put it
behind me and start the next game. I always say never drudge hard feelings
towards the other team or your self into the next game always start off the
new game fresh minded again just as if you hadn't bowled a game yet.

[Special_K]

some people are just sore losers and need something to complain about when they lose which basically the buzz killers in bowling
i dont mind playing with them as long as there not on my team, bowling is about having fun and meeting new people that like to do the same

[got_a_300]

bowling is about having fun and meeting new people that like to do the same

I couldn't have said it better myself and you are 100% correct it is all about having
fun and not getting upset and getting others upset either.

[swingset]

I soooo enjoy beating those guys. We have one team like that in the Sunday league and it makes me try just that little harder. It's genuinely the only team I play against where winning is a huge pleasure rather than just a nice bonus :)

My wife hates that I do this, because she thinks someone will go postal and shoot me someday, but when a sore loser or nagging complainer is on the other team I ham it up and make a big production out of whatever bugs him. If he gripes about a crossover strike, and I roll one, I turn around and make eye contact with him as soon as I do it and do a fist pump or something.

"Ohhhhh yeaaaaaahhhhhh!".

More often than not, they'll just shut up, roll their eyes, whatever. I don't do it to psyche them out (although that's an ancillary benefit) I just hate the killjoys that ruin the fun of a league.

[americantrotter]

What I can't stand is the team that wants to bowl evenly all game long. It takes forever. I dont mind so much if they want the 10th frame to bowl out evenly, but playing that way all game is mind numbing.

I would say that you should bowl as normal in the 10th. Make sure your'e clear to either side and go for it. It's not televised so who really cares about lining the score up? Plus you should always be playing your best.

If you're playing with baggers, you just have to let it go and possibly think about the 10th playing out evenly as you get closer.