What to do about the guy that stands there forever on the approach.

[TonyInPortland]

I always think it's funny when someone stands there for 25 seconds, and then walks up and throws a bad shot. I always say "couldn't they have done that in 5 seconds?"

Plus I tend to bowl very quickly, which makes it even more irritating to me when someone does this. Some people bowl like they drive, very slowly and annoyingly.

I say that to myself, btw.

[BrianG]

In my men's league there are a lot of older bowlers with bad knees and backs so they do stand up there for a while because it takes time for them to feel comfortable enough for them to start their approach. It used to bother me but I got used to it. The only time it bothers me now is when a team sees that my team is getting in a groove and they will deliberately slow down and take their time to throw us off.

[jab5325]

There's an older guy in my Thursday night league who likes to take his time on the approach to the point it's noticeably ridiculous. His average is somewhere south of 160. He's also one of the two-lane people who groans, but never directly confronts, someone who doesn't give this courtesy. In addition, after his ball hits the pins, he'll step off the approach, grab his towel, and step right back up.....long before the ball gets back to the rack. It's a curious case and one of the many reasons it's my last year bowling in this league.

He's about the only one in all the nights I've bowled who is noticeably slow.....this seems like a pretty mild case compared to what the OP described.

As for the two-lane thing....if it's feasible, I will wait on my shot a couple seconds until someone 2 lanes over at least finishes. If not, I just go.......I try not to make people wait.

[Timmyb]

Had a guy last night in league that was doing EVERY bit of maintenance you can imagine right at the ball return on the lane directly next to me. I waited for what seemed like about 30 seconds, and then stepped on the approach. He was not yet on the approach. When I threw my shot (which was a loud and blustery strike), I turned around and was quickly reminded that there is something called etiquette in bowling. I informed him he should look into it. That ended the conversation.

[Lefty651]

I mean you could politely (or not) ask them to hurry up but we all know most people don't want to talk to them. Without being rude I'm not sure there's much that can be done.

[TonyInPortland]

I am also slightly annoyed by the bowlers that stand at the foul line until the ball hits the pins. I try to get off the lane as soon as possible, in order to speed up play.

[mc_runner]

I am also slightly annoyed by the bowlers that stand at the foul line until the ball hits the pins. I try to get off the lane as soon as possible, in order to speed up play.

I do when I'm posting my shots. If I can hold the finish position until the ball hits the pins (which is probably 3 seconds?) I know that my timing is solid. This is pretty much only for strike balls, however.

[fordman1]

We use 2 lane courtesy. Myself I wait until the person I am waiting for takes their 1st step then I get on the approach. Once they have turned around and started walking back off I go. Never made any sense to wait until they were off the lane.

[RobLV1]

I am also slightly annoyed by the bowlers that stand at the foul line until the ball hits the pins. I try to get off the lane as soon as possible, in order to speed up play.

How can you watch the ball exit the pin deck if you have turned your back to exit the approach?

[fokai73]

I am also slightly annoyed by the bowlers that stand at the foul line until the ball hits the pins. I try to get off the lane as soon as possible, in order to speed up play.

real bowlers post shots to read ball motion, watch the pin action, and watch where the ball lands in the back of the pin deck. You must not like watching the PBA tour......