League...

[bowl1820]

And when I say, "take it seriously" that doesn't include screaming cuss words or throwing your ball at the bench (both of which happen in my league on a regular basis). That's just poor sportsmanship and being a sore loser.

This says it all here.

Having bad sportsmanship is not taking the game seriously, it's being a bad sportsman.

There's a difference in being a "serious Player/Team" that follows the rules, uses strategy, uses good sportsmanship and trying to play at a optimum level. That's a serious bowler and it doesn't mean you can't have fun while your at it.

[GeoLes]

I wondered the same thing last year when I was struggling to break 150. My personal goal was to bowl more consistently and I paid little to no attention to team wins/losses or head to head wins/losses for that matter. Handicap league was a way for me to bowl without feelling ablsoultely blown away. It helped me to relax and bowl my best with confidence. I could also be proud of my milestones..

As I begin to develop stronger, more consistent game, and adjustment tools, I am becoming more competitve; but not in the way you think. I look at my team anchor and hope to be able to "hang with him". I don't care about comptetiive scoring. It only serves to distract me from my best performance. Maybe next year.

I have read several posts from people who are frustrated or bored by handicap league play. I think there a bit of a mis-fit, here. My wife is an example of a league mis-fit. Last year was her first year and she joined a casual womans' league. She struggled through and everyone else was rolling strikes consistenlty. She felt under pressure to perform, but unable to delivery. She quit the league and now is gun shy about joining any league at all. (I have been trying to get us to join a "bad bowlers' league" for fun and practice.)

If you are a scratch bowler frustrated with handicap play , you may be in the wrong venue. I say, you are responsible for your own happiness. Go out and find the league that meets your personal needs.


Be free!!!!!

[billf]

I bowl in a men's handicap league, scratch league and social mixed league during the season. Summer time I bowl in a PBA/Sport shot league, a social league and a beginners league. I've been able to get a lot of people to move up and try other leagues while always stressing to have fun. Let's face it, less than 1% of bowlers are good enough to turn pro so don't worry about it, have fun and be the best YOU can be.

[WolfGirl1980]

don't get me wrong, I like to bowl well. its the teams that are filled with guys that aren't good but think they are. the ones that cuss and punch things when the ball hits the pocket but doesn't carry. or the guys that, when bowling bad, will find any excuse against the other team. I have been bowling for the better part of 25 years. I just cant fathom why these clowns act like that. I get it that everyone wants to bowl well and it is/can be competitive, but come on!!! the guys that talk smack and avg maybe 180, on a house shot, non the less. or better yet, the clowns that avg 200+ on a house shot, talk smack about "how good they are" but NEVER bowl anything other than league. im sorry, but you cant brag about a league avg when its a house shot. its kind of like bragging that you wore swimming trunks to a pool.

lol. maybe im just waaay of in my thinking?

Believe it or not I know a guy like this and he was or maybe still is on my fall/winter league team and he does exactly what you said he hits the ball return everytime he doesn't get a strike by one pin and he brags everytime he gets a strike even he has good form and everything he could be a good bowler but what stopping him is his head he don't have the mental game plus its like you all said its being a bad sportsmen.

-Sara

[TCJ]

There are bowlers who get mad and kick/throw things when bowling is not going well for them. In general, I find these to be bowlers who are pretty good and are in extra pots, like stay clean, high game, high series, etc. Missing something costs them money and it makes them mad. I can tell because there are times when I've seen the same doing open bowling and nothing will phase them because nothing is on the line. Put them in a tournament and they'll be raising a riot if they lose a match.

I don't think they are being competitive. If they were, they wouldn't be so bothered if they catch a bad break or their opponent bowls a good game (yes, people get mad when someone else bowls well!). Someone who loves competition will have no problem when another person legitimately defeats them by just throwing a better game. For the complainers, it's all about ego and money for them.