Hi There! STL Bowler here.

[dnhoffman]

Hello.

My name is Derek and I just got back into bowling regularly about five months ago. My mother was (and still is) an avid bowler so I grew up with the game but had a good 10-15 year gap before I joined a military league while I was in the army.

My wife and I moved to the suburbs last year and in an effort to find hobbies I picked bowling back up, and well... I love it! I've been pretty addicted since, taking lessons once a week with a local coach and bowling about 30 games a week.

I'm managing to hold onto a 195 average in one league and a 185 in another. Just starting to build my arsenal for THS (spare shooter, medium/heavy oil, and burnt conditions ball) and will bowl in my first sport shot league this fall where I'm sure my wife will be thrilled with all the balls I'm going to want to buy just for that...

Anyway, just my intro - I've found a lot of information on this site very helpful and look forward to being a part of the community.

[DLP]

Welcome aboard!!

[classygranny]

Welcome to the boards....hope you find as much knowledge as I have here and enjoy the camaraderie as much as I do!

[Judy clemons]

A great big Texas size welcome pin pal,dnhoffman
welcome to our bowling boards world.
Your welcome here as the flowers in May
we're glad your here and hope you stay to
share with us your bowling days.

[billf]

Welcome to the forum. Get your wife to join the sport shot league with you. It will double your ball cost but helps with the understanding of why you want more of them.

[got_a_300]

Welcome to the boards Derek you will find a lot of very
knowledgeable and very helpful people on here that are
more than willing to give bowling advice and tips.

Agree with billf on getting your wife to join the sport shot
league with you then you might have an easier time getting
your new equipment without much being said about buying
all of it.

[dnhoffman]

My wife bowls on a regular league with me already, and she hates it

She's also pregnant and I don't see her signing up for a fall league being due in November.

That aside, I'm really looking forward to it. Bowled my first 700 series the other night, so progress at the very least!

[Tampabaybob]

Derek, good luck with trying to convert her to a bowler. I'm on my second marriage, and neither one of them have been bowlers. My current wife, I talked into 'finally' bowling in a summer league two years ago, and it ended up being a disaster. First, we were bowling with my daughter who was about to go to college, so we thought this would be a good opportunity for "family" time. One of my men's league teammates bowled with us and unfortunately thought he could tell them frame by frame how to bowl (even though he wasn't a good bowler). By the third week both my wife AND daughter was ready to kill this guy !! Then, my wife hurt her back, bowling, and ended up spending 6 weeks at a chiropractor office. Needless to say that was the last straw. So my advice to you my friend, if she doesn't like the game, maybe once a year or so she'll go practice with you, but other than that don't force the issue ! As long as she doesn't mind being a "Bowling Widow", let her be. Good Luck, believe me I know what you're listening to. Been there !!!!!!

[dnhoffman]

Oh Bob, how I feel for you.

I've quickly learned that I can in no way, shape, or form try to help my wife with bowling. Because I'm obviously just criticizing her if I do!

At least we're not golfing together...

[billf]

My first wife chose to bowl with me. Stayed on the team a season after our divorce until her new boyfriend at the time made her quit. Wife #2 hasn't stepped inside the bowling alley in about two years. She comes by to get money but calls me and makes me take it out to her lol This month I start working part time at the alley so it will be bowling Mon, Tues and Sat nights. Working Wed, Fri and Sun nights and coaching Thur nights and all day Sat. Plus I sub or practice on Sum mornings too.