Ever bowl a league game next to a family/kids bowling on the lane next to you?

[Aslan]

Friday I bowled leagues and we had the first set of lanes (31-32) where the league started. First time we bowled that set this season. Well, I noticed our first bowler, an older, asian lady was just irate for some reason after bowling the first frame. I asked her what was up and she pointed out that right next to our lane (to the left) there was a dad and two little girls bowling with bumpers up.

I didn't think much of it because I'm used to bowling with kids running around…it doesn't bother me that much. But then, as I get up to bowl…I throw a ball that hits a little right…leaves something like a 1-3 or a 2-5. I get up…start my approach and just as I'm about to swing…a little girl comes flying up the left side of me and chucks the ball 2-handed into the bumper!

Now…I did get rattled…something about having something unexpected in your peripheral vision…and it caused me to lose my balance a bit…but, I picked up the make-able spare so all was good.

Now….I'm fairly mellow. Unless the opposing team is purposely trying to yell during your swing or something…I'm pretty mellow. So it didn't really bother me. I didn't even say anything…I was glad I picked up the spare and went back to my seat to finish my burger and dive into my drink.

The center's person responsible for leagues did go over and talk to the father and the kids…I think the dad had already mentioned it to them. And really, it's the center's fault. You put two 6-9 year olds WITH BUMPERs right next to one of your more serious leagues. They were short lanes due to a big youth football private party down on the other end of the center…but come on. That lane should be the absolute LAST lane you give away. And there should be a rule that you can't put bumpers up on the lane next to the league.

Anyone else ever run into this kinda thing on league night? I never have…this was a first.

[zdawg]

Not during league night thankfully, but it happened one time while we were doing a makeup bowling night. I can't fault the people bowling next to us, or the center really as it wasn't a scheduled league night and it was after all open bowling. I just made sure that I lined up right when a little kid next to me was on their approach. By the time they went back and waited for the pin reset and their ball to come back, I had more than enough time to lineup, make my approach, and deliver the ball unimpeded.

It did take a little longer than normal I suppose

[Aslan]

One problem I've had with casual bowlers, especially kids and females….they'll take 2 house balls of the same weight…then throw them in rapid succession. So there's no time to throw my shot in between their's. Annoying.

[zdawg]

One problem I've had with casual bowlers, especially kids and females….they'll take 2 house balls of the same weight…then throw them in rapid succession. So there's no time to throw my shot in between their's. Annoying.

Ya that's tough if they're throwing them in rapid succession, I have had something worse though - last night one of my drunken teammates, and the second worst player on the team, decided to start heckling me because I was having a bad night (especially compared to the last couple weeks where I've been bowling better than ever).

He's a friend of a friend outside of the lanes, and we've hung out before (so we're kinda friends I guess) but I tell you it was hard for me to suppress the desire to lay him out right there in the alley. In the end I did get into a bit of a yelling match with him, and some obscene gestures and language was exchanged. Suffice to say our entire team sucked (at one point he was giving his g/f a hard time and she left the alley for a little while)- we lost all four points to a team we previously dominated two months ago.

So I guess the point is distractions can come from anywhere? Don't know, but he and I will be having a little "talk" tomorrow as this won't be happening again LOL

[sprocket]

I've never heard of a league that wasn't given a one pair cushion between the league and open bowlers. That's the standard policy around here and I assumed it was that way everywhere.

[striker12]

i do all the time i'm in a jr league lol

[josheaton16]

Agree on the one pair cushion. I thought it was like that everywhere

[tccstudent]

Well we use the one pair cushion but I have had to bowl on the cushion pair after a lane broke down next to a family

How bout bowling league when there are some beginners in the league on the pair next to you and they throw the ball and hop the gutter and goes over two lanes and goes down your lane as you are on the approach getting ready to throw

[e-tank]

Theres 3 leagues that bowl on my league night and how it works is the older more serious league gets the lanes on one end, my league is smushed right up against them, a 4-10 lane buffer then a university league on the other end. So if someone comes in during league, they get put into that buffer, sometimes next to the end of our league, sometimes not. One particular time we were on the end of lanes for our league(right next to the buffer) and the center put a 10 person party next to us that had no bowling etiquette and essentially crowed on the approach while one person bowled. Tbh it didnt bother be too much, i was just worried about one of the kids running in front of my push way or back swing

[J Anderson]

I've never seen them put open bowlers directly next to a league at Nutmeg Bowl, but they will often put two leagues right next to each other so they don't lose an additional two lanes of potential open bowling. I've also seen only a one lane buffer between open and league when they're really busy. None of this has been a problem even though I wonder what happens when a one lane courtesy league is right next to a two lane courtesy one.