Do you bring them or leave them?

[larry mc]

I always take my equipment with me. Like other said I like to clean and maintain my stuff.

same thing for me , plus id need 4 lockers lol

[Mark O]

I have the opposite problem. I'd like to leave a ball in my trunk just for when I happen across an alley and decide to bowl a few games. But I've had to make that an old urethane ball from 20-30 years ago because it just gets too darn hot to leave a reactive resin ball in my trunk.

Man I would kill for that right now! It's currently 16 degrees with ice and snow all over the place, we could use a little heat! Either way though it's no good for a ball and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall when I tell my teammates to not leave their equipment in the car and every week they leave their equipment in the car!

[Aslan]

Man I would kill for that right now! It's currently 16 degrees with ice and snow all over the place, we could use a little heat! Either way though it's no good for a ball and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall when I tell my teammates to not leave their equipment in the car and every week they leave their equipment in the car!

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

[Amyers]

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

The problem with league bowlers not practicing as your looking at it wrong (at least for them) They aren't out to improve as bowlers as much as to just enjoy themselves and have a good time. Now what I find strange is when its those people who are complaining about how much they won or where they placed in the league. I bowl with a guy on my Sunday night league who is back bowling for the first time in ten years this year he comes over to me every night after league to complain about how poorly he has bowled and where he is in the rankings. I have offered to let him practice with me on different nights more times than I can count always get the same answer no!! but we expect things to change?

[Aslan]

Thats true. The vast majority of league bowlers are there just to drink and have fun.

BUT...IF THATS THE CASE...then you (they) give up the right to complain about their scores. If someone came up to me on league night and started belly aching about a bad series...I'd just ask them, "Were you throwing well in practice this week?"

And when they respond with a blank stare...thats all the answer I need.

[Amyers]

Thats true. The vast majority of league bowlers are there just to drink and have fun.

BUT...IF THATS THE CASE...then you (they) give up the right to complain about their scores. If someone came up to me on league night and started belly aching about a bad series...I'd just ask them, "Were you throwing well in practice this week?"

And when they respond with a blank stare...thats all the answer I need.

I agree but it's not even unusual I think I actually listen to more complaining about scores from the ones that don't practice than those that do.

[Mark O]

Yeah...the car thing is an annoyance. I have it on the list of multiple items that I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall on when trying to talk to/coach my teammates:

1) Use a plastic spare ball- Our best bowler is a 190+ average bowler...a lefty...and if he'd just use a plastic spare ball and throw straight at the 7-pin (which he leaves a LOT)...his average would be closer to 200 than 190.

2) Throwing HARD- Our anchor keeps buying new bowling balls trying to get "hook"...but fires every single ball at about 21mph...if he'd just ease up...he could really open up the lanes and get better angles...but he throws how hes always thrown...hard and straight.

3) DE-OIL- I'm amazed that these guys with this new equipment, some of whom used to be competitive level bowlers, look at me with a blank stare when I tell them I de-oil my ball on a regular basis.

4) Tape- Same as above...it befuddles me that these guys don't understand the difference between black, white, and thumb tape.

5) Our girl bowler throws a high loft straight shot...probably a good 12-15ft...and I haven't bothered trying to get her to "improve" just because, as is etiquette in golf, she didn't ask. I also don't try to "correct" our 5th bowler (old timer) that throws a back-up ball. BUT...our girl bowler also refuses to practice during warm-up...for no real good reason. I guess with a 15ft loft throwing a plastic ball...probably not worrying about lines...but still.

6) Speaking of practice...if I had a gun to my head and needed to guess how many bowlers (out of about 170 in the league) that actually "practice" routinely....I'd guess 20. And that would probably be on the high end. I just don't understand how people think they'll get better if they just roll in leagues 1-3 times a week. It's like when I was frustrated my golf game wasn't improving but I only golfed 1-3 times a year.

Are we on the same team? Haha I feel like you just described a lot of what I deal with on a weekly basis! The majority of the team is dreadful on their corner pins and will constantly watch a reactive ball hook past it and curse as they missed yet another one! Then there is a guy who throws it 20+ mph and constantly wonders why his ball doesn't hook and leaves 5-7 and 8-10 splits on "pocket shots" They don't understand why I wipe my ball after every shot, clean it after every set, and get it de-oiled and resurfaced, they consider it to be a waste of time. And when they complain about their thumb hole being too big or too loose I ask if they want tape and I'm told no I just need to grip it a little harder until my thumb swells *smacks head*

I definitely agree with Amyers that I feel most people are just out once a week to have fun and enjoy themselves and that is all fine and good. But it is those people who I feel you hear the most complaints from on a weekly basis and you just want to grab them and say if you want to improve and fix these things you are complaining about then get out and practice and try to learn at least a "little" something about it!

[Ryan1700]

Another reason I bring mine home is sometimes I like to get them all out and surround myself with them in the living room floor and shine em up (basically just play with them like a 6 year old with his toys). I am recovering from a recent wrist injury that will keep me down for 2 more weeks ( and kill our league chances) so it's all I have left dammit!!!! Sad face