Lead off guy timing

[RobLV1]

Most of the leagues in which I've bowled have no set rule on when the leadoff man bowls. Last year I bowled in an almost scratch league and was told in no uncertain terms to go up when my name came up in the interest of pace of play. What I try to do now in both leagues where I am the leadoff man is to judge when to bowl by the pace of play AND how close the game is. If the game is close, then I will wait until the other anchor has bowled starting in the eighth or ninth frame.

[ep1977]

I would love to be a lead off bowler. That position can influence pace of play a little more than the other spots. I've only bowled 3rd or 4th on 4 man teams or 2nd on doubles teams.

[fordman1]

I think at one time there was a rule that you shouldn't bowl until your anchor had finished. I don't remember for sure but I do know it is no longer a rule. If your name comes up bowl. Leagues might be able to put in bylaws to make you wait but I don't feel like looking it up. The rule book is on bowl.com. Look it up.

[zacks]

I think this is it. No rule against it.

Rule 106.b.2 (Order of Bowling)
When a team bowls against another team or alone, the next frame may be started prior to completion of the previous frame, unless the league rules state otherwise.

[fokai73]

In handicap leagues I insist to being the lead off guy, I don't like being anchor unless it's in the scratch league I'm on. There are different reasons why I like to lead off, and how I do it, never was an issue. I go as soon as the lane is open and it's my turn. I'm not going to wait. A lot of times, I bowl with slow bowlers, bowlers who frequent the bar, bowlers who take smoke breaks, bowlers who mingle at the other end of the house to chit chat with friends from the other league. I don't complain, but I surely don't want to wait forever to bowl.

[vdubtx]

Is there a USBC rule on this? Someone was telling me the lead off guy can't go until his anchor has thrown his first shot.

No, there is no rule about timing of when lead off bowler bowls his turn. Having lead off go after your anchor is preferred by most that I have bowled with. Makes it consistent especially if you play cards where you get a card or 2 for a mark etc.

[NewToBowling]

If the other team doesn't show up we bowl straight through. No sitting. Lead anchor will bowl on left lane and proceed immediately to other lane. Rinse and repeat. Get home early and sleep

[foreverincamo]

It kills the pace when you have a leadoff bowler on the other team who refuses to go until the other leadoff bowler is also up to bowl. Just go already!!!

[bowl1820]

I think at one time there was a rule that you shouldn't bowl until your anchor had finished. I don't remember for sure but I do know it is no longer a rule. If your name comes up bowl. Leagues might be able to put in bylaws to make you wait but I don't feel like looking it up. The rule book is on bowl.com. Look it up.

The old rule was that the teams lead off bowler couldn't go until their anchor bowler rolled his first ball.

But that rule was changed years ago to help speed up the game, Now you can go as soon as the lane is available. Unless theres a league/tournament rule stating otherwise.

[classygranny]

As the leadoff on my three leagues, I try and bowl to keep an even pace. I hate to bowl, bowl, then wait, wait wait, then bowl - you know the feeling. I will wait until our anchor has at least thrown the first ball if both teams are full. Last night, the other team had 3 players and we had 5, so I would bowl after our 4th man was up (if the other team had finished-they lagged at times) so there was a consistent pace to the bowling. On Friday mornings, we don't usually get out of sync as everyone bowls on the slower side (mostly seniors) but I still try and pace to the other team's speed. On my other it is a flex double and we just bowl as we want - depending on if we are eating, etc. Sometimes we will bowl two frames at a time.