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Thread: We are finally back to bowling......

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    Pin Crusher Hammer's Avatar
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    Default We are finally back to bowling......

    Our senior league is back on the lanes finally. We were going through the COVID shutdown in Illinois. Everyone was glad to be back to see our friends once again. I had to think of a few things before I started. Stuff like were did I used to stand for the balls I use and how to hold the ball. Once I started bowling it all came back to me. They weren't real high games but they were better then I thought they would be. The games I had were 151, 160 and a 180. The last game i finished with a strike in the 9th frame and then got two strikes and a spare on my last ball. That gave me a 491 series. Being left handed I left a few 7 pins and I only missed one of those and a few 10 pins that I picked all of them without a miss. So not bowling or practicing since November 9th I thought that I adjusted okay with what the lanes were giving me. By the way Happy New Year to all of you .
    Arsenal: Raw Hammer Orange/Black Hybrid 14lbs, Blue Hammer urethane 14lbs, Columbia 300 Lava Ball Plastic 14lbs, Highest scratch series 710 Bowling 38 years Never hit that 300 game. Highest game 276, had 11 strikes and one spare in the middle of that game.

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    Just like riding a bike.
    John

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    Quote Originally Posted by J Anderson View Post
    Just like riding a bike.
    Hard to believe that I have been bowling for about 38 years. I like bowling and never got tired of it. Bowling is a game where you can bowl until you can't do it anymore because of aging and body issues that pop up sometimes.
    Arsenal: Raw Hammer Orange/Black Hybrid 14lbs, Blue Hammer urethane 14lbs, Columbia 300 Lava Ball Plastic 14lbs, Highest scratch series 710 Bowling 38 years Never hit that 300 game. Highest game 276, had 11 strikes and one spare in the middle of that game.

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    Bowling God Aslan's Avatar
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    Lately it seems like bowling is mostly about managing expectations.

    Not only myself, but others as well, seem to be struggling to consistently perform at a level we feel is acceptable and there don't seem to be a lot of options to fix it. For me, it's just a matter of finding the time/money and investing in lessons and practice again. But for many, its trying to figure out how to compensate for age/physical impairments. I'm seeing more and more guys that are used to averaging close to 200 that can't seem to average in the 180s...and now they are so frustrated that its not fun anymore. And why do it if its not fun?
    In Bag: (: .) Motiv Trident Odyssey; (: .) Hammer Scorpion Sting; (: .) Pyramid Force Pearl; (: .) Brunswick Rhino Gold; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
    USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 186; Lifetime Average = 171;
    Ball Speed: 15.5mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 181

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    A lot of it could be due to the stress of the current "situation". Averages have been way down at our local center ever since we returned from the shutdown. That being said, there have also been a lot of unexplained vacancies showing up on leagues recently and they are not all covid related. Many of the bowlers leaving are long-standing bowlers and traditional fixtures at the center. People are simply losing interest in bowling and walking away. I have a family member who has been bowling multiple leagues for over 25 years now on the verge of quitting after this season. They just aren't having fun anymore and don't see the point in doing something they no longer enjoy.

    There has also been an influx of newer clientele that has made being at the bowling center at certain times less than wholesome.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aslan View Post
    Lately it seems like bowling is mostly about managing expectations.

    Not only myself, but others as well, seem to be struggling to consistently perform at a level we feel is acceptable and there don't seem to be a lot of options to fix it. For me, it's just a matter of finding the time/money and investing in lessons and practice again. But for many, its trying to figure out how to compensate for age/physical impairments. I'm seeing more and more guys that are used to averaging close to 200 that can't seem to average in the 180s...and now they are so frustrated that its not fun anymore. And why do it if its not fun?
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryster View Post
    A lot of it could be due to the stress of the current "situation". Averages have been way down at our local center ever since we returned from the shutdown. That being said, there have also been a lot of unexplained vacancies showing up on leagues recently and they are not all covid related. Many of the bowlers leaving are long-standing bowlers and traditional fixtures at the center. People are simply losing interest in bowling and walking away. I have a family member who has been bowling multiple leagues for over 25 years now on the verge of quitting after this season. They just aren't having fun anymore and don't see the point in doing something they no longer enjoy.

    There has also been an influx of newer clientele that has made being at the bowling center at certain times less than wholesome.
    I think most of the loss of regular bowlers is related to the “current situation”. Personally I have cut back from two leagues plus subbing in one or two other leagues to just one League and no subbing. I know of at least four bowlers who are not bowling because they are at a higher risk due to age, underlying health conditions, or their spouse would kill them if they brought the virus home. I’ve heard others complain that they can’t bowl wearing a mask, they don’t like the restrictions inside the alley, or “It’s no fun bowling with the new rules.”
    As for managing expectations, it does seem like the lane conditions have changed. It may just have been that we all got rusty when the alleys were shut down. I think they alley where I bowl may have tweaked the pattern and reduced the number of times the lanes are oiled to save money. I think the HVAV system may also have been modified to increase circulation which would speed up the evaporation of the conditioner. To me this doesn’t matter. I’m not hung up un carrying a certain number as an average. As long as we’re bowing on the same lanes it’s a fair contest.
    John

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    Quote Originally Posted by J Anderson View Post
    or their spouse would kill them if they brought the virus home.
    Say it again for us in the back!

    In all honesty having a child under 2 and my wife being pregnant currently it just isn't worth the risk. I have to think that the average drops are due to being rusty and that the pattern/condition changes are not as much as people think. Looking across this board through the years we constantly hear, I play up the 10 board and other proclamations of where people want to play the lanes rather than understanding transition and lane conditions. With this, the subtleness that people were actually aware of this is no longer there at all and now it is truly just play this part of the lane and not seeing anything else - causing what appears to be a different condition (and with the small physical game difference it is enough to dismantle scores).
    Currently in the arsenal: Roto Grip Hyper Cell (@2000), Hammer Gauntlet Fury (@1000 polished), Roto Grip Idol (@2000), Storm IQ Tour Emerald (@1500 polished), Storm Phaze 4 (@1500 polished), Hammer Cherry Vibe (@1500 polished), Hammer Black Widow Urethane (@1000), Jet Blackbird

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    Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people going to the bowling center. Not league bowlers, per se, but open bowlers and "fun seekers". People are just so bored now that they are just going anywhere and doing anything for a change of pace. Plus, I think word has gotten out that our bowling center is very lax on mask enforcement so they know they can go there and spend some time doing something relatively unrestricted. It is kind of scary in a way, but people are just fed up with the whole virus thing (which isn't a good mindset now that the more contagious variants are starting to spread across the country.)

    I passed by the local AMC move theater on Saturday night while getting carryout dinner, and there were 30+ cars in the parking lot and the place was lit up like a Christmas tree. I guess people are even risking venturing out to the movies now, too.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ryster View Post
    Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people going to the bowling center. Not league bowlers, per se, but open bowlers and "fun seekers". People are just so bored now that they are just going anywhere and doing anything for a change of pace. Plus, I think word has gotten out that our bowling center is very lax on mask enforcement so they know they can go there and spend some time doing something relatively unrestricted. It is kind of scary in a way, but people are just fed up with the whole virus thing (which isn't a good mindset now that the more contagious variants are starting to spread across the country.)

    I passed by the local AMC move theater on Saturday night while getting carryout dinner, and there were 30+ cars in the parking lot and the place was lit up like a Christmas tree. I guess people are even risking venturing out to the movies now, too.
    Our center announced last Week that starting this week they would be requiring masks at all times with only being on the approach to deliver a shot or actively eating and drinking as the exceptions. It remains to be seen how well they will enforce the change.
    John

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    Quote Originally Posted by J Anderson View Post
    Our center announced last Week that starting this week they would be requiring masks at all times with only being on the approach to deliver a shot or actively eating and drinking as the exceptions. It remains to be seen how well they will enforce the change.
    I wish our center would follow suit. Ours only says that masks need to be worn when away from your lane, but that has sort of gone out the window and it is pretty much a free-for-all now. We even have people entering the center with no masks and not being told otherwise. It isn't even being enforced in the arcade.

    The rule that masks can be removed when seated at your lane has never made sense to me. One would think that is the main place you would want to have it on while in the bowling center since that is where you will be the closest in proximity to non-household members.

    I noticed on the PBA and PWBA shows over the past few days that they are no longer removing their masks even when up to bowl. The bowlers lower them briefly for a sip of water and that is it. Seems like those organizations have tightened their mask requirements. Bill O'Neill announced that he tested positive for the virus and would not be bowling this week. The article indicated he is not quite certain where he picked up the virus, but had been following all protocols.

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