Getting different answers from different people

[jhoff5489]

I am having a tough time figuring out whether I am a decent bowler or not. Some people say yes, others no, and some say there's no real definition of one.

I bowled in high school but I don't even consider it the same game now. Back then, all the lanes were wood, my ball was plastic and I had it drilled with a conventional grip. My average went from starting at barely above 100 up to about the mid 130s.

Six months ago (about 20 years later) I decided to get back into the game and bought a pair of fingertip balls (one reactive and one plastic). I joined a summer practice league and started out with a 140 average (bottom of the barrel) and finished at 154. I started a fall/winter league where I've pretty much been at 150 give or take a pin since day one (second shift league and we get out about midnight which may or may not be a factor). The practice league restarted three weeks ago and I have shot four-game sets of 638, 749, 638 so my average is in the 160's now.

I have no reference point because all of the other people in my leagues are averaging 180+ and all of them have been bowling at least 5 years, not six months. So what am I in this game anyway?

[PSBA10]

For someone only bowling 6 months, you are doing quite well. Your average is respectable for your experience. Are you a decent bowler? That is like asking us if the woman over there is pretty. We can't see her and have nothing to judge by.

A few years ago my local association hosted a State Championship Tournament. On one squad I worked there was a bowler with a 242 average. Just looking at the average I would have said he was a "decent" bowler. I watched as he bowled his singles and doubles, (6 games) he didn't break 170. Was he a decent bowler? I would have to say no. He has no idea how to adjust to different conditions. In other words he doesn't know the sport.

Don't worry if you are a decent bowler or not, and don't worry about what others believe. Continue to learn the sport. Your confidence in your ability will grow, and at some point you will know that you are a decent bowler.

If you can visit a coach for some lessons. Your current average compared to your experience shows a lot of potential. Keep it up.

[johncongdon]

I like the advice already given. Are you decent is often only an indicator for yourself and your self-confidence. We need people that are passionate about the sport in general and want to see it grow. We need people that will put a team together and join a league. And will then try to get other friends to start their own team for some good old fashion competition.

Ultimately, adjusting to lane conditions is what separates good bowlers from great bowlers. The Typical House shot that you see in league play is driving averages higher and higher because that's what people want to see.

We talked about this on our podcast TalkBowling recently. How people shy away from Sport Shot Bowling because they don't want to know if they are decent or not. They will live with the idea that they are without putting themselves to the test.