there is only one reason I continue to bowl; it is fun.

when it ceases to be fun, I will cease to bowl.

I'm sorry, I couldn't find the post I was reading about when I had to sign up. It was about the decline in bowling and your letter to the USBC about lane conditions. I have been bowling my whole life. I was brought up in the bowling alleys with rolls of quarters while my parents bowled 2-3x a week. I was signed up for Jr. Bowling on Saturdays.
I am one of the bowlers that does not throw the fancy ball with the bent wrist. I have a nice, clean, easy throw from 2 arrow to pocket at 16mph. My lane conditions are oily, normal and dry. Lane patterns don't mean anything to me.

I agree with your letter to a certain degree, your letter only applies to serious bowlers who practice and bowl a lot. And honestly, with the decline of league/USBC sanctions over the years, that puts you in the 10% of bowlers.

Remember in the 80's when a 300 happened once maybe twice a year? Today, it's every week in a league. They have to do something to make the shot harder or everyone would just pack up their shoes and balls and throw in the garage corner, and never bowl in Opens or Nationals again.
I don't think Sanction costs are the issue at hand. $19?? That's a cheap sanction for any sport. The problem is, everything goes to the State level. Since I've been in Florida 3 years, I have not received a patch, key chain, letter, nothing! I'm not bowling for key chains, however, it makes you wonder about prizes. My husband bowled 100 pins over his average, nothing.

In my opinion, the balls, lane conditions are too much. I think it needs to go back to what it was before, the basics. People like myself who practice, can never compete with people who bowl like you do. I have to stub my toes, walk an obstacle course to go to the alley to bowl because most are bringing 8-10 balls to the league with them, bowling kits that resemble tackle boxes. I have one ball, for strikes and spares.

USBC is doing their best to keep up with new and improved bowling balls, tricky lane patterns, more 300 games than ever. If they kept the lanes to the conditions that you would want, everyone would have 300 games and 800 series.

I think a combination of pricey league fees, economy, narcissistic people who love to run/control leagues and USBC state tournaments (yet, we keep voting them in because we don't want to deal with the crap) good people leave those leagues, the costs it takes to operate a bowling center, getting to the bowling alley for leagues and there is popcorn and pop all over, In Florida, outdated old as dirt men who are stuck in the 1920's who like to harass and control people in tournaments. Just numerous things I've heard over the years and you have to.

To answer the question to this link, my challenge? I dress professionally every time I bowl 2x a week and all tournaments, I wear a collared shirt with sport skorts. And in Florida, you have to wear skirts/skorts to the knees for tournaments. Please someone tell me in 2017, where I can find professional skorts to fit this criteria, I'm not able to locate any skorts that are little house on the prairie style.

Unfortunately, the integrity is gone in favor of the dollar bill.It falls in line with most sports these days .Most all my friends and I  have cut down to one maybe two leagues a week and do those primarily for gathering with friends. I'm with the lady in a previous post.Put it back to the old days of skill and execution !!.

Time, Other activities, and Money are always a challenge for people to keep playing the game and is the reason activities like bowling or golf have declined over the years.

Personally I keep playing the game as I enjoy it and enjoy being out with friends. I bowl one league a week and hate the AMF house but continue to drive 40 mins because I enjoy being with my friends. Think as long as I am able I will bowl for many more years and actually would like to bowl more but the cost is restrictive.

The best part of bowling is that you are in control of your own game. If you score good or bad, it is on you. Plus, you can bowl singles, doubles, trio, etc. Whichever suits your fancy. I can bowl a tournament or a sweeper and I don't have to go find enough guys to make a team like in other sports. However, I also have the option of getting four other guys together and go bowl a nice team tournament. Bowling as a sport gives you so many options for participation. That helps to keep the game fun.

For me, the challenge right now is to actually have enough time to play the game.  Between work and family, time is fairly scarce and it's definitely having an impact on my bowling.  It's been rough on the lanes as of late but things are starting to look up a bit.  Hopefully it continues.

As I get older (65+), my challenge is my physical change.  A minor stroke, pneumonia, and a blood clot in my lung have forced me from a 15 to a 14lb ball.  I know what I should be doing, but getting my body to do it is an entirely different thing.  From a lot of hand and hooking the ball a lot, I have taken my hand out of it and am throwing it a lot straighter.  Doing this for carry, as this house doesn't like you crossing a lot of boards.  Getting ready for the Nationals, I am bowling 100 games of practice, to solidify my footwork, targeting, timing and roll to get more consistency.  Grip it and Rip it doesn't work for my any more.

>> Think I'm starting to get bored with it now.

Are you bowling tournaments? That can help keep interest in the game. Especially scratch tournaments where you have to bowl your best. This keeps you wanting to get better and keeps your interest up. Avoid the baggers of handicap tournaments or you really will want to quit.