Post by: GaryPham on April 19, 2007, 01:35:08 PM
Thanks!
Post by: Eddie M on April 19, 2007, 09:43:55 PM
Post by: Leftyhi-trak on April 19, 2007, 09:44:39 PM
Post by: shelley on April 20, 2007, 12:04:45 AM
Second, you won't embarrass yourself, most bowlers don't average 200 and probably won't ever average 200 over a whole season. If you're looking at joining a scratch league, you'll probably get killed by 50+ pins a game, but that's what you'd expect in a scratch league.
But that's not a major concern as most leagues aren't scratch anymore, handicap leagues are very easy to find. You'll likely find that there are plenty of other bowlers who average 150-170 in most leagues. Most bowlers, even scratch bowlers, don't (or shouldn't) look down on lower average bowlers, particularly new bowlers. For one, we can't afford to make it unpleasant to bowl in league the first time. Second, as Lefty said, everyone started somewhere. They may have forgotten having to pay their dues, particularly around the time they lose to bowlers with lower averages, but they did it just the same.
Finally, this board isn't really representative of the bowling population at large. There are a lot of serious bowlers here, a lot of pro shop operators with a lot of experience and knowledge, more than a handful of PBA pros. The national average average is in the high 170s, if you took a poll here you'd probably see an average average in the 190s if not higher. Nationally, probably 3-4% of bowlers have an honor score, here it's easily double digits. This is not the best crowd to comapre yourself against if you want to see how you stack up against "typical".
SH
Post by: dizzyfugu on April 20, 2007, 03:31:41 AM
I started my first league trials with a 140 average. Was hard time among some top performers, but I learned a lot, and quickly.
Well, I'd rather recommend joining a "normal" or open league, if possible. You can grow with the team, and it can IMHO be quite frustrating when you are 20+ to play among some light-headed hot-shots. But that's just me
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the FAQ section (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
Edited on 4/20/2007 3:35 AM
Post by: ThongPrincess on April 20, 2007, 09:11:33 AM
As far as youth or adult, it would depend on what youth league options are available to you.
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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean
http://www.allbowling.com/journal/public.php?uid=156&leagueid=53
Post by: Robadat on April 20, 2007, 09:38:28 AM
The average handicap league in most cases, will have a mid point average of somewhere in the neighborhood of 175 - 180. Houses that have very easy shots will have a higher mid-point average.
You are not that far off from the mid point bowler and given your progress to this point, you will soon be in that range. Some dedicated work on your spare making game will get you right up there in no time.
Join a league. Go out and have some fun.
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"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben Franklin
Enjoy,
Bob
Post by: zone on April 20, 2007, 09:45:59 AM
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# of bowling balls = too many
highest game = not high enough
league avg. = its getting there
tournaments won = let me get back to u on this one
Post by: alcornel on April 20, 2007, 09:54:02 AM
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Andy
Las Vegas, NV
Post by: JohnP on April 20, 2007, 10:58:28 AM
Post by: Injury on April 23, 2007, 02:18:13 AM
quote:
I look at some of ballreview.com's member profiles and notice that a lot of you guys are averaging over 200, which makes me a bit reluctant to join a league since I don't want to get embarassed out there. I don't expect to win, but I would prefer to not get killed by 50+ pins everytime I bowl. From your guys's observations, what seems to be the average league bowler's score?
Don't worry about your starting average with handicap leagues. Since I don't think anyone explained how such leagues work (and I know it confuses a lot of people who have never bowled in them) let's put your mind at ease.
Say a local league is using a handicap system of 80% of 200. First night in league you set your starting average. Say it works out to 150. Take 150 subtract it from 200, take 80% of that and that's your handicap (in this case 40 pins). That handicap gets added to your scores that night so as far as scorekeeping/team points goes if you had bowled a triplicate of 3 150 games you'd actually be credited with 190 for each game. As you would notice with 40 pins if one of those games you happened to bowl 170 (say series was 130, 170, 150) well for scorekeeping that 170 would actually count as a 210 which is how you can beat a scratch bowler in said league who shot under 210...say 206 to beat his 200 averange but still not good enough to win the point from you.
So as you can see if the handicap is setup right being consistant, or at least consistantly improving as is the case for a lot of new bowlers, is more important than coming in at a high average. When I say "setup right" make sure the leagues handicap match up with the bowlers. If they are running 80% of 200 handicap, but there are many bowlers in the league averaging 220 then find a league with a better handicap if you want to be competitive, as such a league hasn't kept up with their handicapping system to keep things on a competitive level for the new guys.
If anything when you start and you are improving watch the scratch bowlers groan when they see you coming. Be ready for people to tease you about being a sandbagger when you throw the odd high score game that takes a money pot (in a lot of places it's all in jest as the real sandbaggers don't get spoken to much). Learn to have fun with it.
Post by: se7en on April 23, 2007, 08:13:13 AM
There's also men's leagues that allow women, where the rule isn't forced to have X amount of each gender. On the league I bowl on another night that follows that format, there are some very good bowlers. 215, 214, 212, 210 and me at 202. I find I bowl better on that league than the other. I attribute it to the level of competition.
Go into it with goals in mind. It's said that bowlers who average 180+ the game is 65% mental and 35% physical. For those below, it's 80% physical and 20% mental. Set your goals and expectations reasonably low and hit them, and then repeat the process until you are 65% mental. It's fine tuning from then on
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Cobalt Bomb Solid
Cobalt Bomb Pearl
Tsunami H2O
F.O.S.
Post by: dizzyfugu on April 23, 2007, 08:21:05 AM
quote:
I would recommend you start out on mixed leagues. They tend to be less competitive.
...and they are fun for several other raesons, too
Go for it. Almost any league experience will help you to improve your game. You will see many styles, lines, equipment, and just by observation one can learn a lot or question the own game. At least, it is the best opportunity.
Just do not expect to play as well as usual in training. The situation is very different, especially when you are new to it.
I remember well my first tournament/start game (when I held a 130 average), I was nervous enough to support a small light bulb, and the result was a whopping 75...
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the FAQ section (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
Post by: mainzer on April 23, 2007, 01:14:37 PM
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Mainzerpower
Post by: A K A on April 23, 2007, 01:21:01 PM
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Make Ragnar happy make Google your friend!
I think he has stock in Google?
Post by: DanH78 on April 23, 2007, 01:26:59 PM
At 150, you should be fine to join any league except the ultra competitive scratch leagues. Another reason not to worry is that in general, summer leagues are less competitive than the winter leagues.
A couple years ago a pair of brothers joined our league, neither had ever bowled in a league before, both started around 140-150, by the end brother 1 was up to 170, brother 2 was over 180.
Stay away from junior leagues. You'll probably be at least 2 years older than the next oldest bowler. Go adult so you can have a beer or two while you bowl.
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What are you gonna do? Beat me with your Jesus stick?
Post by: BowlingWolf on April 23, 2007, 01:41:35 PM
Join a league, and if any of your non-bowling friends have any inclination toward the game, get them to start bowling also. You won't regret it!
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Regards,
BowlingWolf
Post by: outdagutter on April 24, 2007, 09:41:12 PM
As far as the league to join, my son who is only 18, is on my adult league. His avg is only 137 but he loves bowling and has hit over 200 on a couple of games, plus consistently bowls at least 20+ pins over. Just remember, these high avg guys did not always bowl 200+. They started lower like the rest of us. So get out there and have fun. Don't do it just for avg, do for the love of the sport.
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"You keep doing what you have to do until you're called to do what it is you were meant to do."
Post by: DON DRAPER on April 24, 2007, 10:12:04 PM
Post by: Big Kahuna on April 25, 2007, 08:01:40 AM
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Never BLAME the ball 
http://trybowling300.bowlspace.com
http://jerrickam1@sympatico.ca
Post by: spinner031 on April 25, 2007, 06:26:25 PM