i know its easier then back when i started but ive got a buddy who has been bowling for 3 months after never bowling before and he is already over a 200 average bowler. How long did it take you?

I understand that its overrated but that was not my question

Not really relevant in todays environment, but I started bowling at age 12 in 1960.  I hit 180 my third season.  Stayed in the mid to high 190's through college.  Went from hard rubber to polyester ball in 1974 and averaged 214.  That is still the biggest jump in my average during the entire evolution of balls. 

I was 15 and a junior in hs in 1962 when I started in AJBC league.  Averaged 127 my first season and 157 my second, that won  the most improved bowler award.  I bowled one league a season while in college and averaged around 165.  After graduating college in 1968 I quit for a couple of years other than an occasional open bowling session.  I started back in the summer of 1971 and got serious about the game.  In the '73 - '74 season I averaged 200, using a combination of plastic and rubber balls on lacquer finished lanes that had a slight block around the 17 board.  I've averaged considerably higher since but am still most proud of that 200 average.  --  JohnP

When I was bowling back in the mid 70's to late 80's I was between 195-198

had one year with 201 in 1984 never repeated. I stepped away for 14 years due to career choices. when I came back ave 189 1st year back, next year was 202. Decided I wanted to get better so I went and found a gold coach and went up to 229 over the next few years. been holding steady for a while now. Just an FYI lost my prime bowling years because of my job. I bowl both house and sport league, holding 200-204 in sport depends on the year.  at my age and arthritic wrists I am happy with what I have done. Been back for 17 years, Never put your bowling on hold unless you have no other choice. I lost many years of bowling. 

Just my .02

My record total score after 4 games is 794.
After the first match of the new season my avg is at 185. I'll probably stick around there for this season.
Now if only the people I play with would come to that lvl, we can win matches this season
If I can focus and get my balls to get over the second mark, then I'll probably get an avg of 200. I'm doing really well at getting it there these days, which is very fun.
That 794 was in the last practice before the summer break though.

Started in 1963 about 12 years old.  Averaged 196 in 1971 age 19 before my Uncle Sam requested my presence which set my bowling back a few years.  Did not average 200 until age 50, 2001.

I have to agree with a previous post that stated that determining one's true average
is very difficult. I started bowling in the early 60s. My first sanctioned average was
138.  By the time I graduated high school, it was 167. By age 21, it had risen to 186.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, which had its fair share of very talented bowlers, including Buddy De Luca who holds the distinction of winning the Petersen Classic twice and Rich Collier who is in the Pennsylvania bowling hall of fame. At least in Pittsburgh,
the lanes conditions were darned tough. For years, you could count the number of
sanctioned 200 averages on one hand--and still have a finger or two left over. There were
no walls, crowns or blocks in those days. None. Even the introduction of balls like the
famed Columbia Yellow Dot and the Brunswick LT-48 did not raise averages by any appreciable amount. The real catalyst that started the average explosion here occurred in 1977, when the ABC dramatically relaxed the lane dressing rules overnight. Once they started to allow crowning, the average explosion took off--- overnight.  Since then, the introduction of stronger balls accelerated averages even further. However, it was the relaxation of those lanes dressing rules that really did it.