You mark that frame an "8" and you're entering a world of pain.
Posted on 06/08/2012 12:46:13 AM PDT by Sporke
Bowling changes...VANITY
I've bowled off and on for 40+ years, with a few breaks of several years at a time. I've bowled in leagues when I was a teen and when I was an adult.
After taking a break of maybe 8 years or so, I've started bowling again. I go on Thursday nights, on College night, because I can bowl 10-12 games for 10 dollars (any other time and it's 3.50 a game).
This is what I've noticed when I bowl with mostly college age kids. First, they have no clue what bowling etiquette is, which bothers me but is understandable, although I feel if a person has their own personal ball, they have no excuse for not knowing how to act. Second, almost every guy is between 17-23 years old, and they use an 8-11 pound ball. They seem to think the object is to not use any of the finger holes, palm the ball, and see how much they can curve the ball. That in itself is a bit strange to me but what gets on my nerve is the fact that if they don't get a strike, they have no clue how to shoot at a spare, and most times, don't even try to pick spares up. It wouldn't bother me if they were making an effort to learn something, but they don't.
I don't know if this is a local thing or not, but I assume it's not. As a guy who really loves the sport, I just find it sad. I probably shouldn't post this, because I'm not saying much, but what the hey. I guess I just wonder if anyone else has noticed how bowling has changed over the years. To me, it seems as if kids won't put in the effort to even learn how to improve in bowling.
No standards because no fathers!
It’s not just bowling.
Bowling is no longer 3 games for 5 bucks, including shoes.
Most of us learned to bowl by watching wide world of sports. Earl Anthony, Mark Roth, Johhny Petraglia were names in my household.
Ask someone to name a pro bowler today and they would stare at you. Bowling for anyone under the age of 30 is either taking your kid to a bowling party or taking a date, drinking beer and showing how fast you can toss an 8 pound ball down the alley.
It is probably just a cheap date or night out for them, rather than bowling. And as long as they aren’t loud and obnoxious - who cares. BUT - how about asking if they are up for some tips on how to bowl. Then get them to play for a round of snacks or something for the losing team to add some fun competition to their new-found skills.
No doubt the better skills and a bit of fun competition will add to their enjoyment of the evening. And you’ll no doubt get some pleasure in passing on some of your skills. (And don’t turn down any free drinks or snacks they might offer).
|
Too bad about the sport. All sports are going down the tube. That's what a decayed totalitarian culture creates. Everything sucks. Dick Weber! |
The last league I was in was mostly older guys and while we were far from pro's we at least TRIED to bowl. Sure there was some fun fooling around but nothing like it is now.
There’s bowling as a serious sport, and then there’s bowling as a casual social outing. It’s the same with pretty much all sports, really. You wouldn’t expect to see top sportsmanship, technique and etiquette on the basketball court at the park. There’s no harm in a bunch of kids (or adults) having fun, showing off for each other, and laughing at their collective awfulness.
That said, if you only bowl for the beer and pizza and you invest in expensive personal bowling equipment, you’re probably just kind of a d-bag.
|
BTW, I've bowled at the Imperial Lanes in Toledo. Roll the ball, It's a crucial frame now, And we'd have won if, |
I guess I just wonder if anyone else has noticed how bowling has changed over the years. To me, it seems as if kids won't put in the effort to even learn how to improve in bowling.
Bumpers.
Can't let little Johnny or Jessica suffer the humiliation of ever throwing a gutter ball.
My favorite bowler of all time was “Billy Golembiewski”!
I started bowling in a middle school league on Saturday mornings back in the late 60s. It became a date night outing in high school and college. I got into league bowling again while I was in the Army, serving in W.Germany. Upon return to civilian life, I bowled on a company team in the early 80s but gave it up due to some of the personalities on the team.
If I were to go bowling again and observe the behavior you describe, I’d probably feel the same way. As another poster noted, my bowling formative years were filled with names like Dick Weber and Earl Anthony. The little bit of bowling I occasionally catch on TV seems like the sport has gone NASCAR with the logos being prominent rather than the bowler. The behavior you saw is just a reflection of the broader society and the pro bowling scene.
http://www.bowlingevolution.com/download-bowling.php
This is a fun, free game download. You do not have to buy the updated version.
You mark that frame an "8" and you're entering a world of pain.
Bowled as a teen and young adult - It’s been many a year now. I have a Manhattan Rubber 15 1/2 pounder that I bought in 1966. Also bowled duckpins as a boy.
Don Carter - Andy Varipapa - Marion Ladewig
Salvino.
Pro Bowling has gone to the pits, from bowling outside at Disney to the blatant unsportsmanship behavior, it’s nearly impossible to watch.
I don’t know who decided that bowlers needed to be LOUD on TV. I’ll admit bowling isn’t the most exciting sport to watch on TV, unless you’re really into bowling like I am, but geez, making it seem like wrasslin isn’t helping the sport any.
College bowling is fun to watch, that hasn’t been ruined yet. Sometimes I wonder if a college instructor could fix some of the dozens of flaws I have in my game, but I think I’m set in my ways and will spend my life as a 160ish bowler. I’ll survive. :)
Two more things happened last night that drove me almost postal. I saw someone hit the pin sweep with their ball....7 times. 7 times. I’ve never seen that happen before more than once, and back in the day, it would get you thrown out. The other thing that I consider even worse, was the amount of cell phones present. People had a ball in one hand and their phone in the other. Cell phones are just evil. 4 friends are there bowling, and when it’s not their turn, they’re texting. I don’t know exactly why that bothers me so much, but it does. My kids are lucky they grew up before cell phones were so popular, because if I had young kids, they wouldn’t have cell phones.
Yes, I know I sound like I should be sittin on the porch of some general store playin checkers....
Greetings. I must confess being late here, but would like to add a few thoughts. My industrial working class city in Ontario was a hot bed of ten pin bowling in the 1960's. Four active lanes. The big lanes have just closed down at the local plaza and may not open again. Only one small bowling alley left and still very modern. Attempts were made to get the young people into the sport at the old lanes. Music and flashing lights were added. It had some success. Schools sent youngsters down to learn to bowl also. Now the owners are moving on to other things.
You are lucky if you can get young people into the sport and indeed some of them might seem to annoy old timers. I should not ramble on, but if the kids keep on coming, there are hopes for some education on the finer points.
Well, only one alley left, in a city of nearly 80,000. We hold our breath for a new entrepeneur. Many seniors are going to wonder what to do in the winter with a sharp cutback in the Senior league bowling. I am told the surviving lanes can fit us in on a Friday. Most bowlers in the old senior's league are retirees, as I am myself.
I feel ya. There are 100,000 here, and we used to have 5 bowling alleys, back in the early 80s. Now we have one, with 16 lanes, which sucks because they can overcharge for everything, and they do.
I’ve seen a couple of their leagues. I’ve seen one person a few people in their 40s, and most of the others in their 50s and 60s. I would fit in there, since I’m almost 50, but I do wonder where all the 30s crowd is.
From the rumor mill I’ve heard a new bowling alley is in the works here, and I hope it’s true. I don’t even trust the one bowling alley here to drill a new ball, which is not a good thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.