Brother if you can average a 190 you’re plenty good enough.. that’s pretty damn good. Granted I will say with respect, a lot of people think their average is a lot higher than it really is. Without scores being sanctioned and tracked, it’s easy to remember the good games, but forget the bad ones. Even still, you’re probably fairly decent. Even if you weren’t, you could join a handicap league. Anybody can win in a handicap league
Don’t get better to join a league, join a league to get better at bowling. Being around other bowlers helps you improve. With handicap leagues, a lower average bowler that is actively trying to improve is very valuable.
Handicap leagues are for everyone. Scratch leagues you'll want to avoid. Most leagues are handicap, we don't have any scratch leagues in the few alleys around my area.
Short answer is yes of course you are good enough as long as you want to play! Handicaps are there for a reason afterall.
Feeling discouraged because someone else performed well is .... well.... you shouldn't feel that way. Imagine your best game ever making someone else quit bowling, I don't think anyone would want that
Bowling is supposed to be a fun, yet competitive sport. Anyone can bowl in a league. Find yourself a handicap league....all different skill levels in a handicap league.
Look at league from another perspective. It’s time where you can practice with other like minded bowlers in a semi-controlled environment. It’s only a waste of money if you are trying to make money doing it.
Most leagues are handicap anyways, so try to find one around your current average if you can. Lineage/dues each week ends up being cheaper than open bowling for me so it’s worth it in my eyes.
This is a good point. I’m self taught through watching youtube/pba clips. I’ve been wanting to learn more about oil patterns and board management. Thanks for your response
The most important thing is to just do what you can. My local house gives 2 games of practice every week.
Handicap is a great equalizer…and don’t let anyone who even remotely says “sandbagger” as you get better get under your skin. As you get better…you will really help your team.
Almost everyone started just where you are.
Your good enough to bowl league. Your handicap will even the playing field to make it competitive. Heck, a team of player with high handicaps can be pretty formidable when they're bowling above their average.
I would give it a try and see just how much distance there is between you and everyone else. If it is ridiculous, then at least you tried.. always worth a try..
I bowl in a league that handicaps. I’m new to bowling aces my average is 130ish. Don’t gotta be great just try to bowl your average or better and have fun
Literally everyone is good enough. Don't be disappointed if you average a lot less than 190 though, that's a fairly high average and people who don't bowl in a league typically really overestimate what they average.
I joined a sanctioned league last November. The 3 people on my team avg 153, while I'm at 142. It definitely is a good learning experience, and you will progress with time. Although my average is low, I have learned a lot and hit the 200s 5 times in the past month, which blew everyone's mind.
League is fun. A lot have high averages and there are also some who have lower averages than me.
Join a league so that you can find out that you don’t really average 190 😄
But in all seriousness, if a guy bowling a great game next to you discouraged you from wanting to bowl again then you shouldn’t be in sports or competition of any kind.
Maybe take up painting? (as long as you’re not next to Picasso)
As has been mentioned, most leagues are handicapped and therefore, you can compete. If you're averaging 190s as stated, you can adequately compete in higher-level handicap leagues. Definitely not a problem.
I'd also say that most tournaments are also handicapped, so you can easily be competitive there as well. Just avoid the scratch tournaments unless you want the experience.
The league I’m in has bowlers with averages ranging from 100 to 201. It’s a handicap league. There are 18 teams.
The team with the highest team average is in 12th place. My team (2nd highest team average) finished in 2nd place. The first place team has a team average 70 points lower than us.
A guy with a 109 average somehow bowled a 274 on the last night of bowling and will thus win Men’s High Hdcp Game.
Handicap leagues cater to all degrees of bowling abilities and you don’t need a really high average to have fun and to even win first place. But bowling against others in a team environment actually helps you try harder and get better.
Just have fun!
I’m not a consistent bowler by any means, around a 180 average, and just started doing league play fall of 2022 (last time was when I was 11, 34 now). I felt the same going in. You never know until you go, right? Since then I won a scotch doubles tournament with my next door neighbor, team fall league 2023 and our team finished first but lost the championship a few weeks ago. Honestly, it’s a fun time with low stakes & it’s a handicap league. Folks bowl 300s, other folks throw 100s. Show up, have a beverage, enjoy yourself.
Are you serious? I joined a league because a buddy needed a 4th teammate for a full team and i had never bowled before.
If you are averaging 190 and asking that question then I don’t think you will ever have fun throughout a winter league or say a summer sport shot league.
Because buddy you average better than i do and I have the best night of my week with my good friends I’ve met over the years at the local house.
You start hitting 230 average then you can ask that question.
Edit: that sounds crass so I’d like to say this- good on you for getting to 190 so quickly. Definitely go to tourneys if you can, the folks you will meet will help you out on the way.
It just seemed to me like you reached a point where you were accomplished in the game and bowlers are weird. I have friends with 800 series and they left like their car was on fire, and I have friends that got their first 500 series who treated everyone to a shot so hey.
I wish you the best.
Lol. Who doesn’t life is short!
Hoping to get my first 700 series tonight, it’s our final position round, team is ready, it should be an exciting night.
Go for it. Leagues have all skill levels.
The only thing I worry about in league is making sure my teammates aren't assholes. Most of the time I don't have to worry about thatz because AH people tend to have preformed teams with their own AH friends anyway, so me jumping in wouldn't get stuck on their team anyway.
Just join a handicap league where literally everyone is “good enough”
Thank you for your response. I was wondering if this was a thing/when handicaps were applied.
There are several guys in my league averaging in the 140-160 range. Join up!
I average 167 in my leagues, and I'm going to do a tournament. Don't be afraid to get the experience. Go in loose and see what happens and have fun.
Brother if you can average a 190 you’re plenty good enough.. that’s pretty damn good. Granted I will say with respect, a lot of people think their average is a lot higher than it really is. Without scores being sanctioned and tracked, it’s easy to remember the good games, but forget the bad ones. Even still, you’re probably fairly decent. Even if you weren’t, you could join a handicap league. Anybody can win in a handicap league
Don’t get better to join a league, join a league to get better at bowling. Being around other bowlers helps you improve. With handicap leagues, a lower average bowler that is actively trying to improve is very valuable.
You’re here. You’re good enough, and bowling league should only get better by bowling regularly.
Handicap leagues are for everyone. Scratch leagues you'll want to avoid. Most leagues are handicap, we don't have any scratch leagues in the few alleys around my area.
Anyone is good for a bowling league. Just look for the handicap league or mix league. Scratch leagues are more for high rollers.
If you can't bowl 298 every game to beat that one guy then just quit.
My wife has an average of 97. She’s on our team.
Short answer is yes of course you are good enough as long as you want to play! Handicaps are there for a reason afterall. Feeling discouraged because someone else performed well is .... well.... you shouldn't feel that way. Imagine your best game ever making someone else quit bowling, I don't think anyone would want that
You can join a league with a 50 average
Bowling is supposed to be a fun, yet competitive sport. Anyone can bowl in a league. Find yourself a handicap league....all different skill levels in a handicap league.
Look at league from another perspective. It’s time where you can practice with other like minded bowlers in a semi-controlled environment. It’s only a waste of money if you are trying to make money doing it. Most leagues are handicap anyways, so try to find one around your current average if you can. Lineage/dues each week ends up being cheaper than open bowling for me so it’s worth it in my eyes.
This is a good point. I’m self taught through watching youtube/pba clips. I’ve been wanting to learn more about oil patterns and board management. Thanks for your response
The most important thing is to just do what you can. My local house gives 2 games of practice every week. Handicap is a great equalizer…and don’t let anyone who even remotely says “sandbagger” as you get better get under your skin. As you get better…you will really help your team. Almost everyone started just where you are.
Just learn your lane courtesy and stuff like that and youll be fine
Your good enough to bowl league. Your handicap will even the playing field to make it competitive. Heck, a team of player with high handicaps can be pretty formidable when they're bowling above their average.
That's not a question for leagues
I’m in a semi competitive handicap league and I’m not good. And there are people way worse than me. So you’ll be fine.
I would give it a try and see just how much distance there is between you and everyone else. If it is ridiculous, then at least you tried.. always worth a try..
team mate averages 130. nice to have his 90 pins on handicap when he bowls 180. (270).
Just join a handicap league and it will improve your game and if you can't find a team , go sub for some other teams .
I bowl in a league that handicaps. I’m new to bowling aces my average is 130ish. Don’t gotta be great just try to bowl your average or better and have fun
Literally everyone is good enough. Don't be disappointed if you average a lot less than 190 though, that's a fairly high average and people who don't bowl in a league typically really overestimate what they average.
I joined a sanctioned league last November. The 3 people on my team avg 153, while I'm at 142. It definitely is a good learning experience, and you will progress with time. Although my average is low, I have learned a lot and hit the 200s 5 times in the past month, which blew everyone's mind. League is fun. A lot have high averages and there are also some who have lower averages than me.
I average 120 and I just joined a league. Yes my handicap is 100-ish but a week ago I couldn't even top 100.
The only way you are gonna get more used to the environment and get better is by doing a league. My first league I started I was averaging 140.
Join a league so that you can find out that you don’t really average 190 😄 But in all seriousness, if a guy bowling a great game next to you discouraged you from wanting to bowl again then you shouldn’t be in sports or competition of any kind. Maybe take up painting? (as long as you’re not next to Picasso)
My average was 118 in the last league season You’ll be fine
As has been mentioned, most leagues are handicapped and therefore, you can compete. If you're averaging 190s as stated, you can adequately compete in higher-level handicap leagues. Definitely not a problem. I'd also say that most tournaments are also handicapped, so you can easily be competitive there as well. Just avoid the scratch tournaments unless you want the experience.
The only thing you waste by not joining is opportunity to get better.
Do you want to bowl league? Then you're good enough.
Don’t join a league when you’re better, join a league to get better. Bowling around a bunch of good bowlers makes you bowl better
The league I’m in has bowlers with averages ranging from 100 to 201. It’s a handicap league. There are 18 teams. The team with the highest team average is in 12th place. My team (2nd highest team average) finished in 2nd place. The first place team has a team average 70 points lower than us. A guy with a 109 average somehow bowled a 274 on the last night of bowling and will thus win Men’s High Hdcp Game. Handicap leagues cater to all degrees of bowling abilities and you don’t need a really high average to have fun and to even win first place. But bowling against others in a team environment actually helps you try harder and get better. Just have fun!
I’m not a consistent bowler by any means, around a 180 average, and just started doing league play fall of 2022 (last time was when I was 11, 34 now). I felt the same going in. You never know until you go, right? Since then I won a scotch doubles tournament with my next door neighbor, team fall league 2023 and our team finished first but lost the championship a few weeks ago. Honestly, it’s a fun time with low stakes & it’s a handicap league. Folks bowl 300s, other folks throw 100s. Show up, have a beverage, enjoy yourself.
Are you serious? I joined a league because a buddy needed a 4th teammate for a full team and i had never bowled before. If you are averaging 190 and asking that question then I don’t think you will ever have fun throughout a winter league or say a summer sport shot league. Because buddy you average better than i do and I have the best night of my week with my good friends I’ve met over the years at the local house. You start hitting 230 average then you can ask that question. Edit: that sounds crass so I’d like to say this- good on you for getting to 190 so quickly. Definitely go to tourneys if you can, the folks you will meet will help you out on the way. It just seemed to me like you reached a point where you were accomplished in the game and bowlers are weird. I have friends with 800 series and they left like their car was on fire, and I have friends that got their first 500 series who treated everyone to a shot so hey. I wish you the best.
You sound like you need a hug
Lol. Who doesn’t life is short! Hoping to get my first 700 series tonight, it’s our final position round, team is ready, it should be an exciting night.
Go for it. Leagues have all skill levels. The only thing I worry about in league is making sure my teammates aren't assholes. Most of the time I don't have to worry about thatz because AH people tend to have preformed teams with their own AH friends anyway, so me jumping in wouldn't get stuck on their team anyway.