A lot of bowlers do it, and it's ridiculous! It does nothing but slow down the pace. If the pins left on another lane influences anything about the way you bowl, you really need to work on your concentration.
When it makes sense to let the other guy go ahead of you.
I have found in instances where the bowler on the next lane has left a big nasty split that it's better for me to step back and let him shoot it before I get up on the lane.
It might be a little superstitious but I can't tell you the number of times I've seen a good bowler get up and bowl only to leave the exact same split as was next to him. I've heard it called the "see one, be one" phenomenon.
How many other bowlers do that ?
A lot of bowlers do it, and it's ridiculous! It does nothing but slow down the pace. If the pins left on another lane influences anything about the way you bowl, you really need to work on your concentration.
The only reason I tend to wait for the bowler to throw the second shot is that they are usually upset at leaving a split and all they are thinking about is get their ball and throw. Sometimes I feel they will be rushing me, so I just wait. If it's a makable spare I typically bowl, but a huge split (4-6, big four, greek church) I wait. And again, depends on who is next to me, some people have one rhythm and then I know I won't get rushed up on.
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High Series - 704; High Game - 290 (a long time ago) Current Average - 150
Could be, but I see the guys that go ahead and throw who are much better bowlers than I get duplicate leaves when doing it.
Just Fri I was bowling against a guy who goes ahead and bowls with the guy on the next lane has the 4 7 6 10 standing and leaves exactly the same leave, he has great concentration, carries a 250 average, and was bowling on first 6 or 7 .....he shot a 300 the next game.
I think I'll continue to do it, and not feel a bit bad about it, even with waiting the extra 10-20 seconds I'm still done before many of the slow guys that aren't ready and down at the lane, clean the ball for 10 seconds and stand on the approach for another 10......
That is and has been a common occurrence for years and yes a lot of bowlers are superstitious about it. I've also seen a bowler get up and bowl only to leave the exact same split, But I've also seen just as many or more throw a strike.Originally Posted by Tony
There's nothing supernatural about it, it's just part of the mental game. It's like baseball players wearing their lucky "socks" or carrying any "lucky" totem (Like Sam Malone from "Cheers" had a lucky bottle cap"). It's just something that puts you in the right state of mind.
As for it slowing down the pace, unless everybody and their brother is leaving splits and doing it. The small amount of extra time one bowler takes is pretty minimal, Not much different (probably less) than the time took by bowler's taking re-racks.
Now according to old Lane Etiquette, A bowler shooting a spare has the right of way over a bowler with a full rack. So waiting for them to shoot the spare isn't that out of line.
Now have I done it? Sure sometimes, Not because of a superstition though. It's a chance for a extra moment to compose yourself etc. It's like taking a re-rack when you know you don't need it, you just wanted extra time to think about what your doing before you make your shot.
Sometimes it's a bit of gamesmanship, you standing there waiting for the player to shoot his spare. He might rush to get done, miss the spare that's a open for the other team.
Just remember "Don't rush and Don't let the other team (or your own team) rush you. Making a good shot and scoring good, makes up for taking a few extra 15-30 second's to make your shot."
Last edited by bowl1820; 01-22-2017 at 04:02 PM.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
Nice summary of the situation, I do wonder how often people ask for a re-rack, I can't really recall seeing anyone ever do it unless the rack is missing a pin or pins.
I think the don't rush reminder is one I and many others need to adhere to better, I find it happens to me once in a while and I also see it in others where we rush and miss a spare we normally wouldn't.
I'm one of the few who actually takes an occasional re-rack as both centers where I bowl league have notoriously "iffy" racks. I do it because I've incorporated evaluating the rack into my pre-shot routine. I've seen bowlers throw at racks where either the head pin or the five pin is off spot by nearly an inch, and then they whine about not being able to carry!
wow 250 average??!!! Last time I saw someone average 250+ in leagues, was when I bowled with and against a HOF bowler. And on a beat down synthetic surface with a wick machine (summit) that broke constantly. That's pretty awesome to watch..... anyway...
I used to be superstitious. If my towel drops to the floor or someone touched it, I had to refold it. Wait for the bowler to pick up a his split. Don't walk between the ball rack and scorers table. these were no no for me. Then about a decade ago, I felt my life was unbalanced mentally. I went back to getting myself centered for personal reasons. I somehow applied this to my bowling since it's the only place I found peace of mind from the outside world. These superstitious just got in the way of my "peace", so I accepted things for what they were and just bowled.
Long story short, over time I learned to accept these things that use to bother me and just bowled. I've performed and done very well with a dropped towel, split on the other lanes, and walking between the ball rack and scorers table. I don't have to bowl angry to bowl well like that lefty PBA dude from the 80's/90's.. what's his name???? Jack or jess stayrook?? I was a pre teen or younger when I remember this guy saying he bowls well when he's angry on TV. He reminded me of the hulk in The incredible hulk TV show.
These superstitions work for many bowlers, but I don't have any superstition anymore when it comes to bowling. Less to worry about. Whatever works for you, do it. Just don't let us wait lol
One night, after failing to convert a fairly nasty leave ( either a washout or a big split ) I was asked by my freind Tim, who happens to be a Bronze level coach, "Why did you throw your first ball while Calvin had that split standing on the lane toyour left?" My answer was something like "What split?" I had no idea that Cal had left a split because I don't pay much attention, except that required to observe lane courtesey, to bowlers not on my pair of lanes. If no one on my pair is having luck finding a good line, or if it's a league or tournament where you move to adifferent pairfor the next game, I might look around more, but generaly I have tunnel vision while bowling.
I suppose that if you're prone to thinking that you have to avoid whatever mistake another bowler made, seeing a split standing on an adjacent lane might cause you to tense up and throw a poor shot. Other than that situation, I'm with Rob in thinking this is just a silly superstition.
Last edited by J Anderson; 01-22-2017 at 05:17 PM. Reason: Words ran together
John
I won't bowl next to a split, BUT if there's a split on the lanes left and right of me, I will bowl. There just has to be a strike out there because they took the splits.
I also go thru different shirts. I rate them according to scores shot while wearing them. I have a purple shirt that will never be worn bowling again. Shot 498 and 500 while wearing it. It's a rag now.
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